![A stream runs through a moss-covered rainforest in Japan](https://images.suitcasemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/10201809/mountain-high-ryokan-low-the-most-beautiful-hiking-in-japan_652e748ccdfce.jpeg)
Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge, Yakushima
Best for: shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
Watch your step, Indiana Jones. Exploring the twisting trails of the Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge requires sure footing as you navigate the rope-like roots of the ancient cedar trees (called yakusugi) that grow, gnarled and twisting, to form a storied forest spanning over 240 hectares. You'll have to catch a ferry (or a flight) to Yakushima island, but the hassle is worth it. These forests hide over 1,900 species and subspecies of flora, including a 7,000-year-old cedar. Routes winding between moss-covered trunks and wet ferns are relatively easy, varying between one and five hours in length, and paths (including a historic Edo-period trail) are well maintained. Watch the animation Princess Mononoke before you visit: it's said Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki took inspiration from the forest's countless shades of green.