2025 Yakushima Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

Located in the World Heritage Site of Yakushima, this is a resort hotel with the best hospitality, which won the One Michelin Key in 2024❤︎ The blue sea and sky spread out before you🌊 🌳🌴🌳 Sankara Hotel & Spa Yakushima〜ʚ♡ɞ The suites and villa-type rooms have a lovely Asian modern design❤︎ Each guest is assigned a dedicated concierge called a butler, so you can enjoy a very comfortable hotel stay♪ The Sankara Suite room where I stayed this time also has an in-spa room where you can receive treatments indoors and a semi-open-air bath♨️ A 24-hour healing space〜ʚ♡ɞ The infinity pool and sauna overlooking the sea🌊 are also great ♪ You can also enjoy afternoon tea by the pool 🫖 ♡ Because Sankara is an auberge hotel, dinner and breakfast are included in the room rate ❤︎ The French dinner was delicious 🍽️ Rooms and service ♡ Food, pool, and location ♡ A hotel with high satisfaction in all aspects 🌟🌟🌟 A butler will pick you up and drop you off at Yakushima Airport for free 🚙 A resort for adults frequented by bachelorettes and celebrities ʚ♡ɞ Please save this and go! ❤︎︎** ** ✰ ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ 📍 sankara hotel & spa Yakushima 🇯🇵 553 Mugio, Yakushima-cho, Kumage-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture 📲0800-800-6007 🚙 40 minutes by car from Yakushima Airport ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ✰ #100TravelStyles #GirlsTrip #TabiJo #PhotoSpots #OutingSpots #FreeTabi

Yakushima, a World Heritage Site❤︎ Yakusugi Land, a tourist attraction on Yakushima, is a power spot where you can see many virgin forests, including the 1800-year-old Buddha Cedar🌲♡ It is a vast forest covering an area of ​​about 270ha, and there are four courses ranging from 30 to 150 minutes👟 There are courses ranging from easy trekking to more advanced courses♪ As soon as you step through the entrance, you will feel as if you have entered the world of Princess Mononoke〜ʚ♡ɞ This time, we enjoyed the 80-minute course in the light rain🌳 It was a wonderful spot where you can feel the power of nature〜❤︎︎** ** ✰ ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ 📍Yakusugi Land 🇯🇵Awa 0, Yakushima-cho, Kumage-gun, Kashima Prefecture 📲0997-46-4015 🕰️Opening hours: OPEN: 9am-5pm 💰Price per person: Admission: Adults 500 ✼••┈┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈┈••✼ ✰ #100TravelStyles #GirlsTrip #TabiJo #PhotoSpots #OutingSpots #FuriTabi #Yakushima

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

Samana Hotel Yamkushima, which just rebranded and reopened at the end of April, is a super high-value hotel, so I've summarized its recommended points 💡 . ①Food The breakfast and dinner buffets are absolutely delicious! The variety is wide and the menu changes every day, so you won't get bored even if you stay for several nights 😋I liked the risotto at the live kitchen in the evening and the seafood bowl in the morning 🤤 Above all, the 90-minute all-you-can-drink option for ¥2200/¥3300 is amazing, so if you're going to drink more than three drinks, this is definitely the place to go. It's fun to try a lot of local sake 🍶 At night, the lounge turns into a bar, so you can also drink cocktails inspired by Yakushima 🍸 . ②Hot springs The large bath is a thick natural hot spring with a spectacular open-air bath ♨️ It is said that it is alkaline and contains baking soda, so it has emulsifying and cleansing effects. After hiking every day, we were exhausted and covered in sweat and rain, so the hot spring at the inn was a must 🫠 When we got back from hiking, we went straight to the hot spring → laundromat → dinner while doing our laundry was our routine 🧺 . ③ Spectacular views Actually, this is a hotel with beautiful sunsets, as recommended by the lady at the rental car shop 💯 You can enjoy the spectacular view of Yakushima's mountains and the sea from the open terrace 👀 What's more, the starry sky is also amazing, as Tanegashima, which has the space center next door 💫 We had an ocean view room, so we were able to soak up plenty of sunshine from the morning ☀️ . ④ Value for money Even with all this, the cheapest price on Ikyu was only ¥22,296 for a room only 🤣 The food was delicious, so I definitely wanted two meals included, but even then it was only ¥36,310~, so it was about ¥18,000 per person 😳 There may be some cheap ones as they just opened, so hurry before the price goes up 💨 . ⑤ Access We recommend renting a car to get around Yakushima, where there are few buses. But even if you can't drive, the hotel entrance is a bus stop so it's easy to get around 🚏 The Jomon Cedar tour pick-up was also at the hotel entrance 🚌 . ⑥Hospitality As it is part of the Sankara chain, the most luxurious hotel on the island, the hospitality is outstanding. They will help you with tours and rentals, and if you order a lunch box for the hiking day (¥1,050 for breakfast and lunch) by 7pm the day before, you can pick it up at the front desk before you go out 🍱 . Personally, I recommend staying at Samana for two nights and then Sankara for one night before heading back. Sankara is too expensive for ordinary people to stay for multiple nights, so I'd go to Samana for active days, and Sankara for relaxing🔥 . . . 📍Samana Hotel Yakushima 🗺️Yakushima Town, Kagoshima Prefecture 🕒Check-in 15:00/Check-out 11:00 💰From ¥23,000/room #trip_aug #domestictravel #Yakushima #hotel

