Yakushima

The official website offers useful information in English at the bottom of its download page: city plans, bus schedules and fares, hiking maps and a list of housings (with prices).

In the north of the island, near the port of Miyanoura, there are three places where you can get information.

1 Tourist Information Center (屋久島観光協会案内所, Yakushima kankōkyōkai annaijo) (at the regural ferry terminal, further than the Toppy and Rocket terminal). May have staff fluent in English. Contains useful information leaflets, including bus timetables with destinations in Japanese/Kanji only (as 2010).

2 Environmental Culture Village Center (環境文化村センター), 823-1 Miyanoura (On the road going out of the port.), ☏ +81 997-42-2900. A museum/library proposing information about the nature and the culture.

3 Yakushima Tourism Center (屋久島観光センター, Yakushima kankō senta-), 799 Miyanoura (leave the port, once at the main road turn left, it will be a green building on the right side of the road), ☏ +81 997-42-0091. 09:00-18:00 daily. It offers among others information on transportation, souvenir shops, hiking equipment rental and restaurants. English is spoken.

There is also a tourism office in Anbō.

4 Anbō Tourism Office (観光案内所, Kankō-annaijo) (coming from the ferry terminal head straight across the street to find the office in the same building as the supermarket). Offers plans and leaflets.

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

1 Yakushima Airport (KUM IATA, 屋久島空港 Yakushima kūkō), 501 Koseda (located between Miyanoura and Anbo ports along the circumference of the island), ☏ +81 997-42-1200. Has direct flights from Kagoshima (which is 50 min away in bus from the city center), Fukuoka, and Osaka, Itami. (updated Jan 2016)

There are ferry connections to Kagoshima and Shimama.

The "Toppy" (トッピー) and "Rocket" (ロケット) Jetfoil ferries [1] (formerly two separate companies) can be taken from Kagoshima; they both take approximately 2 hours depending on if there are stops at Ibusuki and Tanegashima. Roundtrip adult tickets cost ¥25,900 (as of May 2026) and run 4 times a day, although regular ferry as well as jet foil ferry services are canceled in bad weather (waves more than 3 meters high). It is also better to make a reservation at least the day before, some boats can be fully booked.

Timetables are available on this page (Japanese; Kagoshima: 鹿児島, Yakushima: 屋久島). Before your departure, you can see the traffic situation on this other page. The important symbols are: "○" (normal traffic), "△" (will operate, but may need to reroute), "※" (may be cancelled), "欠" (cancelled) and "－" (not in operation).

Ferries can arrive at either Miyanoura port or Anbo port, so take care to plan the following transport and accommodation accordingly.

You can find bus timetables in English on this page on the site of the tourism office (may not be the latest).

A highway runs around the island's coast. Buses travel most of this outer ring around once an hour from 07:00 to 18:00, taking in the airport, the two major ports, the beaches and hot springs.

There are also infrequent buses to the entrances of the hiking trails in the island's interior: 4 daily to the Arakawa trail (Jomon sugi) and 2 to Yakusugiland, and 6 times daily to Shiratani Unsuikyo.

Buses to the Arakawa trail departs either from Miyanoura or the Yakusugi Museum in Anbō. If you take the bus early in the morning at the museum, make sure you know how to get there. For most of the buses, there is no public transportation to get there! From Anbō, it's a 50-minute walk uphill along a road with parts without sidewalk and lighting.

Fares are determined by the distance traveled and are not cheap — for example, the Miyanoura–Arakawa trail head is ¥1,400 one way.

As often in Japan, you need to take a ticket (having a number for this stop) when getting on the bus. Before getting off the bus (at its front), check on the fare panel the amount corresponding to this number, and pay at the machine next to the driver. The change-making machines do not exchange new 1000-yen banknotes nor new 500-yen coins. There is an unlimited bus pass available. As of March 2026, the unlimited bus pass costs ¥2500 for 1 day, ¥4000 for 2 days, and ¥5000 for 4 days (half price for children).

There is an excursion bus tour advertised by Yakushima Kotsu called Yakuzaru-Go, run by a separate company called Yakushima Tour Operations. It is a Japanese-only tour, so it requires enough Japanese ability to know when to return to the bus (or a translation app). It is primarily booked through guesthouses (but can be booked online) and reservations are required by 17:00 the day prior to the tour date. It accepts roller bags as luggage, so it may double as an option to move between towns and accommodations.

