Many of you know of the film, Spirited Away, but do you know Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫)? It was produced by Studio Ghibli, the same animation studio that made Spirited Away. This 1997 film is widely regarded as one of the greatest anime of all time not only for its beautiful artwork, but also for its powerful messages about the environment, war, etc. that I believe are still very relevant today.
It has been said that the setting of Princess Mononoke was inspired by the forests of Shiratani Unsuikyou (白谷雲水峡) in southern Kyuushuu (Kagoshima Prefecture) and the mountains of Shirakami Sanchi (白神山地) in northern Honshuu (Aomori Prefecture).
If the scenery inspired artwork that looks this amazing, just what does the real scenery look like??
Last year, Ryan and I had the opportunity to visit both sites to experience them firsthand. They did not disappoint.
| This is a rough estimate of locations (Aomori City to Kagoshima City). As the crow flies, it is about 880 mi (1417 km) from Shiratani Unsuikyo to Shirakami Sanchi. |
Shiratani Unsuikyou (白谷雲水峡)
Located on Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, this forest is thousands of years old. The oldest tree, Jomon-sugi, is estimated to be anywhere from 2,170 to 7,200 years old. Thanks to the incredible amount of rain and warm weather this island gets year-round, the moss and trees seem to grow everywhere, even in somewhat strange places. The trees grow on top of stumps, rocks, other trees...and it's not uncommon for trees to fuse together and form really big supertrees!
 |
| We went during the winter...can you believe it? |
Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to take the longest trail to see the oldest tree in the forest, but we had a blast hiking and taking pictures!
 |
| A tree growing on the massive stump of another tree in a separate forest in Yakushima called Yakusugi Land. The forests were also very cool, but the trail we took was much longer and more fun and intense. |
Shirakami Sanchi (白神山地)
Located on the west side of our very own Aomori Prefecture near Fukaura Town, this landscape is revered for its beautiful mountain ranges and many lakes. We went during the fall, and were able to see leaves of all different colors.
 |
| White, orange, yellow, and green leaves all in one shot! |
 |
| Aoike ("Blue Lake"), easily the clearest, bluest lake I've ever seen |
 |
| Shirakami Mountain Range* |
In conclusion, whether you love anime or not, I recommend that Shiratani Unsuikyo and Shirakami Sanchi be on the top of the "must-see" list of anyone that has the opportunity to visit Japan. They're perfect for hiking, taking pictures, escaping the urban sprawl, meditating, or even getting some creative inspiration for your own movies and art!! :)
Have you ever been to the setting of one of your favorite movies ? Have you been to any places with breath-taking scenery? Where did you go and how was it?? Let me know in the comments below!!
*Photo Credit to: http://goastreets.com/exploring-heritage-japan-eyes-japanese-photographer-kazuyoshi-miyoshi/
*Photo Credit to: http://goastreets.com/exploring-heritage-japan-eyes-japanese-photographer-kazuyoshi-miyoshi/