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

#KagoshimaTourism I went to Yakushima, a remote island in Kagoshima, to see Jomon Cedar, a mountain cedar that I had always wanted to see in my life. I left at 4am and walked through the great outdoors for 5.5 hours each way. I walked along a long, long trolley road and climbed a 3km mountain path before finally seeing it. The journey was really, really tough and I wanted to give up many times, but the moment I saw Jomon Cedar, all my fatigue disappeared. I was simply moved and felt a sense of accomplishment. I don't think I'll go again (for now), but I'm glad I tried. I really respect the fact that there are people who participate in this climb even in their 70s. It's a 22km round trip, 11 hour climb. #AmazingView #Yakushima #JomonCedar #Kagoshima

Shiratani Unsuikyo is a natural recreational forest located upstream of the Shiratani River, which flows through the northeastern part of Yakushima. It is one of the most popular spots on the island, and the main purpose of most people visiting Yakushima for the first time is to see the Jomon Cedar or Shiratani Unsuikyo. #trip2023 #WorldHeritage

#trip2023 #WorldHeritage The trekking tour to Jomon Cedar, the symbol of Yakushima, is the most popular activity on Yakushima! From the Arakawa trailhead, the starting point of the trek, it is a full-scale mountain climbing course of about 11km one way and about 10 hours round trip, but it is quite challenging! (*´Д｀*)

Hiking in Japan🇯🇵 #日本保护识很吓人#No trash at all#Hikers are very polite#All facilities are built with natural materials#But they don't damage the environment#Millennium cedar trees#Get up at around 3am#Start at 5am#10 hours hiking with a tired look #Yakushima #Kyushu Attractions #JapanTravel #In-depthTravel

A guide and a taxi driver recommended Mt. Kuromi to me on Yakushima, so I decided to try it on my third visit to the island! It was a little harder than the standard trekking routes such as Jomon Cedar and Shiratani Unsuikyo, but the satisfaction was very high!! This course is a condensed version of the best parts of Yakushima, not just the Yakusugi cedars and moss. From the Yodogawa trailhead, you pass through the Yodogawa River, the forest, the marshland, and the mountain ridge, and you'll be greeted with a 360-degree panoramic view! The view of Mt. Oku from the summit was so spectacular that it blew away all your fatigue! #Yakushima #Trekking #Outdoor

This is sankara hotel & spa in Yakushima! Villa type is the standard, but it is spacious enough. After returning from trekking, you can relax in the bath and then take a nap on the bed♪ It is also nice to spend time by the pool or in the lounge. Butlers are always available to assist you, and the hospitality is the best! The food is also superb!! #luxuryhotel #yakushima

