Yakushima, Kagoshima · Things to do
Things to Do in Yakushima: 11 Places with Fees, Hours and Access
11 things to do · checked October 23, 2026
11 things to do on Yakushima, from Miyanoura round the island
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 23, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Yakushima Environmental and Cultural Village Center屋久島環境文化村センター
Visitor centre and exhibition hall · Miyanoura
An exhibition hall that follows the island from the sea to the summits along a spiral slope, plus a paid large-screen theatre. Its counter also sells Arakawa mountain bus tickets and takes the mountain conservation fee (9:00–17:00).
- Access
- About 5 minutes on foot from Miyanoura Port.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (exhibition hall last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday), except 29 April–5 May and 20 July–31 August; 28 December–1 January
- Price
- Adults ¥530; high school and university ¥370; elementary and junior high ¥270; under 6 free
2Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine白谷雲水峡
Forest ravine walks · Above Miyanoura
A recreation forest at 600–1,050 m with three marked courses: Yayoisugi (about 2 km, 1 hour 10 minutes), Bugyosugi (about 4 km, 3 hours) and the Taikoiwa Rock round trip (about 5.6 km, 4 hours) through the Moss Covered Forest.
Reopened 18 October 2026 after typhoon No. 24; some sections are still closed and the park shuts in high water.
- Access
- About 10 km and 25 minutes by car from Miyanoura Port, or by route bus from Miyanoura to the Shiratani Unsuikyo stop (7 buses a day).
- Hours
- Administration building (fee counter) 8:30–16:30
- Closed on
- Courses close when the creeks rise. As of 23 October 2026 the Yayoisugi section between points 2, 5 and 4, the Hiryu bridge and the Hiryu trail are closed after typhoon No. 24, and the park was closed that day for high water.
- Price
- ¥800 per person, high school age and up; ¥600 each for groups of 20 or more (from 1 April 2026)
3Yakusugi Museum屋久杉自然館
Museum · Above Anbo
A museum about Yakushima's cedars. The Arakawa mountain bus to the Jomon Sugi trailhead leaves from the stop in front of it, and from March to November hikers park their cars here.
- Access
- About 5 minutes (4 km) by car from Anbo; 35 minutes from Miyanoura. Kigensugi-bound bus to the Yakusugi Shizenkan stop, then 3 minutes on foot (2 buses a day).
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- First Tuesday of each month (except May and August); 29 December–1 January
- Price
- Adults ¥600; university and high school ¥400; elementary and junior high ¥300
4Jomon Sugi trek (Arakawa route)縄文杉（荒川登山口）
Full-day mountain trek · Arakawa trailhead
The island's best-known cedar, about 11 km one way from the Arakawa trailhead (1,328 m) with about 700 m of climbing: 8–10 hours round trip. The tree is viewed from the deck built to protect it.
The Arakawa bus was suspended from 9 to 16 September 2026 and has run again since 17 September.
- Access
- From 1 March to 30 November cars, rental cars, motorbikes and bicycles cannot use the road to the Arakawa trailhead. Park at the Yakusugi Museum and take the Arakawa mountain bus, about 40 minutes. Buy tickets by the day before at a tourism association office (Miyanoura, Anbo, airport) or the Village Center; they are also sold at the bus stop on the day. No seat reservations.
- Hours
- Arakawa bus (March–November): up at 5:00, 5:20 (not in June), 5:40 and 14:00; last bus back from the trailhead 17:45
- Closed on
- The bus can be cancelled or retimed for weather and road conditions; the council posts each day's status on its X account
- Price
- Junior high and up: bus ¥3,000 round trip or ¥2,000 one way, each including the ¥1,000 day-hike conservation fee (¥2,000 if staying overnight in the mountains). Elementary age: ¥1,000 round trip, no fee.
5Yakusugi Landヤクスギランド
Forest walks · Above Anbo
A 270-hectare recreation forest at 1,000–1,300 m with courses from 30 to 210 minutes; the short course has well-kept paths.
- Access
- About 15.7 km and 31 minutes by car from Anbo. Kigensugi-line bus to the Yakusugi Land stop (2 buses a day). Parking for 40 cars.
- Closed on
- The Seiryo suspension bridge on the exit route is closed after a landslide; a short temporary path of about 20 m is used instead (update of 23 October 2026)
- Price
- ¥800 per person, high school age and up; ¥600 each for groups of 20 or more (from 1 April 2026)
6Senpiro Falls千尋の滝
Waterfall · Mugio and Hara (south-east)
A waterfall of about 60 m at the foot of a huge granite face, reached by a forest road above Mugio.
