Gathering the gems worth your time…
Destination guide
Yakushima
Japan
Yakushima (屋久島) is an island off the south east coast of Kyushu next to Tanegashima and north of Okinawa in Japan. Officially a part of Kagoshima Prefecture, it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Introduction quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
At a glance
- Getting around
- Bus · Taxi · Ferry
- Vetted picks
- 19 places to see, do, eat, and stay
- Real coverage
- 6 vetted creator sources — mostly locals
AI insights
Local-ledAI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and mostly LOCAL creators' videos on this page
Prioritize the Shiratani Unsui Gorge loop by heading straight to the forest interior first; save the Yayoi sugi cedar for the very end of your hike to ensure you have the energy for the full experience.
When visiting Hirauchi Kaichū Onsen, plan your visit within the window of a few hours before or after low tide, as the site is submerged by the rising sea outside of these times.
Secure your hiking provisions early, as many local shops require lunch box orders at least one full day in advance; if you are not staying at a lodge that provides them, be prepared to coordinate your own orders.
While buses run along the island's coastal highway, they are infrequent; for reaching inland sites like Yakusugiland, consider a rental car or scooter to gain the flexibility that public transport lacks.
For a more secluded bathing experience than the main tourist spots, visit Yudomari Onsen and walk down the concrete path to the smaller, private pool where you can transition directly from the hot water to the ocean.
How these 19 picks are sourced
2 of 19 are named by a second, independent source — Japan Guide — and each card names its own. The remaining 17 rest on the reference article alone: we list them because Wikivoyage or Wikipedia documents them, not because anyone else vouched for them. We also watched 6 creator videos, 5 of them from local channels rather than visiting ones. 16 of the 19 descriptions are quoted word for word from Wikivoyage under CC BY-SA rather than written by us, as is the introduction above — each of those cards says so. What we add is the checking, the corroboration above, and the choice of which places are worth your time at all.What we can't promise is that it's still true. Venues close, hours and prices change, and we don't re-check them — a place here closed for good and sat on this page for a year before anyone noticed. The insights are AI-written from these sources and can be wrong too. Confirm anything you'd be sorry to be wrong about before you set out. Terms.
Watch first
Ranked by views and how well each landed with the people who watched it, judged against the other coverage of this place — plus a local creator where we found one.
【世界自然遺産】屋久島（徹底解剖/見どころ/観光スポット全て紹介）
「見るだけ」観光リサーチ 👀 · 140K viewsLocalja
What to do in Yakushima ? | Explore Japan
Kohei Yamashita · 5K views
【屋久島観光】絶対に行け！島民が厳選する屋久島一周モデルコース
チャド局長の屋久島魅力発信局 · 43K viewsLocalja
屋久島 観光 旅行 Yakushima Island 白谷雲水峡 World Heritage JAPAN 世界遺産 屋久島杉
Discover Nippon · 73K viewsLocalja
【屋久島絶品グルメ】世界遺産の屋久島食べ歩き10店 2泊3日のご当地名物オススメ食べ歩きひとり旅【kurakama Travel #2 〜屋久島メシ編〜】
kurakamaのぶらり全国出張メシ · 16K viewsLocalja
【世界遺産への旅】屋久島をめぐる2泊3日の旅ガイド｜往復22km 10時間の縄文杉トレッキングひとり旅 / 島に上陸するウミガメの産卵 / もののけ姫の聖地 白谷雲水峡【4K/8K】
kurakama Travel · 14K viewsLocalja
Best time to go
Best window:
February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November are the months to avoid — very heavy rain. No month here is easy — pick by what you can tolerate.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
IdealGoodOkayOff-season
Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.
Getting around
By bus
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.
By taxi
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.
By ferry
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.
By rentals
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.
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to see
Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check. Single source means the opposite, said plainly: the reference article lists it and nothing else we checked does.
Jomon Sugi cedar
Worth itAlso recommended by Japan Guide
Hike nine to ten hours round-trip through mossy forest to see Japan's largest conifer, a cryptomeria estimated at up to 7,200 years old.
Vetted sources
Yakusugi Museum
Single sourcepart of a museum complex at the base of the road leading to Yakusugiland and the Arakawa Trail
There are photos, movies and hands-on exhibits showing the island's natural wonders and the history of the logging industry. You can also hug a section of a 1660-year-old yakusugi. English explanatory pamphlet provided.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Yakushima Fruit Garden
Single sourceon the southwest coast, south of Kurio; 50 minutes by bus from Anbo to Nakama bus stop then 20-minute walk
Walk among the hundreds of tropical fruit trees and plants, with seasonal fruit like papaya, mango, guava and starfruit available to eat or drink.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Ooko-no-taki waterfalls
Single sourceon the remoter southwest coast of the island, a 60- and 90-minute bus ride from Anbo and Miyanoura respectively; no cell service but wifi hotspot available
There are several waterfalls on the island, and this one is justly rated as one of Japan's best.The 90-meter falls are easily accessible, being a short walk away from the main highway on a…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Shitogo Gajumaru-en Banyan Garden
Single sourceon the coast north of Miyanoura; 10 minutes by bus from Miyanoura to Shitogo bus stop, then a 5-minute walk
There are 300-year-old Banyan trees and a variety of sub-tropical plants in a park setting.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
What to do
Shiratani Unsuikyo ravine
Worth itAlso recommended by Japan Guide
Walk moss-covered forest trails said to have inspired the setting of Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke.
Vetted sources
Yudomari Onsen
Single sourcea few kilometers west, below picturesque Yudomari village
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…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Yakusugiland
Single sourceIn spite of its theme-park name, this is another natural area for walking in the forest among yakusugi, with a variety of hiking options based on time (there are 30-, 50-, 80- and 150-minute…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Hirauchi Kaichū Onsen
Single sourceHirauchi
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.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Jōmon Sugi
Single sourceMiyanoura
This tree is said to be the largest and oldest tree on the island, perhaps 2,000-7,000 years old.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
The Shiratani Unsui Gorge
Single sourcecan be reached by car up the road, or by bus from Miyanoura
A map and suggested routes based on your time constraints are provided at the trail head.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
What to eat
MOS Burger
Single sourceon 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.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Dekitate-ya
Single sourceon the main road, from the bridge head to the town, on the right after the first junction
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.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Banraiken
Single sourcein 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.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Hiyoriya
Single source1436-35 Koseda, Yakushima
Plant-based joint in Yakushima, serving Japanese-style dishes. Open on evenings exclusively on a reservation basis.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Where to stay
Lodge Yaedake Sanso
Single sourceoff the track from 牛床公園 bus stop on the route up the mountain from Miyanoura to Shiratani Unsuikyo
Ryokan (separate toilet and hot spring water bath) with tatami mat rooms interconnected with wooden walkways.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Samana Hotel Yakushima
Single source136-2 Onoaida
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.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Shiki no Yado
Single source642-15 Onoaida
A small family-run lodge with a choice of Japanese style rooms, Western rooms or cottages. Beer is separately purchasable, and they will sell you a lunch the next day — recommended for hikers.
Vetted sources
Minshuku Torokko no yado
Single source10 min from Anbo Port
Rooms with LCD TV, air conditioning and a small fridge. Shared bathroom and free washing machine. Wi-Fi for a small charge.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Build your day
Pick the places you want in Yakushima, Japan and we will put them on a map in an order that does not cross the city twice.
Where to next
Nearby cities in Japan we’ve vetted too.
Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.