10 things to do in Yakushima

Checked 15 November 2026 · Researched, not yet visited · times from official timetables and our estimates · Takumi Yamada

1. 01
   KimonBerlin / CC BY-SA 2.0
   Do~5hNeeds a 7-hour call

   Shiratani Unsuikyo moss forest

   Cedar, moss-covered granite and clear streams at 600–1,050 m, 10 km above Miyanoura. The Taikoiwa route reaches the moss forest in about 1 hour 15 minutes each way; the whole round trip to Taikoiwa Rock is about 4 hours. Forest fee ¥800 from April 2026. Parts of the short Yayoisugi course stay closed after Typhoon No. 24; the Taikoiwa and Bugyosugi routes reopened on 18 October 2026.

   Bus from the 宮之浦 stop, about 20 min on foot from the quay: 8:23, 10:08, 13:13, 15:33, about 35 min, ¥530; taxi about 25 min, ¥4,200 from the quay, our estimateFull guide: Shiratani Unsuikyo
2. 02
   KimonBerlin / CC BY-SA 2.0
   See~5hNeeds a 7-hour call

   Yakusugi Land

   The higher recreation forest, at 1,000–1,300 m above Anbo, with five boardwalk and trail courses among named cedars: Buddhasugi, about 1,800 years old, and Hahakosugi, about 2,600. Forest fee ¥800. Since Typhoon No. 24 the exit suspension bridge is out and a short temporary exit near Kugurisugi is used.

   Taxi about an hour from the quay, about ¥12,400 one way, our estimate; the bus needs a change and runs twice a dayGoogle Maps
3. 03
   Raita Futo / CC BY 2.0
   See~5hNeeds a 7-hour call

   Kigensugi cedar

   A cedar of about 3,000 years, 19.5 m tall and 8.1 m round, beside the forest road. It is the old tree a port day allows: Jomon Sugi is a ten-hour hike. Pair it with Yakusugi Land on the same drive.

   About 20 min by car beyond Yakusugi Land; taxi from the quay about ¥14,300 one way, our estimateGoogle Maps
4. 04
   Chris 73 / CC BY-SA 3.0
   See~5.5hNeeds a 7.5-hour call and the ship in by 07:30, or a sailing at 19:15 or later

   Ohko-no-taki waterfall

   One of Japan’s 100 best waterfalls, on the south-west coast. A five-minute walk from the bus stop leads close to the plunge pool; toilets at the car park. Free. The bus back leaves at 11:00 or 15:25, so by bus it takes most of a day.

   Bus 8:40 or 12:50 from Miyanoura Port, 1 h 45 min, ¥2,100; taxi about ¥15,400, our estimateGoogle Maps
5. 05
   Makoto Kaneda / CC BY 3.0
   See~3.5hNeeds a 5.5-hour call

   Senpiro-no-taki waterfall

   A waterfall dropping between walls of bare granite, seen from a viewpoint with a car park for 3 coaches and 10 cars and toilets. Free. It is close to Toroki-no-taki on the south-east coast, so the two pair on a taxi day.

   Taxi about 50 min from the quay, about ¥11,600, our estimate; 50 min on foot from the nearest bus stopGoogle Maps
6. 06
   KimonBerlin / CC BY-SA 2.0
   See~3.5hNeeds a 5.5-hour call

   Toroki-no-taki waterfall

   A short waterfall near the coast road in the south-east, 5 minutes on foot from the Tainokawa bus stop, with parking and toilets at the Pontan-kan car park. Free. Combine it with Senpiro-no-taki, close by on the same coast.

   5 min on foot from the Tainokawa bus stop; taxi from the quay about 50 min, our estimateGoogle Maps
7. 07
   Raita Futo / CC BY 2.0
   Do~5.5hNeeds a 7.5-hour call

   Macaques and deer on the Seibu Rindo

   The western forest road between Nagata and Kurio crosses the World Heritage area, where Yakushima macaques and Yakushima deer sit by the road. Coaches cannot use it, only cars and microbuses. Drive slowly and do not feed the animals.

   Taxi, rental car or the ship’s tour only: no bus uses the forest roadGoogle Maps
8. 08
   Raita Futo / CC BY 2.0
   See~4hNeeds a 6-hour call

   Yakushima Lighthouse

   A white lighthouse on a headland on the west coast, with Kuchinoerabu Island across the water. Car park for 5. It is the natural turning point of a west-coast drive that takes in Nagata Inakahama beach and the start of the Seibu Rindo.

   Five minutes by car from Nagata; taxi from the quay about ¥10,100, our estimateGoogle Maps
9. 09
   See~2.5hNeeds a 4.5-hour call

   Miyanoura: the Village Center and Masaku Shrine

   The Environmental Culture Village Center at the port entrance explains the island from sea to summit, with a 25-minute film on a large screen at 9:20, 11:20, 13:20 and 15:20. 9:00–17:00, ¥530; closed Mondays (Tuesday after a holiday Monday) and 28 Dec–1 Jan; no closing day in Golden Week or 20 Jul–31 Aug. Masaku Shrine and Kuhonji temple are in the village nearby.

   About 30 min on foot from the cruise quay, our estimate; 5 min from the Miyanoura Port bus stopGoogle Maps
10. 10
    Eat~2hNeeds a 4-hour call

    Flying fish at the Furusato Ichiba

    Tobiuo, flying fish, is the island’s fish: as sashimi or tobi-katsu, a cutlet. The Furusato Ichiba restaurant serves it fried whole (飛魚姿揚げ定食, ¥1,700), 11:00–15:00 (last order 14:30) every day, and its shop sells island food until 18:00 (17:00 in winter). For kubiore-saba, Marutaka Suisan is a short walk away.

    Miyanoura, about 30 min on foot from the quay, our estimateGoogle Maps