- Access
- About 23 minutes (13.3 km) by car from Anbo; 49 minutes from Miyanoura. Turn off the main road near the Ponta-kan shop in Mugio and follow the signs, about 10 minutes. Nearest bus stop Tainokawa, about 60 minutes on foot. Map apps may show the wrong place.
7Onoaida Onsen尾之間温泉
Public hot spring bath · Onoaida (south coast)
A village hot spring bath in Onoaida, with a footbath outside that runs on donations.
- Access
- About 60 minutes by bus from Miyanoura Port; 7 minutes on foot from the Onoaida Onsen Iriguchi bus stop.
- Hours
- 7:00–21:00 (Mondays 12:00–21:00)
- Closed on
- Monday mornings
- Price
- Adults ¥300; children ¥150
8Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen平内海中温泉
Seaside rock-pool hot spring · Hirauchi (south coast)
A hot spring in the rocks on the shore that is only above water for about two hours either side of each of the two daily low tides. Mixed bathing; swimsuits and underwear are not allowed, a wrapped bath towel or bathing wrap is.
- Access
- About 80 minutes by bus from Miyanoura Port; 8 minutes on foot from the Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen bus stop.
- Hours
- Around low tide only: about 2 hours before and after each of the two daily low tides
- Price
- Donation; ¥300 suggested
9Okonotaki Falls大川の滝
Waterfall · Kurio (south-west)
An 88 m waterfall where visitors can walk close to the plunge pool. The way in from the parking area below the road is barrier-free.
- Access
- About 55 minutes (34.5 km) by car clockwise from Anbo; 75 minutes from Miyanoura; 10 minutes by car from Kurio village. Okonotaki bus stop, then about 5 minutes on foot. Parking for 5 cars.
10Seibu Rindo (Western Forest Road)西部林道
Coastal forest road · West coast
About 17 km of narrow, winding coast road from the Yakushima Lighthouse turn-off to the Okonotaki area, through evergreen broadleaf forest where Yakushima macaques and deer may be seen. Feeding them is not allowed.
- Access
- About 40 minutes by car from Miyanoura to the Nagata-side entrance; 45 minutes from Anbo to the Kurio-side entrance. Large vehicles cannot use it, no buses run between the Nagata and Okonotaki stops, and there is no mobile signal, toilet or parking along it.
11Nagata Inakahama Beach永田いなか浜
Beach and turtle nesting site · Nagata (north-west)
One of the three beaches that make up Nagata Beach, a Ramsar-listed wetland since 2005. Loggerhead and green turtles come ashore to nest from May to July.
- Access
- About 30 minutes (19.7 km) by car from Miyanoura; 55 minutes from Anbo. Nakanohashi bus stop, then about 3 minutes on foot. Parking for 10 cars.
- Closed on
- Nesting and hatching season 1 May–30 September: stay off the beach from 20:00 to 5:00. To watch nesting, join an observation session of the Nagata Turtle Liaison Council (early May to mid-July, 20:30–23:00, booking 0997-45-2280).
Good to know
Most days on Yakushima are spent in the forests. Shiratani Unsuikyo above Miyanoura and Yakusugi Land above Anbo have marked courses from 30 minutes to about 4 hours, and both charge ¥800 from April 2026. The Jomon Sugi is a full day: about 11 km each way from the Arakawa trailhead, 8–10 hours there and back, and from March to November the only way to the trailhead without a taxi or charter bus is the mountain bus from the Yakusugi Museum, first departure 5:00.
The rest of the list is on the coast road. On the south side are Senpiro Falls, the Onoaida village bath and Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen, which can only be used around low tide. Okonotaki Falls is in the south-west, and the Seibu Rindo, about 17 km of narrow road with no bus, links it to Nagata, where Inakahama Beach is closed at night from May to September for nesting turtles.
After typhoon No. 24 in September 2026, the Arakawa mountain bus ran again from 17 September and Shiratani Unsuikyo reopened on 18 October with some sections still closed. Shiratani closes whenever the creeks rise, and the bus can be cancelled for weather, so check the two councils' pages the day before.
