[2025 Yakushima Attraction] Travel Guide for Yakushima Island (Updated Mar)

Yakushima, famous for its wildlife and Yakusugi cedars, is famous for the Jomon cedars, which are thousands of years old and require a risky trek, but there are also many places that can be easily accessed by bus or on foot. We especially recommend Yakusugi Land, where you can experience the virgin forest as it is⭐️ There are five walking courses, so you can enjoy the power of nature according to your physical strength and physical condition❤️ The feeling of walking through the world of Sennen Sugi, Buddha Sugi, and Ghibli is refreshing😊 Yakushima also has Shiratani Unsuikyo and a coast that boasts top-class beauty, so I think you can have a wonderful island trip😊 [Yakusugi Land] 📍Location: Awa, Yakushima-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture 🕰️Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 💰Price per person: 500 yen admission fee #Yakushima #Yakushima trip #Kagoshima #Island trip

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

The ultimate challenge is to get up at 4am to take the car to the trailhead and walk for ten to twelve hours (round trip, there is only one washroom throughout, most people follow the group or follow the climbing guide, I'm alone Go walk 😫 There is still a sky non-stop so rain, just hiking is easy, a small part also climb rocks, through the stream, physical strength little D is not good, have thought of giving up, but this time to give up, next I don't know when there will be such an opportunity again. In fact, there were many people climbing together that day, so it was very safe. #hiking #I miss #residentwriter

#getgoing2025 Yakushima, which was registered as a World Natural Heritage Site in 1993, is a mysterious island with a native forest that has not changed since the Jomon period. In the primeval forest of this island, many Yaku cedar trees over thousands of years old live there, and the largest confirmed Yaku cedar "Jomon cedar" is said to be more than 7200 years old and has become a symbol of Yakushima. It is said that the mossy forest "Shiratani Unsuikyo", which has a lot of precipitation throughout the year and was nurtured by the rain, has become a model for the movie "Princess Mononoke". We have a variety of courses, from courses for beginners to courses for advanced users, so please enjoy them.

📍Japan🇯🇵Kagoshima Yakushima The trolley road to Wilson Stump The beautiful scenery of the trolley road that you would normally not notice because you are busy heading to Jomon Cedar Is it snow or hail? (lol) The beauty is doubled when it falls❄️ I recommend walking slowly to Wilson Stump even if you don't go to Jomon Cedar Is Yakushima also a minus? It's dark and harshly cold, but that's why you can see the magnificent view 📍How to get there -Yakusugi Nature Museum → Arakawa Trailhead 35 minutes by bus (Personal cars allowed in winter December-March) -Arakawa Trailhead → Wilson Stump 6 hours round trip (2 hours extra if you stop and take photos) Maybe you can encounter snow in February? #WilsonStump #DomesticTrip #Yakushima #TrolleyRoad #Winter #WinterTrip

🌿 🏞️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.

I participated in a day-trip trekking tour that went around the famous heart-shaped "Wilson Stump," the 3,000-year-old "Daiou Cedar," and the main "Jomon Cedar," which is said to be over 7,000 years old. We left at 4:30 in the morning and walked 22km along the trolley road and mountain trails. It took a lot of stamina, and I was honestly extremely tired the next day, but it was a great experience that gave me a lot of power from the magnificent nature and its history, the beautiful scenery and air. In the first half, we just walked along the trolley road. Along the way, there was a heart-shaped hole in a wooden board, which was photogenic! (I had done some research and I didn't want to miss it, but the guide pointed it out to me.) From the middle, we started walking through tunnels where the trolleys used to pass through and mountain paths. It was a trek with many things to see, such as an air raid shelter made inside a cedar, a baby cedar before it became a small Yakusugi, a tree that looks like a dragon🐉, and the remains of an elementary and junior high school. Apparently the appearance of Wilson Stump changes depending on where you view it and the time of day (how the light shines in). We stopped by on both the way there and on the way back, but just as our guide had told us, there was less light on the way back, so we were able to see the beautiful heart shape! When we finally arrived at Jomon Cedar, it was truly magnificent, beautiful, and majestic, and it took our breath away.... On the way back, we cooled off in the river and encountered some wild monkeys! #Domestic Travel Journal

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

#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.

