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Last update: Oct 19, 2026
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Yakushima Summary
These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.
"Best for" scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.
"Your personal" scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.
"Suited for" badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travelers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.
Suited for
Japan – Quick facts
| Power Grid: |
100 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A
Type A:
 Read about power adapters |
|---|---|
| Currency: |
Japanese Yen (JPY) $1 ≈ ¥158 |
| Cashless info: |
Rating 4/5
Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities, with some shops still preferring cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations in rural areas.
Save with a travel credit card |
| eSIM providers: |
Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison |
| Tipping: | Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is the norm, and tipping is unnecessary in most places. |
|---|---|
| Public drinking: | Public drinking is legal and commonly accepted, particularly during festivals and events. |
| Public smoking: | Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas. Some restaurants may have smoking sections. |
| New Year (January) |
One of the most important holidays, expect crowded temples and high prices. Plan ahead. |
|---|---|
| Golden Week (April-May) |
The busiest travel time, expect high demand for accommodation and transportation. |
| Obon (August) |
A time to honor ancestors, many businesses close, and transportation can be crowded. |
| Emergency contact: | Emergency Number: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire & Ambulance) |
|---|---|
| Taxi apps: | Uber, JapanTaxi, DiDi |
| Other: | Japan is a country of respect, so understanding local customs and etiquette is important. Public transportation is efficient, but can be crowded during peak hours. |
Best times to travel
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
for Yakushima, Japan
Arakawa trailhead to Jomon Sugi reachable only by shuttle bus March to November, private cars not allowed
Typhoons August to October can cancel ferries and flights and close mountain trails
Mountain trails often snowy or icy December to March, winter gear needed for the highlands
Loggerhead sea turtles nest at Inakahama beach May to July, nighttime viewing possible
Don't miss
- 🌲 Hike through the ancient cedar forests of Shiratani Unsuikyo
- 🌳 See Jomon Sugi, Japan’s legendary 7,000-year-old cedar tree
- 🐒 Spot Yakushima macaques and deer along forest trails
- ♨️ Relax in seaside hot springs at sunset after hiking
- 🏞️ Swim beneath picturesque waterfalls surrounded by lush jungle
You've been here?
Log in to manage your own bucket list! Why travel to Yakushima?
Yakushima is a forest island. Mountain areas get up to six times as much rain as Tokyo, which feeds moss-covered ravines and giant yakusugi cedars that grow slowly and live for centuries. Jomon Sugi is the most famous, a cedar 85 ft tall with a trunk 55 ft around, estimated at somewhere between 2,000 and 7,200 years old. The round trip on foot takes around 10 hours. Easier walks have much of the same atmosphere. Shiratani Unsuikyo is a moss-covered forest with boardwalk in places while Yakusugi Land has a collection of huge old cedars. Okonotaki Falls drops 290 ft and Senpironotaki drops about 200 ft down a granite face. The island also has wildlife. The Yakushima macaque lives only here. Nagata Inaka Beach is Japan's largest sea turtle nesting site. Climate zones change with altitude from subtropical on the coast to subarctic near the summits, so the vegetation shifts as you climb. Plan at least two or three days and longer if you want to hike the high peaks or do the Jomon Sugi route. Yakushima isn't a beach or nightlife destination. It suits people who like long walks and don't mind rain.
🏯Places worth seeing
-
1
Yakushima National Park
🎡Places for activities
🏞️Natural landmarks
🛍️Shopping
-
1
Environmental Culture Village Center
🍽️Eat & Drink
-
1
Oshokujidokoro Shiosai
Kubi-ore mackerel sashimi and tobiuo, whole fried flying fish that diners can eat bones and all. The seafood restaurant is a 5-minute walk from Miyanoura Port, near the river mouth. -
2
Katagiri-san
Tobiuo hitsumabushi, sweet-savory flying fish over rice, eaten plain, with condiments and then as a tea-style soup with fish broth. The restaurant also serves set meals and pasta and is a 10-minute walk from Anbo Port. -
3
Shimaumi Kitchen Sirius
Mapo tofu rice bowl with tofu from the island's Nagata district, plus a seafood bowl topped with a hot spring egg. It is a 1-minute walk from the Anbo bus stop. -
4
Iso no Kaori
Sushi, sashimi and fish dishes made with local fish, plus other dishes, at a restaurant that serves lunch and dinner. It is a 2-minute walk from the Anbo central bus stop. -
5
Yashima
Nigiri sushi and sashimi of local fish such as flying fish and kubi-ore mackerel, which locals eat raw. The shop serves lunch and opens for dinner on only two nights a week. -
6
Wakadaisho
Local fish from the restaurant's own fishing boats at an izakaya, a Japanese pub, in Miyanoura. The restaurant is on the street by the Miyanoura branch of the Kagoshima Bank. -
7
Restaurant & Caffe Yakushima
Flying fish ramen, a rare local noodle soup, and mango ice cream at a restaurant and cafe in the Yakushima Tourist Center. It is open daily from morning until mid-afternoon.
🎈Events
-
Sea Turtle Nesting (June–September)
-
Yakushima Trail Run (March)
-
Yakusugi Festival (October)
-
Yakushima Eco Marathon
-
Yakushima Mountain Festival
-
Autumn Foliage Viewing (October–November)
-
Spring Cherry Blossom Walks
Knowledge before you go
- Start Jomon Sugi hikes before dawn to be back by sunset.
- Private cars can't reach the Arakawa trailhead from March to November, so take the shuttle bus.
- Bring full rain gear even in summer, because the mountains get up to six times Tokyo's rainfall.
- You can't get close to Jomon Sugi, since a deck about 49 ft away protects its roots.