Rental centers will rent cars, scooters and mountain bikes for flexible periods of time from 3 hours to 2 days with built in extensions of a day — and penalties per hour late.

A small car (1L) comfortable for 1 or 2 people can be had for around ¥5,000. Regular cars range from ¥6,300 to ¥10,000 a day. People movers — vans with capacity from 6-7 to 8-10 people — range from ¥16,000 to ¥21,000 a day. Electric vehicles like the Toyota RAV4 EV can be seen (not heard) creeping around but sadly aren't for rent.

50cc scooters "baiku" can be hired for around ¥4,000 per day, ¥7,000 for 2 days, and ¥3,000 per day after.

Mountain bike hire in Miyanoura (+81 997-42-0091 and -0944) for ¥800 a day.

Taxis can be found at the airport and ferry ports around ferry arrival times — particularly the first arrival of the day — and are scarce at other hours. Taxi phone numbers can be found here but they don't speak English.

It's easy to feel a little lost when first getting off the ferry at Miyanoura port. There's just a few people, not many tourists to follow, no apparent guides to help you get on a bus and no taxi. Overall there are more vending machines than people walking on the street.

The ferry ports have separate landing wharves for the regular ferry, and the Toppy and Rocket companies.

You can find three places in the neighbourhood where you can find tourism information (see Understand).

The usual way to approach the remains of the giant tree is via the Arakawa trail, a round trip of approximately 10 hours. There is limited parking at the trail head, or it can be reached by a complex series of buses. First, drive, or take a bus or taxi to the Yakusugi Museum (Yakusugi Shizenkan) Complex. The trip from here to the trail head at Arakawa Tozanguchi bus stop is on two further buses with the change halfway and a combined fare of ¥1010. The first, easy part of the hike is along the tracks of the railroad used to haul out cedar logs. After about two hours, the trail turns off the rails and from here it's a hard two-hour climb up the well-maintained path, passing Wilson's Stump, the huge hollow remains of a logged tree, and on up to Jomon sugi. Many visitors make the hike in a group with a guide. This isn't necessary as the trail is well-marked, but a guide enriches the experience by pointing out and giving you the (Japanese-language) inside information on the history and landmarks. Food and water must be carried in, but water can be replenished halfway along the railroad and at the drinking streams near the destination. Solid walking shoes or light hiking boots are best, with sneakers possible if you're careful. It rains at least part of most days, so pack an umbrella or plastic rain jacket. Because of the hiking time and time required to get to the trails from the coast, hikers often start out before 05:00. If you have not reached the remains of the Jomon sugi by 13:00, it may be advisable to turn around or you may by caught on the trail by night fall. An alternative way to Jomon sugi is starting at Shiratani Unsuikyo. This route begins with the hike through the Shiratani Unsuikyo forest (see above), taking the right fork to Mononoke-hime-no-Mori, then climbing steeply toward (but not to) Taikoiwa rock, and going over the Tsujitoge pass before descending to join the Arakawa trail where it turns off the railroad, for a 12-hour round trip.

Longer hikes with overnight stays are available for the adventurous. The hiking trails are among the most pristine and lonely in Japan. The hike to the top of the highest peaks Miyanoura-dake (1867 m) and Nagata-dake (1886 m) and back (or across the island) is tough, typically requiring two to four days depending on the route you select. There are a few mountain huts along the way, but they are nothing more than empty structures so bring your own bedding and provisions. It will rain.

There are a few white sand beaches with clear water at various places on the coast. If there is no lifeguard, swim with caution. Nagata-no-hama beach has a small reef system nearby so it is possible to see some marine life. At the southern/western end of this beach there are some showers available for use.

Several scuba diving shops can also be found.

4 Hirauchi Kaichū Onsen (平内海中温泉), Hirauchi. This onsen is only usable for a few hours before and after low tide. It is also very well-known, and the constant flow of visitors can make it a less-than-relaxing place to bathe. ¥300. (updated May 2026)

5 Yudomari Onsen (湯泊温泉), 1714-28 Yudomari (a few kilometers west, below picturesque Yudomari village). 24 hr. Far better is Yudomari Onsen. The tiny main pool has a bamboo screen that offers a modicum of separation between the sexes. But keep walking down the concrete path to the left of this bath and you will come to an even smaller, more private pool. Between soaks, slip down to the sea for a swim among the rocks. Just outside the entrance, a small bar serves cold beer and other drinks and snacks. ¥300. (updated May 2026)

Anbō has a choice of restaurants wide enough for a short stay:

2 Banraiken (萬来軒) (in Anbō next to the post office). This simple Chinese-food restaurant offers among others tasty ramen and fried rice (chahan, チャーハン) in large quantity. Dishes up to ¥1000.