This time we will introduce Yakushima 🌲 Many people want to visit Yakushima at least once! The cedars you can see here are dynamic and full of vitality 🌲 On the island, cedars that are over 1,000 years old are called Yakusugi, while young trees that are several hundred years old are called Kosugi. There are various theories about the age of the Jomon cedars on Yakushima, ranging from 2,000 years to 7,200 years, but if you visit here you can feel their history and grandeur. Also, if you go inside the Wilson Stump and look up, it looks like a heart, which is very appealing 💚 If you go to Yakushima, be sure to check it out! Yakushima Jomon Cedar 📍 Along the Ohkabu Trail, Yakushima-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture 🚗 About 40 minutes from Miyanoura Port to Yakusugi Nature Museum, about 20 minutes from Yakushima Airport to Yakusugi Nature Museum, transfer to the Arakawa Mountain Climbing Bus in front of Yakusugi Nature Museum 🚌 ⚠️ From March to November, cars are not allowed at the Arakawa Trailhead, the starting point for Jomon Cedar, and only mountain buses and taxis are allowed 💰 Entrance fee 1000 yen #DomesticTrip #Yakushima #Yakusugi #JomonCedar

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.

Yakushima, a remote island in Kagoshima Prefecture, will celebrate its 30th anniversary of being registered as a World Heritage Site in 2023. The island is surrounded by rich nature, including Jomon Cedar trekking and Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge, which is said to have been the setting for the Ghibli film "Princess Mononoke" and was the inspiration for director Hayao Miyazaki's visit◎ Trekking, mountain climbing, marine sports, and other activities are famous, but did you know that a new forest activity has recently become secretly popular...? ! It's forest bathing! ...What is it? Many people are wondering🤣 Simply put, it is a retreat experience where you can enjoy the rich forest with all your senses🌳 [Recommended for the following people] ・I want to experience the forest of a World Heritage Site! ・But trekking and mountain climbing take time and are physically exhausting😂 ・I want to be healed rather than being active ・I also recommend it for those who want to heal and take care of themselves after daily fatigue💡! This time, I participated in a half-day tour with a custom-made plan, and the 4 hours flew by! It was my first experience, but it was a time to carefully face each thing and feel various things around me that I tend to overlook in my daily life 🌿 The grandeur of nature was so amazing that it was truly extraordinary! Along the way, I was given snacks and was able to face not only nature but also myself... Of course, I didn't have any muscle pain and it was very healing ♡⁡ It is an activity that is not introduced in guidebooks yet, but please try it ♡ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ・Reservations are required before traveling to Yakushima! ・The main tour is a one-day tour where you eat lunch in the forest ・The healing effect of the forest is said to be scientifically proven...! ・You can enjoy the scenery like Ghibli even though you are walking in the forest without getting tired ♡ ・One-day tours are the main tour, but you can make a tour to order according to your wishes ◎⚠︎The departure time in the morning is early, so you may not be able to make it in time for breakfast at the hotel! If you are looking forward to breakfast, it is recommended to adjust your stay by staying for multiple days ◎⚠︎No special preparations are required! ⚠︎Jomon Cedar cannot be seen. ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲…The half-day tour I experienced…6:00 Wake up 6:45 Pick up from accommodation 7:00 Visit mountain shrine 7:30 Arrive at forest entrance! Forest bathing starts ~ Enjoy forest bathing ~ 12:00 Forest bathing ends, transfer 12:10 Wait for return flight at airport ~ Arrive in Fukuoka in about 1 hour ✈️ ~ ______________________________________ 📍 Yakushima @ / Forest breathing 🗾 Yakushima Town, Kagoshima Prefecture / The place for forest bathing is decided after consultation 💰 17,500 yen for 2 people / 1 day ______________________________________ #Tourism #Outdoor #Experience #World Heritage Site

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.

If you want to recommend Japanese attractions, the first thing you think of is Yakushima. On the plane that flew to Japan, I watched Miyazakis ghost princess again. The scenery I saw on the island was very close to the movie. The deepest impression is Jomon Pine walking. Although it was said that I had to go to Yakushima for a few years, but Jomons hiking was never planned, I dont know how to get up at three in the middle of the night, six in the mountains, and five in the evening. 40,000 steps - not too many photos (when you take pictures, think about other teams, you can only wait behind you). The cedar trees for thousands of years are really amazing. When you touch the trunk, you seem to have it. The power to walk again.

