20 Recommended Sightseeing Spots on Yakushima | A Comprehensive Guide to Yakushima’s World Natural Heritage Sites—From Must-See Attractions to Hidden Gems
Meet on a World Natural Heritage Island
Yakushima Sightseeing Spots with Spectacular Views and Healing
Yakushima is a beautiful island registered as a World Natural Heritage site.
Here we introduce 20 carefully selected sightseeing spots, ranging from classic spots such as Yakusugi cedars and Jomon cedars to hidden gems known only to those in the know.
First-time visitors to Yakushima
◆Yakushima's hole spot and those who want to know
◆If you want to know the recommended spots in Yakushima
◆Those who want to take SNS-worthy photos in Yakushima
We hope you will find this information useful in planning your trip to Yakushima.
Yakushima Island
Click here for recommended tour ranking
How to get to Yakushima Island
Below are details on how to access Yakushima from major cities.
The most common means of transportation to Yakushima are airplanes and boats! Choose according to your destination and budget♪
From Tokyo
Haneda Airport → Kagoshima Airport (about 2 hours) → Yakushima Airport (about 35 minutes by propeller plane)
From Osaka
Itami or Kansai Airport → Kagoshima Airport (approx. 1 hr. 20 min.) → Yakushima Airport (approx. 35 min.)
From Fukuoka
Fukuoka Airport → Kagoshima Airport (approx. 40 min.) → Yakushima Airport (approx. 35 min.)
From Kagoshima
Kagoshima Airport → Yakushima Airport (35 minutes by direct flight)
- ◆Boat to Yakushima Island
- High-speed boats (Toppy & Rocket)
- Time required: approx. 2 to 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Number of flights: 4-5 per day
- Kagoshima Port → Miyanoura Port or Awa Port
- Ferry Yakushima 2
- Time required: approx. 4 hours
- Number of flights: 1 flight per day
- Kagoshima Port → Miyanoura Port
- Ferry: Hibisukasu (cargo and passenger ship)
- Travel time: approx. 9 hours (night flight)
- Number of flights: 2 to 3 per week
- Kagoshima Port → Miyanoura Port
⬇︎ for more information on how to get to Yakushima.
Yakushima Weather, Precipitation
The climate of Yakushima is mild throughout the year and relatively comfortable even in summer, though,The island receives so much rainfall that there is a saying, "It rains 35 days out of the month.But there is also.
During the rainy season, it rains more than four times as much as in Tokyo!
When traveling, check the weather forecast carefully and take precautions against rain.
More about the annual weather in Yakushima at ⬇︎
If you visit Yakushima, you mustI want to go!
20 Popular Tourist Attractions
Here are some popular sightseeing spots in Yakushima that you should definitely visit.
Jomon cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
Yakushima is probably best known for its Jomon Cedars!
Let's go see the stately Jomon cedars, which are worthy of being called the kings of the forests of Yakushima.
The schedule for visiting Jomon Cedars is as followsEarly morning departure is the rule!
The outward journey takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes, and the return journey takes about 4 hours, covering a distance of about 22 km.
Access: 30 minutes by car from Yakusugi Nature Center to the trailhead, then 5 hours trekking one way
Go to ⬇︎ to see the Jomon Cedars! Click here for recommended tours
Yakusugiland
Yakusugiland is a forest canyon where visitors can easily experience the Yakusugi cedar forest.
There are a variety of courses to explore.Choose according to your fitness and time!
A wonderful sightseeing spot where you can enjoy the forests of Yakushima.A hole in the ground as it is relatively empty.It is also a spot for
Access: 1 hour by car from Miyanoura Port
Now at ⬇︎ Yaksgiriland! Click here for recommended tours.
Shiratani Unsui Gorge (Shiratani Unsui Gorge)
There are many popular spots such as "Taiko Iwa" and the "moss forest" which was the setting for a Ghibli movie.
Yakusugi" is also popular.Lots of must-see points.that (something mentioned before which is distant psychologically or in terms of time)The area is a great place to spend a day to explore!
Access: 30 minutes by car from Miyanoura Port
Visit ⬇︎ for more information on visiting Shiratani-Unsui Gorge! Click here for recommended tours.
hedge cedar (Cedrus deodara)
Kuguri cedars are located in Shiratani Unsui Gorge. They are cedars that have hollowed out at the base due to the decay of fallen trees.
The tree is supported by two-twisted roots, and the trail passes through a hollow in the tree.