Yakushima was the first Japanese site to be registered as a World Heritage Site in 1993. The Jomon Cedar, a symbol of Yakushima, is said to be 4,000 years old... 😳 The Jomon Cedar Climbing Course is the most popular trekking course on Yakushima 🙌 It takes about 5 hours one way from the Arakawa trailhead to Jomon Cedar. The journey is about 11km. The feature of this course is that you can trek while admiring various Yaku Cedar trees that are over several thousand years old. In addition to Jomon Cedar, you can experience impressive Yaku Cedar trees such as Wilson Stump, Daio Cedar, and Meoto Cedar, making this a course full of attractions. Yaku Cedars grow slowly, producing six times as much resin as cedars on the mainland, in order to adapt to rainy environments. This makes them less likely to rot and are thought to live longer. This amount of rain is what creates the majestic Yaku Cedar forest. In order to protect the Jomon Cedars, unfortunately you can only view them from the observation deck and cannot touch them directly! But you'll get to experience the nature of Yakushima and experience a mystical journey with a scale that you can't experience anywhere else✨ ✈︎--------✈︎ We're a couple living in Kansai who love to travel👫💕 We're looking for spots to introduce on Tabitoko! Tag us with #Tabitoko! We'll share it with you!! If you have any recommended places, please let us know in the comments🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ #CoupleTrip #OsakaTrip #TabiToko #AnniversaryTrip #CoupleTrip ##RemoteIslandTrip #MountainClimbing #QuintessaCampaign

Yakushima, a natural world heritage site. Wilson Stump is a Yakusugi stump on Yakushima that was cut down by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi for the construction of the Great Buddha of Kyoto (some say it was for the construction of Osaka Castle). After Hideyoshi conquered Kyushu in 1587, Hideyoshi ordered Shimazu Yoshihiro to cut down timber from Yakushima. Around 1590, 11 large ships from Shodoshima carried Yakusugi timber to Osaka for the construction of the Great Buddha of Kyoto, and one of them... If you look up at the sky from a certain point inside the stump, it looks heart-shaped♥️ The entire island is said to be a power spot, an energetic and mysterious island‼︎ ✈︎ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー✈︎ We are a couple living in Kansai who love to travel👫💕 We are looking for spots for us to introduce on Tabitoko! Please tag #travellocation! I'll share it!! If you have any recommended places, please tell me in the comments🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ #coupletrip #kagoshimatrip #travellocation #anniversarytrip #coupletrip #datespot #date #mountainclimbing #remoteislandtrip #Quintessacampaign

🍃🌳🌱 #Yokogawa Valley on Yakushima, an island in Kagoshima Prefecture, has few reviews online or on social media! 🌱 If you go along this deep green road, you will reach the river🌞 The atmosphere of this road is amazing and I love it☺️ . . The culture of mountain religion is still deeply rooted in Yakushima, and people use this road to approach the mountain as a shrine👀! Yakushima is full of hidden spots! I thought so for a moment, but maybe the whole island is just too full of things to see rather than hidden spots? ! ---------------------------- 📍#Yakushima #Yokogawa Valley 🚗 Parking available 🚻 Toilets available ---------------------------- #yakushima #yoggovalley #Yakushima trip #Yakushima sightseeing #Kagoshima remote island #portraitphotography #portrait #profile #mountain #forest #World Heritage Site #World Natural Heritage Site #island trip #girls trip #Kagoshima Prefecture #Kagoshima #Kagoshima trip #remote island #spectacular view #hidden spot #hidden spot #remote island trip

#gw2022jp #mountaineering There are photo spots along the way, as well as Jomon Cedar. The scenery changes often, so you won't get bored. That said, it's harder than I thought lol Yakushima mountaineering can be broadly divided into three courses: the Jomon Cedar Course, the Shiratani Unsuikyo/Taikoiwa Course, and the Miyanouradake Traverse Course. It's a good idea to choose a course based on your physical strength. For beginners, there are also trekking tours.

I've picked 6 recommended spots to visit in Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture! ① Jomon Cedar ② Mossy Forest ③ Taiko Rock ④ Wilson Stump ⑤ Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge ⑥ Yakushima Sunrise If you're going to Yakushima, be sure to visit these spots 🤗 #RecommendedList #Yakushima #Kagoshima #RemoteIslandTrip

A sophisticated luxury hotel perfect for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. The rooms are spacious and relaxing, and the baths are heated 24 hours a day so you can use them whenever you like♪ In the summer, you can also enjoy the outdoor pool! #Yakushima #recommendedhotel #stayhome #accommodationexperience #triptovisitingremoteislands