In the evening, walk freely on the streets of Yakushima. The boat is quietly docked at the port, the mountains are beautiful and the breeze is blowing, quiet and beautiful. Yakushima is a very valuable World Heritage Site in Japan. In 1993, Yakushima and the Shirakami Mountain were listed on the World Heritage List. It is the first natural landscape in Japan to be included in the World Heritage, but not the entire island. It belongs to the World Heritage Site, but is located in the center of the Palace of Puyue and the Shenmu Forest District in the west (more than 1,000 years). The area of about 107.47 square kilometers is included in the World Heritage.

Yakushima is a very valuable World Heritage Site in Japan. In 1993, Yakushima and the White Mountain were listed on the World Heritage List. It is the first natural landscape in Japan to be listed as a World Heritage Site, but not the entire island is a World Heritage Site. It is a world heritage area with a total area of 107.47 square kilometers, which is the central palace of the Puyue and the western Shenmu forest area (more than 1,000 years). If you are like me, there is no car rental in Yakushima, then go to the round-the-island sightseeing bus. There will be cute monkeys on the road to say hello to you. Our first stop is to go to a very large and very old tree - Ji Yuanshan. Among the mountain roads leading to the middle, there are two of the most famous ones, one to the water gorge in the Baigu area of the natural recreation forest, and one to the starting point of the hiking route of the ropes in the Arakawa mountaineering. This road passes through the Yakusugi Nature Museum and goes straight to the left side of the fork road to Yakusugi Land.

The reason why Yakushima has become the dream of countless people, in addition to the beauty of the scenery, one of the reasons is that it is inconvenient to arrive, it takes enough time to play. There is an airport in Yakushima, and there is only one direct flight from Osaka Itami Airport and Fukuoka Airport every day. From other major airports in Japan, via Kagoshima Airport, and then from Japan Air Commuter JAC, you can also enter Yakushima Airport, which has 6 direct flights a day. Yakusugi Park is the most representative of Yakushima, the ancient Yakusho forest with an altitude of about 1000m. It is a hiking route. In the park, you can see the Millennium House, such as the 1800-year-old cedar, mother-child cedar, three cedar, and Tianzhushan. It is estimated that there are 5 or 6 ancient cedar trees over 2,000 years old. It is the easiest place to watch the millennium Yakusho on Yakushima. Trees are entangled, free to grow, free to die, which is probably natural. Moss covered the trees, as if it were history, but more like a new life. A very magical thing, after the millennium of fir was cut down, new cedar trees grew on it. Kiyuan cedar grows in Yakusugi Park, and is estimated to be 3,000 years old. It is a famous tree in the cedar tree. There is a visitor desk around this huge cedar tree, and you can see the different postures of Ji Yuanshan and its symbiotic plants from the viewing platform.

The same rainfall. It is precisely because of this natural environment that it has created a forest wonderland like Baigu Yunshuixia. Sightseeing information This is a lush forest park with many ancient cedars, and the famous Moss Forest in Miyazakis movie is also here. It is very popular on Yakushima. Sightseeing place. One of the highlights of Baigu Yunshui Gorge is Yakusugi, which is the most typical natural landscape in Yakushima. The fir tree of more than 1,000 years can be called Yakusu. Ticket price adult 500 yen three hiking routes Yayoi cedar route (about 1 hour, about 2 kilometers) follow the cedar route (about 3 hours, about 4 kilometers) Taiguyan round-trip route (about 4 hours, about 5.6 km) External traffic From Shanghai, you can fly directly to Kagoshima, where you can transfer, there are 6 direct flights from Kago It is convenient for the island airport to fly to Yakushima Airport. In addition, the ferry is also a good choice, compared to the aircraft used longer, but the price is also much cheaper. Dressing Guide Before starting such a walking trip, it is very important to wear full anti-rain, anti-skid and warmth. We rented hiking shoes and jackets in the tourist case of Yakushima to prevent accidents that may occur during rain.