It is a blessing to pass throughThere are also rumors that
Access: 1 hour drive from Miyanoura Port (located in Yakusugiland)
Visit ⬇︎Kuguri Cedar! Click here for recommended tours.
Wilson stock
This is a cedar stump on the way to Jomon Cedar.
Looking up.People talk about the sky looking like a heart shape.It is also a good spot for commemorative photos at
Please try to take great photos that will look great on social networking sites.
Access: Halfway along the Jomon-sugi trekking route (about a 3-hour walk from the Arakawa trailhead)
⬇︎ Let's visit Wilson Tree! Check out these recommended tours
Mt Miyanoura
Miyanoura-dake, at 1,936 meters above sea level, is Kyushu's highest and most famous mountain.
If you are lucky, you may be able to see the mysterious "Yakushika" and "Yakusaru" that live on Yakushima up close♪.
It's an advanced course mountain.Recommended for regular hikers and those who are confident in their physical strength.It is!
Access: Start climbing from Yodogawa trailhead (about 1 hour by car from Miyanoura Port)
⬇︎ Let's climb Mt. Miyanoura! Click here for recommended tours
Okawa Falls
Ooko-no-Taki Waterfall is located atBoasts the island's largest drop of approximately 88 meters and the largest volume of water.Ootaki Falls is full of negative ions!
The sight of the waterfall sliding down with a splash is truly spectacular. You can enjoy the contrast between the blue of the sky and the white of the waterfall on a clear day.
Access: 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from Miyanoura Port
⬇︎ Click here for recommended tours to Okawa Falls
Mt. Tachu (in Kyoto)
Tachudake (1497 m above sea level) is one of the representative mountains of Yakushima.
At the top of the mountainIt is famous for Tenpushuseki, a huge rock 50 meters high!
Access: 4-hour walk from the Shiratani-unsui Gorge trailhead
Visit ⬇︎ to climb Mt. Taichung! Click here for recommended tours.
Nagata Inaka Beach
Nagata Inaka Beach is the best beach on the island with beautiful white sand.
It is also famous as a sunset spot, and the orange glow of the ocean is romantic.
Also every year from May to July.Loggerhead and green turtles come ashore to lay eggsI will do so.
During the sea turtle spawning season, observation events are held, so please visit if you wish to observe the turtles!
Access: 40 minutes by car from Miyanoura Port
⬇︎Let's enjoy Inaka Beach! Check out these recommended tours
Mt. Kurokami
Mount Kuromi, with an elevation of 1,831 meters, is one of the mountains on Yakushima that boasts some of the best views.
The mountaintop is covered with large granite boulders, andEnjoy a 360-degree panoramic viewThat's its biggest appeal!
If the weather is nice, you can see the mountains of Yakushima—including Mt. Miyanoura—and even as far away as Tanegashima.
Directions: Start the hike from the Yodogawa Trailhead (about a 2-hour drive from Miyanoura Port); it takes about 3 to 4 hours on foot to reach the summit.
⬇︎ Let's climb Mt. Kuroi! Check out these recommended tours
ark (i.e. formed by striking a rock with a glacier on top)
Taiko-iwa is a scenic spot located deep within Shiratani Unsuikyo, andA scenic viewpoint offering a panoramic view of the mountain range where the Jomon Sugi standsIt is.
On a sunny day, a magnificent view unfolds—a blend of the deep green of the forest and the mountain ridges—allowing you to truly appreciate the vast scale of Yakushima’s natural landscape.
There is also a legend that “a sound like a drum beating can be heard”—which is where the rock got its name—making this a spot with a mysterious atmosphere.
Access: 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from Miyanoura Port
⬇︎Let's head to Taiko Rock! Check out these recommended tours
abundant natural beauty
Senpiro Falls is,Flowing down between massive monolithic granite bouldersIt's a truly spectacular waterfall.
The waterfall has a drop of about 60 meters, and combined with the sheer scale of the monolithic rock face stretching across the opposite bank, it is one of Yakushima’s most popular scenic spots.
From the observation deck, you can capture both the waterfall and the granite cliff face in a single photo, making it a great spot for Instagram-worthy shots.
Access: 50 minutes by car from Miyanoura Port
Toloki Falls
Toloki Falls is,One of the few "waterfalls in Japan that flow directly into the ocean"It is a rare spot known as...
The scenery where the waterfall and the sea merge is unique to Yakushima, and one of its charms is that you can easily enjoy the view right from where you park your car!
