Yakushima: What to Do and Where to Stay

Yakushima is reached from Kagoshima by Japan Air Commuter (about 40 minutes), by the Toppy and Rocket high-speed boats (1 hour 50 minutes direct to Miyanoura) or by Ferry Yakushima 2 (8:30 to 12:30). Shiratani Unsuikyo and Yakusugi Land have courses from 30 minutes to about 4 hours and charge ¥800; the Jomon Sugi is 8–10 hours on foot, and from March to November the trailhead is reached by the Arakawa mountain bus from the Yakusugi Museum, with a ¥1,000 conservation fee for a day hike.

The pages below split the island the way a trip does: what to do, from the forests to the south-coast waterfalls and hot springs and Nagata on the north-west, and whether to sleep in Miyanoura, Anbo, the south side or Isso.