🌱 . . Okawa Falls in Yakushima, one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls . . . I went there after admiring a lot of wild monkeys and deer on the Western Forest Road 🦌, so I felt like I was enjoying nature even more 🥺❤️ lol . . . . The water was so splashy that I listened to the sound of the waterfall while bathing in the mist...✨ . . . It has an incredible relaxing effect and is full of energy 🔥 lol . . . . 📍Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture ⛰ Okawa Falls 🚗Parking available . . . . #Okawa Falls #Japan's Waterfalls #Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls #Yakushima Falls #Yakushima's Spectacular Scenery #Yakushima #Yakushima Trip #Yakushima Trip #Yakushima Sightseeing #yakushima #Yakushima Drive #World Heritage Site #World Heritage Island #kagoshima #kagoshimatourism #kagoshimatrip #yakushimaisland #yakushimatrip #kagoshimatrip #remoteisland #remoteislandtour #forestbathing #secretsumerresort #summertrip #JapanGenkiProject2021 #summertrip #greatview

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

∇What's this? A guesthouse located in the Hiranai district in the south of Yakushima. There are plenty of coworking spaces and events. This guesthouse is recommended for those who travel while working and those who want to interact with locals. ∇Recommended points This guesthouse is only available for long-term stays of 3 days or more, so many people spend their time relaxing. There is also a shared house, so you can enjoy a homely atmosphere. There is also a large bookshelf that book lovers will love. ∇Access A short walk from the Hiranai entrance bus stop #Yakushima #Yakushima South Village #Guesthouse #Remote island trip #Workcation #Remote island trip

∇This is the place It is located after climbing up a place covered with trees and rugged rocks after proceeding through Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge. There are no obstructions around the rocks, so you can feel the nature of Yakushima firsthand. ∇Recommended photo spot On top of the rocks with the mountains in the background! 🗻 The view is so good that you can see the distant mountains clearly. Try taking some photos here that give you a sense of openness. ∇Access About 1.5 hours from the entrance to Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge #Yakushima #Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge #Enjoying nature #Remote island trip #Remote island #Breathtaking views #Trip to visit remote islands #Amazing nature

A takeaway-only cafe located along the Awa-Yakusugi Land Line in Yakushima 🥙☕*° The lineup for the day was tamacafe green curry made with broth from Yakushima deer bones, game meat stewed in red wine, and bulgogi-style pork bowl★ We all had a great time at "Crystal Cape" which I posted about the other day🍽 In addition to the meal menu, there is a sparkling soda with colorful jelly in lemon squash✨, and a wide variety of desserts such as pound cakes and tarts😋 The inside of the store is not that large, but it is a cute and cozy shop with board games to play while waiting and a handmade goods corner🎶 #Yakushima #Remote Island Trip #Kagoshima #Cafe #Takeout #Gourmet #Game Meat # #Gourmet #Cafe Tour #Tourism Support #Breathtaking Views

Soraumi makes gelato that uses ingredients from Yakushima and brings out the flavor of the ingredients themselves ☀️🏝✨ As I was driving, I was suddenly drawn to a cute shop that appeared, and I stopped in without hesitation 🥺💕 The log cabin-style shop has indoor and terrace seats 🎶 The breeze from the sea was pleasant and it was a very nice space 😍 There are many menus that can only be eaten here, such as Yakushima tea, Yakushima salt, Yakushima cedar & lemon, sweet orange coconut, loquat milk, dragon fruit, etc. 😳 The three of us shared different flavors, and they were all really delicious 🍨😋💕 You can also feed the chickens 🐓 that are kept there ~✌️ lol #Remote island trip #cafe #Yakushima #World Natural Heritage Site #Gelato #Cafe with terrace #Gourmet #Trip to enjoy spring #Trip to visit remote islands #Cafe tour #Supporting tourism #Breathtaking views #Gourmet trip

I've always wanted to visit Shiratani Unsuikyo Gorge, a mysterious forest that was the model for the movie "Princess Mononoke." At an altitude of about 800m, the gorge is home to a mixture of Yakusugi cedars and evergreen broad-leaved trees, creating the image of Yakushima that most people imagine... #BreathtakingView#SupportTourism

