2024 Yakushima Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in November)

Hiking through the trail of Yakushima Island

Yakushima Island is about 60km south of Kagoshima city in Kyushu , Japan. It can be reached by ferry from Kagoshima, or by plane from Kagoshima, Fukuoka, or Osaka ( about one hour). Yakushima gained UNESCO world heritage status in 1993 and is known for its natural beauty, including wildlife and cedar forests. Some of the cedars are over 1000 years old, with diameter of 7-8meters. A few animals are also unique to the island - including the Yaku Monkey and the Yaku deer. We were so lucky to have seen both of them at the end of our trekking. To get to the main trail at Shiratani Unsuikyu, take the bus from the main port of Miyanoura. The fare costs 560 yen one way and only takes 25 minutes uphill. The buses do not run frequently, so renting a car may be a better option if you want to see more of the island within a short time (1-2 days). It takes 3-5 hours to complete the trails at Shiratani, so it is best to start in the early morning. We arrived the island by plane at 11am, and barely made it to the 1pm bus. The last bus that returns to Miyanoura leaves at 4:10pm. So you will have about three hours for the hike. We were lucky to have a cool and dry day, which helped us to complete the trail and see the cedar, moss forest , and the animals on this trip! ##Yakushima ##kyushu ##unescoworldheritage ##hiking

Yakushima

Yakushima is an island in Kyushu, about 90% of the island is covered by mountainous areas and forests, which makes it a very popular spot for hiking. It’s also known as the difficult hikes which takes 9 hours to complete in a round trip, but you can choose hiking courses depending on your level. The easiest one is only 30 minutes long which is suitable for children and beginners. Yakushima offers breathtaking beauty in nature which takes you away from the hustle and bustle in the city. #themeparks

Hiking Guide: Yakushima, Japan is waiting for you!

🌿 🏞️This island is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced hiker, you'll find your own fun here!🌟 👣Suitable for: ⭕️Beginner-friendly: If you're not very familiar with hiking, the Kigensugi and Yayoi Sugi routes in Shiratani Unsuikyo are your best choices. They're easy to start with and offer beautiful scenery. ⭕️Intermediate challenge: For those with some hiking experience, the Tenmon Forest, Yamato Sugi, and Bugyo Sugi and Taiko Iwa routes are good choices. They're moderately difficult and offer stunning scenery. ⭕️Advanced challenge: If you're an experienced hiker, the Jomon Sugi, Miyanoura-dake, and Mt. Nagata routes will definitely satisfy you. Challenge yourself and conquer the peaks! 📅Itinerary planning: Short walk: Choose the Kigensugi or Yayoi Sugi routes to enjoy a relaxing hiking experience and get up close to ancient cedar trees. Medium to long adventure: The Tenmon Forest, Yamato Sugi, or Bugyo Sugi routes let you experience the wonders of nature and explore the unknown. Extreme challenge: The Jomon Sugi, Miyanoura-dake, or Mt. Nagata routes are suitable for thrill-seekers. Climb the peaks and enjoy the magnificent views of the entire island. 🏞️Highlights: 🌲Ancient cedars: Yakushima is home to many ancient cedar trees, each with a thousand-year-old story waiting for you to hear. 💦Waterfalls: The waterfalls in Shiratani Unsuikyo are a paradise for photographers. Remember to bring your camera to capture every wonderful moment. 🐦Birdwatching: While hiking, pay attention to the birdsong around you. You might spot some rare birds! 🍴Food recommendations: Japanese cuisine: Try the local Japanese cuisine and experience the charm of Japanese food culture. Picnic: Bring your favorite food and find a scenic spot during your hike to enjoy a leisurely picnic! 💡Travel tips: ⚠️Be prepared: Check your equipment before hiking, especially waterproof hiking shoes and trekking poles! ⚠️Safety first: Pay attention to safety while hiking, follow local laws and regulations, and don't act on your own. ⚠️Eco-friendly travel: Protecting the natural environment is everyone's responsibility. Remember to take your trash with you and keep Yakushima beautiful and clean.

The Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine in Yakushima was truly like a world from Studio Ghibli!

The Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine in Yakushima is the setting for a famous Studio Ghibli animated film✨ I started my hike before dawn and waited for the sunrise in Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine! The forest gradually regained its brightness, creating a truly magical atmosphere. I couldn't help but marvel at the fact that such a world exists in Japan🥹 By the way, it takes 90 minutes to reach the Mossy Forest from the trailhead and 2 hours to reach Taiko Rock🥾 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Name: Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine Address: Miyanoura, Yakushima Town, Kumage District, Kagoshima Prefecture Access: About 30 minutes by bus from Miyanoura Port to the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine trailhead Closed: Open year-round - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beautiful Forest in Yakushima Island