Especially on sunny days, the contrast between the blue sea and the white waterfall is beautiful, making it the perfect spot to stop by while out for a drive.
Access: 40 minutes by car from Miyanoura Port
⬇︎Let's visit Troki Falls! Check out these recommended tours
Snake Mouth Waterfall
Jano-kuchi Falls is,There are well-maintained walking trails, so it's easy to get there.This waterfall is popular for that reason.
It’s about a 40-minute walk along the trail from the village, and the sight of the abundant water cascading down the rock face is truly spectacular!
Since it’s easy to visit even without full-fledged mountaineering gear, this spot is recommended for trekking beginners and families with children.
Directions: About a 45-minute drive from Miyanoura Port; about a 1-hour walk from the trailhead
⬇︎ Let's visit Janokuchi Falls! Check out these recommended tours
Western Forest Road
The Western Forest Road is,The only road within a World Natural Heritage site that can be driven throughIt is known as the
The path, which winds its way through the virgin forest, retains its natural state, and if you're lucky,You can encounter wild sika deer and macaquesThat too!
Because the road is narrow and has many curves, please drive at a moderate speed and watch out for wildlife that may dart out onto the road.
Access: 41 minutes by car from Miyanoura to the western forest road entrance on the Nagata side
⬇︎ Let's explore the Western Forest Road! Check out these recommended tours
banyan tree in the middle of a bay (Ficus microcarpa or Ficus retusa)
The Nakama banyan tree towers over the roadsideA Giant Banyan TreeAnd the sight of countless aerial roots intertwining is truly breathtaking.
The atmosphere makes you feel as if you're deep in the jungle, and the convenience of being able to park your car and start exploring right away is another big draw!
This spot is a great place to experience the subtropical vegetation typical of Yakushima, and it’s also highly recommended for photography.
Access: 37 minutes by car from Awa Port
Shidoko Banyan Tree Park
Shitoko Banyan Tree Park features well-maintained walking trailsA cluster of banyan treesIt is.
The park, which stretches along the coast, is filled with banyan trees of various sizes, and visitors can observe up close the unique scenery created by their aerial roots as they descend to the ground and intertwine.
The walking trail is short and easy to navigate, making it the perfect spot for anyone who wants to casually enjoy Yakushima’s subtropical vegetation.
Access: 10 minutes from Miyanoura Port
Hirauchi Kainaka Onsen
The Hirauchi Underwater Hot Spring is,An open-air hot spring in the ocean that can only be accessed at low tideIt's a rare spot.
Since it gets submerged by the sea at high tide, be sure to check the tide table for low tide times before visiting.
Bathing while gazing out at the open ocean is a truly special experience!
Access: 1 hour by car from Miyanoura Port
Onoma Onsen
Onoaida Hot Springs is a public bathhouse beloved by locals, andHot water generated using geothermal energy from Yakushimais a feature of this product.
It’s the perfect way to soothe your tired body after a hike, and the simple, homey atmosphere—where tourists and locals soak together in the same tub—is part of its charm!
It's a simple public bathhouse, but the price is reasonable, so you can easily stop by.
Access: 50 minutes by car from Miyanoura Port
Fee: 300 yen
Yakusugi Nature Center
The Yakusugi Nature Center provides information on the history and ecology of Yakusugi cedars, as well as the natural environment of Yakushima Island.An exhibition facility where you can learn at your own paceIt is.
If you stop by before or after your Jomon Sugi trek, you’ll be able to walk through the forest with a deeper understanding of the origins of the Yakusugi cedars and the island’s natural environment.
Since it’s an indoor facility that’s fun even on rainy days, it’s an easy spot to include in your sightseeing plans on days when the weather might be iffy.
Access: 35 minutes by car from Miyanoura Port
Admission: Adults 600 yen, High school/University students 400 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 300 yen
You can enjoy the sights more!
Activities Recommended by Local Staff
To fully enjoy the spots we have just mentioned, we recommend participating in an activity tour!
Next, here are some recommended activities you can enjoy at popular tourist spots♪
trekking
Trekking is "mountain walking" and its purpose is to enjoy walking in the mountains.
Whether you climb to the top or not,Walk along the mountain paths and enjoy nature.That is a fine trek!
To see the Jomon cedars and Wilson's stumps I mentioned earlier, you will need to walk along the mountain path on your own feet.
Trekking courses range from easy for beginners to more advanced courses.
Choose a course that suits your fitness level without overdoing it.
