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Kagoshima · Japan
The island of ancient cedar forests south of Kagoshima, home to Jomon Sugi, the moss-covered Shiratani Unsuikyo woods, waterfalls and mountains approaching 2,000 meters.
In the photo: Shiratani Unsuikyo Forest, on Yakushima
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Get to know the place
Yakushima is a roughly 500 km² round island about 60 km off the southern tip of Kyushu, in Kagoshima Prefecture. In the center, mountains rise to 1,936 meters at Miyanoura-dake, Kyushu’s highest peak, and receive some of Japan’s heaviest rainfall. The humidity sustains very old cedar forests, the yakusugi, covered in moss and ferns.
Part of the island has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 for its forest and the sequence of vegetation that ranges from subtropical beaches to high-elevation grasslands. The most famous cedar is the Jomon Sugi, whose age is estimated in thousands of years, reached by an all-day trail. Closer to the coast, the Shiratani Unsuikyo and Yakusugi Land woodlands let you walk among millennial cedars on short hikes of a few hours.
The coastline has fishing villages, waterfalls that fall almost into the sea, like Oko Falls, and beaches where loggerhead turtles typically nest between May and July. Yakushima macaques and deer, smaller than those elsewhere in the country, are often seen along the western road. There are seaside hot springs, one of them accessible only at low tide.
The island requires time and preparation: long trails start at dawn, rain is frequent in any month, and some access points rely on buses with limited schedules. Miyanoura, in the north, and Anbo, in the east, are the two main villages and the ports where boats from Kagoshima arrive.
This destination brings together 1 city: Yakushima.
One destination, many paths
Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.
Dados cartográficos: © OpenStreetMap contributors, via Wambacher / geoBoundaries (ODbL 1.0). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
✈ Aeroporto de Yakushima (KUM) · 12 km to Yakushima
From Kagoshima, fast ferries reach Miyanoura or Anbo in about 2 to 3 hours, and the car ferry takes about 4 hours. Yakushima Airport receives flights from Kagoshima, Fukuoka and Osaka. Ferries and flights can be canceled in rough seas or bad weather.
The local experience
A humid forest valley above Miyanoura, with millenary cedars, streams and moss-covered rocks; trails of 1 to 5 hours lead to the Moss Forest and the Taikoiwa rock.
The largest cedar on Yakushima, about 25 meters tall and 16 meters in circumference, reached by a trail of about 22 km round trip from Arakawa.
A mountain forest park above Anbo, between 1,000 and 1,300 meters, with routes of 30 minutes to 2½ hours among millenary cedars, bridges and stone rivers.
An 88-meter drop in the southwest of Yakushima that falls into a pool a few steps from the coastal road, near the sea; it is the island’s largest waterfall.
Before you go
A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.
The hiking season generally runs from March to November, with April, May, October and November tending to have more comfortable temperatures. It rains year-round, especially in May and June; summer is humid, and typhoons from August to October frequently cancel boats. In winter it can snow in the mountains.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Three days allow one day for the Jomon Sugi, another for Shiratani Unsuikyo and one for a circuit of the island, with waterfalls, the western road and a hot spring. With two days, choose between the Jomon Sugi and Shiratani. Reserve an extra day in case a ferry or flight is canceled.
In the north, Miyanoura hosts the main port and most services, near Shiratani Unsuikyo. On the east side, Anbo is the village where the bus to the Jomon Sugi and Yakusugi Land trails departs. The south, around Onoaida and Hirauchi, has quiet inns near hot springs and waterfalls.
Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.
Get your questions answered
At least three: one for the Jomon Sugi, one for Shiratani Unsuikyo or Yakusugi Land, and one for a loop around the island. Since ferries and flights can be canceled by bad weather, it’s wise to have an extra day at the end.
No, it’s not mandatory, and the main trails are signposted. A local guide is helpful for the Jomon Sugi because of the distance and the dawn start time, and for those without experience on long hikes.
Yes, the island is among Japan’s wettest places, especially in the mountains. It rains every month, more so in May and June. Bring a rain jacket, waterproof footwear and a change of clothes.
It helps a lot. There are buses that circle much of the island and climb to Shiratani and Yakusugi Land, but they have few departures. For the Jomon Sugi, between March and November the final access is by trail bus only, even for those who have a car.
Only for a short visit, such as Shiratani Unsuikyo, using the morning fast ferry and the afternoon return. The island deserves at least two nights.
Beyond the guide
