Ukijima no Mori

What it is

• A national natural monument consisting of a plant community on a marsh pond.
• The largest floating island in Japan, measuring 85 meters by 60 meters.
• A former sacred training ground for Shugendo practitioners with local folklore legends.
• A unique ecosystem where cold-region and warm-region plants grow together.

What to see

• A floating peat layer between 30 and 60 centimeters thick.
• Natural cedar trees which serve as the dominant species on the island.
• A diverse collection of plant life supported by water from the Kumano River.

Getting there

• The site is located a six-minute walk from Shingu Station.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.