Yanbaru Forest, Kunigami Village Okinawa

In the northern part of Okinawa Island, lies an ancient forest that the locals call "Yambaru." The forest has an annual average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius; the subtropical climate of Yanbaru Forest fosters a rich variety of more than 1,200 species of flora, including the evergreen Okinawa Chestnut, the small-leafed Banyan tree, and a tree-like fern. The forest is also home to more than 3,700 species of fauna. Many of these species can be found only in this forest, including the flightless Okinawa Rail, the Pryer's woodpecker and a giant long-armed beetle.