Forest, museum, waterfall or hot spring
How you get there, what it costs and how long to allow. Adult prices; children's prices are on each card above.
| Where | Getting there | Entry (adult) | Time or hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jomon Sugi (Arakawa route) | Car or bus to the Yakusugi Museum, then the Arakawa mountain bus, about 40 min (March–November) | Bus ¥3,000 round trip, including the ¥1,000 day-hike conservation fee | 8–10 hours on foot; first bus up 5:00, last bus back 17:45 |
| Shiratani Unsuikyo | About 25 min by car from Miyanoura Port, or route bus (7 a day) | ¥800 | Courses of 1 h 10 min, 3 hours and 4 hours |
| Yakusugi Land | About 31 min by car from Anbo, or bus (2 a day) | ¥800 | Courses of 30 to 210 minutes |
| Museums: Village Center, Yakusugi Museum | 5 min on foot from Miyanoura Port · 5 min by car from Anbo | ¥530 · ¥600 | Both 9:00–17:00, last entry 16:30 |
| Waterfalls: Senpiro, Okonotaki | 23 min by car from Anbo · 55 min by car from Anbo, or bus + 5 min on foot | — | Senpiro: nearest bus stop is about 60 min on foot |
| Hot springs: Onoaida, Hirauchi Kaichu | About 60 min · about 80 min by bus from Miyanoura Port | ¥300 · ¥300 donation suggested | Onoaida 7:00–21:00 · Hirauchi only around low tide |
By kind of trip
First visit, without the long hike
The Yayoisugi course at Shiratani takes about 1 hour 10 minutes and Yakusugi Land has courses from 30 minutes; both charge ¥800. The Village Center is 5 minutes on foot from Miyanoura Port.
Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine · Yakusugi Land · Yakushima Environmental and Cultural Village Center
The Jomon Sugi day
Buy the bus ticket by the day before at a tourism association office or the Village Center; it includes the ¥1,000 conservation fee. The first bus leaves the Yakusugi Museum at 5:00 and the last one leaves the trailhead at 17:45.
Jomon Sugi trek (Arakawa route) · Yakusugi Museum · Yakushima Environmental and Cultural Village Center
Rain
The two museums are indoors, and the Onoaida bath is open until 21:00. Shiratani Unsuikyo closes when the creeks rise.
Yakusugi Museum · Yakushima Environmental and Cultural Village Center · Onoaida Onsen
South coast by car
Senpiro Falls is about 23 minutes from Anbo and Okonotaki about 55. Time Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen to the tide: it is above water for about 2 hours either side of low tide.
Senpiro Falls · Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen · Onoaida Onsen · Okonotaki Falls
West coast and turtles
There is no bus on the Seibu Rindo between Nagata and Okonotaki, and large vehicles cannot use it. At Inakahama, nesting can be watched only on the turtle council's sessions, early May to mid-July.
Seibu Rindo (Western Forest Road) · Nagata Inakahama Beach · Okonotaki Falls
Questions
How do I get to Yakushima?
By air, Japan Air Commuter flies from Kagoshima (about 40 minutes, 4–8 flights a day), Fukuoka and Osaka Itami (one a day each). By sea from Kagoshima's South Pier: the Toppy and Rocket high-speed boats take 1 hour 50 minutes direct to Miyanoura or 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 50 minutes via Tanegashima (¥14,000 adult one way), and Ferry Yakushima 2 leaves at 8:30 and reaches Miyanoura at 12:30 (¥7,000 second class).
Do I have to pay a fee to hike to the Jomon Sugi?
The mountain conservation fee is ¥1,000 for a day hike and ¥2,000 if you sleep in the mountains, for junior high age and up. Bus riders pay it with the Arakawa bus ticket. If you only walk inside Shiratani Unsuikyo (up to Tsuji Pass), you pay the ¥800 forest fee there instead.
Can I drive to the Jomon Sugi trailhead?
Not from 1 March to 30 November. Private cars, rental cars, motorbikes and bicycles park at the Yakusugi Museum and change to the Arakawa mountain bus (about 40 minutes). Taxis and charter buses may drive through, and their passengers pay the conservation fee.
When can I bathe at Hirauchi Kaichu Onsen?
Only around low tide: for about two hours before and after each of the two low tides a day. It is mixed bathing; swimsuits and underwear are not allowed, but a wrapped bath towel or bathing wrap is. A ¥300 donation is suggested.
Can I see sea turtles at Nagata Inakahama?
Turtles come ashore to nest from May to July. From 1 May to 30 September the beach is closed from 20:00 to 5:00; to watch nesting, book an observation session with the Nagata Turtle Liaison Council (early May to mid-July, 20:30–23:00, 0997-45-2280).