Take the bus that runs through Yakushima to the last stop for Shiratani Unsuikyo and walk for about an hour and a half. The "Moss Forest" in Shiratani Unsuikyo, Yakushima, is famous for being the inspiration for Princess Mononoke. This forest, full of moss and with a mountain stream, was a great place to enjoy forest bathing. The sunlight filtering through the trees and hitting the moss was a fantastic sight. Yakushima is also home to the famous Yakusugi trees, but this is recommended for those who find it difficult to walk that far or who don't want to get up early in the morning! In addition to the Moss Forest, Shiratani Unsuikyo also has Taiko Rock and many cedars, so you can easily enjoy the nature of Yakushima! #Yakushima #Remote Island #Trip to Visit Remote Islands #Remote Island Tour #Kagoshima #Breathtaking View #Remote Island Trip

#MarchGoodPlaces2025 Kagoshima, located in Kyushu, has a mild climate and abundant resources. It has two of the world's few active volcanoes, Sakurajima and Kirishima, as well as the World Heritage Site Yakushima. Even if you just shop, drink coffee and stroll around the city center, you will be very happy. The hotel is quite affordable, and you can take the tram or bus to travel, which is not expensive. Tenmonkan is the busiest shopping street in southern Kyushu. There are rows of restaurants and cafes on the street, with many delicious foods such as black pork and Kyushu beef. There are also many shopping facilities such as souvenir shops, clothing stores, and department stores. The streets are designed as arcades, so you can enjoy shopping and exploring delicious food even when it rains without worrying about getting wet.

While planning my trip to Yakushima, I decided to stay at THE HOTEL YAKUSHIMA OCEAN & FOREST, and it was a truly satisfying experience. The hotel is conveniently located just a 5-minute walk from Miyanoura Port, making it easy to reach after arriving in Yakushima by boat. The convenience of not having to drag my luggage around and being able to check in easily was a major plus. Rooms & View The most impressive aspect upon entering the room was the expansive view of the East China Sea. The blue ocean was visible through the window, giving the impression of floating on the sea. The room had a clean and warm wood-tone interior, creating a comfortable atmosphere, and the bedding was soft, ensuring a good night's sleep throughout the trip. Basic amenities were well-provided, and the cleanliness was very satisfactory. Onsen & Sauna After a day of trekking, the hotel's large bath and sauna were perfect for relieving fatigue. Soaking in the onsen while looking out at the sea was truly healing. I never realized how blissful it could be to soak in warm water after trekking. The sauna facilities were also great, allowing me to sweat out and end the day feeling refreshed. The onsen temperature was just right, and it was quiet with few people, making it a peaceful retreat. Meals & Breakfast The breakfast was quite good, served in a Japanese home-cooked style with many dishes made from local Yakushima ingredients, giving a taste of the region's specialties. The set meal included grilled fish, miso soup, fresh vegetables, and more, each dish prepared with care. Dinner at the hotel's restaurant was also impressive, with fresh seafood dishes. The sashimi was particularly fresh, and there were many menu items made with local Yakushima ingredients, providing an authentic local dining experience. The quiet atmosphere made for a leisurely dinner. Service & Location The staff were extremely friendly, welcoming us warmly at check-in and providing helpful information for planning our itinerary. We could also pre-order lunch boxes for trekking, which were made with fresh ingredients and quite satisfying. The hotel's proximity to Miyanoura Port and ease of access to major tourist spots made it convenient for planning our travel routes. Overall If you're looking for a place to fully enjoy nature and relax comfortably in Yakushima, I highly recommend this hotel. With its stunning ocean view, large bath and sauna, friendly service, and excellent breakfast, every aspect was satisfying. It's the perfect choice for enjoying Yakushima's unique quiet and peaceful atmosphere!

#0yentravelFebruary2025 I went to Yakushima in the winter off-season, but the hiking trail to Jomon Cedar was too snowy, so I gave up around Wilson Stump 😭 It was very disappointing and I want to try again, but the food in Yakushima was amazing so I'll share it The first photo is Yamagaraya This is a dessert, but the lunch, which requires a reservation, is a great deal at 1200 yen for one soup and three dishes! It's just like the 3rd and 4th photos. The 2nd to 4th photos are in-room meals at Minshuku Ippachi. It was incredibly delicious, and they used plenty of ingredients from the island. If I were to try Jomon Cedar again, I would like to eat at the same place again.