3 Renga ya (れんが屋) (On the Anbō road). Yakiniku restaurant (Japanese barbecue) Yakiniku from ¥1500.

4 MOS Burger (モスバーガー) (on the main road, from the bridge head to the town, on the right at the first junction). If you give up on the culinary specialties of the area (shame!), you can still opt for this fast food franchise whose hamburger taste more Japanese than their competitors.

If you need a meal for your lunch:

5 Dekitate-ya (できたて屋) (on the main road, from the bridge head to the town, on the right after the first junction), ☏ +81 997-46-3790, matumineso@po.minc.ne.jp. Prepare bentō (lunch box). Order the day before at 20:00 at the latest. If they are closed, you may need help to order by phone if you don't speak Japanese. ¥1000 for a breakfast and a lunch. (updated Sep 2015)

Otherwise you can still go to the supermarket A-Coop (see section "Buy")

Camping is not allowed in the national park, but backpackers can find several small huts along the trails in the central mountains of the island that they can stay in free of charge. These huts vary in size and can accommodate anywhere from 20-60 people. However, they are little more than four concrete or wooden walls and a roof, and at night they get very cold. Backpackers should be well equipped with sleeping bags and heavy clothing even when weather along the coast is warm and pleasant. Rental equipment from Miyanoura is not always up to par.

Camping sites at the coast are about ¥800 and a few backpackers starting from ¥1600 for accommodation only.

There are two youth hostels on the island, both of which are dormitory-style type and cost about ¥3000 per person.

2 Yakushima Coliving MINATO (屋久島コリビングみなと), 278-2 Miyanoura, ☏ +81 997-49-1316. Check-in: 22:00, check-out: 12:00. A youth hostel near the Minanoura Port.

3 Minshuku Torokko no yado (民宿 トロッコの宿), 891-4311, Yakushima Anbo 163-1 (10 min from Anbo Port), ☏ +81 997-46-2633, fax: +81 997-46-3852, torokkonoyado@lemon.plala.or.jp. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 09:30. Rooms with LCD TV, air conditioning and a small fridge. Shared bathroom and free washing machine. Wi-Fi for a small charge. ¥3500 single, ¥6000 double.

There are many small lodges which run ¥5000-8000 with 2 meals.

4 Shiki no Yado (四季の宿), 642-15 Onoaida, ☏ +81 997-47-3377. A small family-run lodge with a choice of Japanese style rooms, Western rooms or cottages. Beer is separately purchasable, and for ¥700 they will sell you a lunch the next day — recommended for hikers. ¥8000 including breakfast and dinner. (updated May 2024)

5 Lodge Yaedake Sanso (ロッジ八重岳山荘), 2191 Miyanoura (off the track from 牛床公園 bus stop on the route up the mountain from Miyanoura to Shiratani Unsuikyo), ☏ +81 997-42-1551. Ryokan (separate toilet and hot spring water bath) with tatami mat rooms interconnected with wooden walkways. It is located within a forest of thin cedar trees which the rooms have balconies opening onto, and is right next to a clean, fresh water river. There are kayaks, a barbecue area, and a free laundry and dryer. During the rain it has a cozy, lovely, dark, and aromatic experience in sharp contrast to the dense compact cities of modern Japan. Due to the backwoods location, pick-up can be arranged in advanced. (updated May 2024)

6 Samana Hotel Yakushima (サマナホテル屋久島), 136-2 Onoaida, ☏ +81 997-47-2011. The modern nonagonal hotel building is situated on a point so the Pacific horizon seems to stretch endlessly. Opposite, the island's mountains rise in a sheer rock face. The rooms and food are excellent, and there is a hot spring (including a rotenburo outdoor bath) overlooking the ocean. The staff are polite and thoughtful, even by Japanese standards. ¥15,000 including breakfast and dinner. (updated May 2024)