After a few days in Kagoshima City, I spent a very relaxing new year holiday in Yakushima Island with Keita and my parents. Here are some photos I took during my 11-day stay.

Sea turtle stone

Red hibiscus

Keita made tomato focaccia for lunch

Sunset in Nagatahama Beach

View from Matsumine Ohashi

On New Year’s Day, we went for a short hike in Yakusugi Land park.

Buddhasugi Ceder

From JR Hotel Yakushima

New Year themed Kites

Yakushika deer

Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen is a very rare natural spa spot, which is directly connected to the ocean. The sign says “no swimsuits allowed”!

We also went to see the banyan tree “gate” in Sarukawa and Ōko-no-taki & Torōki-no-taki Falls in the afternoon.

Banyan tree gate

Mt. Mocchomu

Torōki no Taki (Torōki Fall)

Some photos of Harutahama Beach where we went running. We got there at the perfect timing to see the sunset.

Shell-imprinted white stone (?)

Harutahama sunset

Mini shells hiding in holes

Red stone and sky

On the last night with my parents, we went to Sanpotei for dinner.

More photos from this trip are in my Flickr set: Kagoshima & Yakushima 2013-2014 Winter