Day 3: Epic Trek and Culinary Treats - A Day in Yakushima's Wilderness

Today marked another long day of trekking on Yakushima Island. We woke up early and departed at 6:00 AM, hoping to witness the sunrise illuminating the Jomon Sugi, but nature had other plans. Nonetheless, the majestic Jomon Sugi was even more impressive in the morning light, standing tall and ancient amidst the forest.

Bidding farewell to the Jomon Sugi, we began our return journey. After a good night's sleep, everyone looked refreshed, showing no signs of the exhaustion from the previous day.

Our guide, Tadashi-san, had another surprise in store. During a short break, he treated us to warm coffee and then started cooking again, turning the wood stairs as an open-air kitchen.

This time, the menu featured mackerel hot sandwiches. It was incredible to see him carrying all the equipment, from the hotpot used the previous night to the hot sandwich maker for this morning. We felt truly spoiled, and the hot sandwiches were absolutely delicious. Reenergized by the meal, we continued our trek.

We walked for another five hours, taking brief rests along the way.

Lunch was enjoyed by the river, where Tadashi-san prepared udon noodles. The warm, hearty meal was a perfect midday treat.

After a good rest under the sun, we resumed our trek. Although we still had some kilometers to cover, we pressed on with determination.

Finally, we arrived at the end of the road, a tunnel leading to the bus station that would take us back to the car we left behind the day before. We were all tired but triumphant.

Back at Aperuy, we enjoyed a nice bath and a delicious dinner prepared by Ayumi-san. The comfort and warmth of the meal and the bath were a perfect end to the day, and we slept soundly that night, relieved and content after our adventurous trek.