Yakushima Island, located off the southern coast of Kyushu in Japan, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its ancient cedar forests and unique biodiversity. The island’s mystical atmosphere is created by the dense, moss-covered trees, particularly the yakusugi (ancient cedar trees), some of which are over 1,000 years old. Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine, a popular hiking destination, inspired the forest scenes in Studio Ghibli’s *Princess Mononoke*. The island is also home to diverse wildlife, including macaques and deer, thriving in its subtropical and temperate climate. Yakushima’s pristine rivers, waterfalls, and lush vegetation make it a paradise for nature lovers and hikers. Visitors often come to experience the stunning beauty of Jomon Sugi, the island’s oldest tree, which is estimated to be over 7,000 years old. With its ever-changing weather and rich natural landscapes, Yakushima offers a truly unforgettable journey into Japan’s wild side. #forest

Emerald Isle of the Gods: Yakushima's Pristine Paradise

#japantrip Yakushima Island is a nature lover's nirvana! This enchanting isle boasts majestic mountains, inviting hiking trails, and a stunning volcanic coastline teeming with tide pools. The lush green forests, sparkling waterfalls, and rugged shores will leave you spellbound. No wonder it inspired the iconic film Princess Mononoke! As I explored this hidden gem, I felt like I stepped into a mystical world. With its unspoiled beauty and diverse wildlife, Yakushima is a true marvel of Japan's natural heritage. If you seek an immersive experience amidst nature's splendor, let Yakushima's emerald landscapes captivate your senses.

Yakushima /

The charming Yakushima Karin with its wood-themed interior 🏡 This shop offers products made from Yakushima-grown fruits and vegetables 🍊 They use safe ingredients without additives or preservatives ✨ The store also had original jams and baked goods! Tankans Smoothie ¥650 It was refreshing and delicious! I would love to visit again when I come back ♡ 📍Location: 672-1 Onoaida, Yakushima-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima 🕰️Business hours: 10:00~17:15 Closed on Sundays and Mondays 💰Price per person: ¥1,000

World Heritage Hidden Gem - Yakushima, Japan

If you go to Kagoshima, be sure to set aside 2 days for Yakushima. Located at the southernmost tip of Japan, Yakushima was listed as a World Natural Heritage site in 1993, a hidden gem and a fairyland-like destination. To tour Yakushima, we contacted a local driver-guide in advance to arrange transportation, accommodation, a guide, and a simple lunch. Early in the morning, we took a ferry from Kagoshima for about an hour to reach Yakushima. The island, with its abundant water sources and ample sunlight, has nurtured Yakusugi cedars that are over a thousand years old. Jomon Sugi is the second-largest ancient cedar on the island, over 1300 years old. The tree hosts a variety of life forms and has a unique shape, as if carved by the divine craftsmanship of nature; along the mountain roads, Yakushima macaques can be seen everywhere. It is said that there are 10,000 macaques on the island to the 15,000 human residents; also, Yakushima deer, which coexist with the macaques, are extremely cute. The island is covered with lush green moss, with as many as 600 species. There are two spots in Japan known as 'taki', which we call waterfalls, where few tourists go, making them perfect for photography and even better for leisurely appreciation, bringing tranquility and cleansing to the soul. When you come to Yakushima, you can stay at a local hot spring hotel for a night, soak in the hot springs, taste delicious food, and even purchase souvenirs made of Yakusugi cedar, which leave a lasting fragrance and long-lasting memories.

Must-Stay Hotels in Kagoshima

Sankara Hotel & Spa Yakushima After hiking in Yakushima, there's no better place to relax than Sankara Hotel & Spa Yakushima ⛰️. Take a comfortable bath in the tub♨️, and the daybed is so cozy you won't want to get up😴! The butler service and food are top-notch! Where to go tomorrow? The butler will tell you everything👌! 📍Address: Mugio 553, Yakushima Miru Amami When on a road trip to Amami Oshima, choose Miru Amami for its ocean views!🏞️ It has its own beach🏖️, and the hotel shuttle driver enthusiastically recommends places to visit and ice cream🍦, making it an unforgettable experience. The sea view villas are the perfect pick-me-up! 📍Address: 800 Ashitoku, Tatsugo-cho, Oshima-gun, Kagoshima SHIROYAMA HOTEL kagoshima Choosing SHIROYAMA HOTEL kagoshima in Kagoshima is a no-brainer! In a rush? They have a bus that goes directly to the city center, super convenient💥! Sakurajima volcano is right before your eyes, and the breakfast includes delicious Kagoshima black pork hot pot🍲! Enjoying the moon while soaking in an open-air bath at night is better than watching TV🌕! 📍Address: 41-1 Shinshoin-cho, Kagoshima City La Vista Kirishima Hills The view from the floor-to-ceiling windows at La Vista Kirishima Hills in the Kirishima Mountains is worth the room price💸! Each room has an open-air hot spring, and it feels great even when taking a cool shower! For dinner, you can enjoy Western cuisine, which is a real treat in the highlands at night! 📍Address: 3812-6 Makizonocho Takachiho Hoshino Resorts Kai Kirishima Finally, introducing 'Kai Kirishima' by Hoshino Resorts😉! A new vacation spot in the heart of the Kirishima Highlands, surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Sakurajima. The open-air baths are set amidst the grasslands, allowing you to enjoy the hot springs while gazing out at Kinko Bay. Such room design is truly clever🤗! 📍Address: 2583-21 Kirishimayama, Kirishimataguchi