How to travel to Yakushima
Most visitors reach Yakushima from Kagoshima by plane or ferry. From Tokyo Haneda to Kagoshima Airport takes under 2 hours and a connecting flight to Yakushima Airport (KUM) takes about 40 minutes. Some flights also link Yakushima with other Kyushu and Kansai cities. Ferries run from Kagoshima Port to Miyanoura or Anbo. The high-speed ferry takes about 2.5 hours and the regular car ferry about 4 hours at a lower fare. Rough seas and typhoons can cancel sailings and flights, so leave a day of slack at the end of your trip. Kagoshima itself is reached by the Kyushu Shinkansen from Fukuoka in roughly 1.5 hours. If you plan to drive on the island, rent a car there rather than bringing your own on the ferry.
Access summary
- From Yakushima Airport (KUM): Short taxi or bus to main towns, 10–30 minutes.
- From Kagoshima: 40‑minute flight or 2–3 hour jetfoil to Miyanoura/Anbo.
- From mainland cities (Tokyo/Osaka/Fukuoka): Fly to Kagoshima, then onward flight or ferry.
Check your route from anywhere
Where to stay in Yakushima
Yakushima has small guesthouses, minshuku, inns and a few hotels spread around the coast. Miyanoura and Anbo are the two main bases, with shops, restaurants and the ferry ports. The Arakawa trailhead for Jomon Sugi is a 30 minute bus ride from Anbo. Most places are modest and family-run. Many prepare early breakfasts or packed lunches for hikers if you ask. Mountain huts and campsites serve trekkers on multi-day routes. Many lodgings offer dinner packages, which helps because restaurants are few outside the two towns. The island has few rooms for its popularity, so book early for Golden Week, summer holidays and long weekends.
Hotel recommendations
*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.
How to get around Yakushima
A single ring road goes around Yakushima. Most sights are along it or on side roads that lead inland. The ferry ports are at Miyanoura and Anbo.
Car:
Rental cars are available near Miyanoura Port, Anbo Port and Yakushima Airport. Shiratani Unsuikyo is about 25 minutes by car from Miyanoura.
Buses, taxis and tours:
Buses run regularly on the ring road but many attractions are remote, so private transport is the practical choice. Taxis and guided tours are the alternative if you'd rather not drive on narrow, wet roads.
Trailhead shuttle:
Private cars aren't allowed on the access road to the Jomon Sugi trailhead for part of the year. A shuttle bus runs from the Yakusugi Museum instead.
Food in Yakushima
Food on Yakushima is simple and local. Flying fish is the signature dish and shows up at lunch and dinner as sashimi, deep-fried or in local set meals. Many shops sell bento boxes wrapped in bamboo leaves that are handy for trail days. Mitake is the local shochu and comes in 25 and 39 percent versions.
Restaurants are concentrated in Miyanoura and Anbo, with a handful along the coast. Outside the towns choices are thin and some places close early, so plan dinner before you head back to your lodging. Supermarkets and convenience stores in the two main towns sell snacks and drinks for the trail.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home
We calculate the average costs when traveling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.
To customize this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.
Daily expenses in the region are around 46% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend
The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.
Your exchange rate (USD to JPY) is 17% better than in recent years. That means traveling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.
Travel costs (Data for Ibusuki, Japan - 62 miles away)
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when traveling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when traveling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
Daily cost summary
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation | |||
| 🏨 Accommodation per night, per person | |||
| 🍝 Food per day | |||
| 🚕 Transportation per day |
Food & Drink
| 🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person | |
|---|---|
| 🍛 Lunch Set, per person | |
| 🍟 Fast food combo | |
| 🍝 Preparing your own food, per day | |
| ☕ Cappuccino | |
| 🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l / 16 oz |
Transportation
| 🚌 Public transport ticket | |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi | |
| ⛽ Gas, 1 l / ¼ gal |
Other
| 🎞️ Movie ticket | |
|---|---|
| 👩⚕️ Doctor's consult | |
| 🤧 Cold medication | |
| 💇 Basic haircut |
Safety information overview
General safety
Crime is rare on Yakushima. The real risks come from the mountains, with heavy rain, slippery trails and rivers that can rise fast. Typhoons can also cancel ferries and flights. Start hikes early, tell your lodging your route and turn back if conditions worsen.
Health & Medical
Medical facilities on the island are limited, so a serious injury can mean a transfer to Kagoshima. Carry personal medication, a first aid kit and insurance that covers mountain rescue. The longer hikes take around ten hours and demand good fitness.
Accessibility
Most sights involve uneven trails, steps and wet boardwalks. The Jomon Sugi hike takes around ten hours round trip. Shorter forest walks exist but still have steps and rough ground. Public transport is limited so wheelchair users usually need a car or private tour.
Tap water
Tap water on Yakushima is safe to drink, like elsewhere in Japan. Shops are few outside Miyanoura and Anbo, so carry water on trails. Mountain streams look clean but should be treated before you drink from them.
Packing recommendations for Yakushima
Log in to add this place to a travel list and get a summary of all recommended items for your whole trip.
🥾
Hiking boots
📷
Camera
🚰
Reusable water bottle
👕
Light, breathable clothing
🍫
Energy snacks
for hikes
🧥
Rain jacket
🕶️
Sunglasses
🪰
Insect repellent
🔦
Flashlight
👛
Cash in small denominations
ATMs are limited
🩴
Flip-flops
🔋
Power bank
👒
Sun hat
🛁
Quick-dry travel towel
👕
Quick-dry clothing
🧥
Fleece mid-layer
👖
Waterproof rain pants
📱
Travel eSIM
🔌
Universal power adapter
💳
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees
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