Yakushima

A very primitive place, the only drawback is inconvenient transportation. It's impossible to visit all the attractions on the island in one day. There are just too many sights on this small island. The most famous are several hiking trails. I took the Jomon Sugi and Shiratani Unsuikyo trails. The moss forest in Shiratani Unsuikyo is the location for the film Princess Mononoke. The experience is ordinary when you are there. If you go further into the forest to Taiko-iwa Rock, the view is better. The Jomon Sugi trail is 22km round trip, suitable for those who are very confident in their physical strength. Because the bus ends early, but hiking takes at least 10 hours, so I hired a guide at the time. But actually, there are paths in the forest, so you don't have to worry about getting lost in it. So people who walk fast can save the cost of hiring a guide.

At the last stop, the cruise ship arrived at Kagoshima, the southernmost tip of Kyushu, Japan. It has not yet landed, and the mobile phone received information about a five-level earthquake. When I first went to Japan, I encountered an earthquake at Mito, this time. I am used to it, I will not panic any more. After all, the earthquake resistance index of people's houses is very high. They are notified that they can go ashore on time, and everyone has come to the meeting point early. Because I am not very familiar with this place, I heard that the tour guide introduced the bus not only the sea, but also the active volcano, the rich hot springs and the dense forest. Since natural hot springs are so famous, even in summer, you have to make a bubble. To store shoes before entering the pool, they prepared bathing supplies and disposable towels for each visitor, which is quite intimate. The Japanese hot springs are separate for men and women. There are female soup pools and male soup pools. They are all naked baths. Don't be embarrassed. It is very similar to our domestic large bathhouse. There are several pools inside, and you can shower after you have finished. Because it is summer, the time of bathing should not be too long, I will come out in about 20 minutes.

The Baigu Yunshui Gorge is a valley that flows through the Baigu River, a tributary of the Urawa River in the northern part of Yakushima. Due to the abundant rainfall, the huge rock such as Taiguyan formed by the erosion of granite is covered with dense primary forest. The native forest has a 3,000-year-old "Baishengshan" that makes Kagoshima people very proud. Most people who like Japanese cartoons know that Miyazaki is also familiar with "The Valley of the Winds", "City of the Sky", "My Neighbor Totoro", "The Witch's Delivery Service", "Magic Princess" "Spirited Away", "Hal's Moving Castle", "The Goldfish Princess on the Cliff" and his last "Wind Up" in 2013. is not only the model of the mountain beast god forest scene in Hayao Miyazaki's "Magic Princess", but also the most beautiful hiking route on Yakushima. There are waterfalls, streams and suspension bridges at the entrance. The map of the Yakushima Forest Conservation Management Association began to hike, and the red line was the shortest. It took about an hour to walk around, mainly to see the cedar and the second generation Dashan.

The prototype of "Princess Mononoke": Yakushima White Valley Yunshui Gorge About Baigu Yunshui Gorge: It is a valley flowing through the Baigu River, a tributary of the Puji River in the northern part of Yakushima. Due to the abundant rainfall, the huge rock such as Taiguyan formed by the erosion of granite is covered with dense native forest. The valley is covered with moss, flowing water, and there are often wild deer and wild monkeys. Miyazaki's "Princess Mononoke" was inspired by the mossy forest in the Baishui Yunshui Gorge. There are three routes to choose from in the Baigu Yunshuixia Scenic Area, one hour to watch the 3,000-year-old Yayoi, three hours to the White Valley Lodge and the Princess of the Monsters, and five hours to the Taikoyan route. is located in the northern part of Yakushima and is a 424-hectare natural recreation forest. Here, the stream rushes down, and the evergreen broad-leaved trees and the ancient house long-sleeved shirts are row upon row. There is also a virgin forest of moss and ferns that is the source of inspiration for Miyazaki's animated film Princess Mononoke. belongs to the primary-intermediate line, and most people can walk down. Yakushima, regardless of the hiking route, is marked with a pink tape, usually tied to a branch, sometimes on the ground, the Baigu Yunshuixia line is clearly marked, and there is no guide and it is completely ok. Be careful, don't slip. About transportation: Gongzhipu Port-- Baigu Yunshui Gorge has a bus to and from the city, four shifts a day. You can also go to Miyakoura Port or Yakushima Airport. Of course, you can also complete a group tour of Yakushima in Kagoshima. In Yakushima, except for self-driving, it is basically a group tour~ Its really not much like I have to walk freely... English is almost impossible in this place. Friendly Tips: 1. Don't be smug, be sure to wear hiking gear to go hiking!! personally feel that the Shanshou Trail is much better than the Yasugi Trail. After all, it is a mountain road. The scenery is completely different. Because it is a bus trip in Yakushima, it is regrettable to give up the Taiguyan Trail in order to catch up with the last bus.