Click here for ⬇︎ trekking recommendations
Learn more about ⬇︎ trekking
diving
Diving can be experienced on Yakushima Island, where you can enjoy the mysterious sea to your heart's content.
If you want to try divingYou don't have to have a license to participate♪
Why don't you try diving in the rich sea of Yakushima where sea turtles also swim?
Click here for recommended tours for ⬇︎ diving
Learn more about diving at ⬇︎
SUP
SUP is an abbreviation for stand-up paddle.
This is an activity to enjoy walking on the water on a large surfboard on the crystal clear water!
Two people on one board can enjoy a walk on the water.
Small children and the elderly who are concerned about their physical fitness can create wonderful memories in the ocean by riding together with their parents or instructors!
Click here for recommended tours at ⬇︎SUP
Learn more about ⬇︎SUP
Canoe (Kayak)
Canoeing (kayaking) is easy and safe even for beginners!
The canoes used in the activity are very stable and there is little risk of capsizing, even for first-timers.
In Yakushima, kayaking on the Awa River, which flows through the World Heritage forest, is popular♪.
Enjoy the comfortable rocking of the boat, the sound of the water as the paddles stir the water, and the ancient landscape that spreads out all around you!
Click here for recommended canoe (kayak) tours at ⬇︎
Learn more about ⬇︎ canoeing (kayaking)
snorkeling
In the sea of Yakushima, where life is abundant, snorkeling is a great way to see colorful fish and beautiful coral reefs, of course.Very high possibility of seeing sea turtles.It is.
Instructors provide support, so even those who are not good at swimming can participate with ease.
⬇︎ for recommended snorkeling tours.
Learn more about snorkeling at ⬇︎
Points to keep in mind when traveling to Yakushima
Lastly, here are some points to keep in mind when traveling to Yakushima.
Be careful what you wear.
In Yakushima trekking and climbingPrepare long sleeves and long pants regardless of the seasonThe following is a brief overview of the steps to take when walking in the park.
It can prevent your skin from being damaged by plants and trees, and keep insects out. Also, in hot weather, choose materials that can easily dry out sweat and rain!
Trekking shoes are recommended for shoes♪
Make your hotel and tour reservations early!
If you are going to Yakushima on a limited itinerary for a tripArrive in the morning.
However, flights arriving on the island in the morning by air are popular, so early reservations are important!
The key to securing a hotel in a good location is to book as early as possible.
Pay attention to the closing time of restaurants.
Although there are convenience stores in YakushimaIt is not open 24 hours a day!Please secure food as soon as possible.
If you have a restaurant in mind, call ahead to make a reservation!
Cherish the nature of Yakushima!
Yakushima Island was registered as Japan's first World Natural Heritage site in 1993, along with Shirakami Sanchi.
Recently, however, the effects of global climate change, such as soil erosion caused by excessive use of trails by tourists, acid rain, yellow sand, and global warming, have also been pointed out.
Enjoy Yakushima Island while observing the rules.
Pay attention to the intensity of sunlight.
Hats, long-sleeved shirts, and sunscreen cream are essential for sun protection in Yakushima!
Furthermore, not staying well hydrated increases the risk of heat stroke and dehydration.
Be aware of the intensity of the sun's rays when trekking or climbing mountains.
About Yakushima Sightseeing Spots
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Popular tourist spots on Yakushima include Jomon Cedars, Shiratani Unsui Gorge, Yakusugiland, Okawa Falls, and Nagata Inaka Beach. The rich forests and beautiful beaches of this World Natural Heritage site allow visitors to enjoy nature to the fullest.
The Jomon cedars, said to be thousands of years old, and the Shiratani Unsui Gorge, famous for its mossy forests, are among the places that cannot be missed during a visit to Yakushima. Many tourists visit this place to experience the mysterious nature unique to Yakushima.
For sightseeing spots that are easy for beginners to visit, we recommend the short trails of Yakusugiland and Shiratani-unsui Gorge, which have well-maintained walking paths. Visitors can casually stroll around while enjoying nature.
Yes, many of Yakushima's tourist attractions can be accessed by rental car. There is a road that circles the island, and sightseeing while driving around waterfalls, observation spots, and beaches is popular.
Sightseeing in Yakushima can be enjoyed all year round, but spring (March to May) and fall (October to November) are especially popular due to the mild weather. These are the seasons when you can comfortably enjoy trekking and nature walks.
Yakushima Island has a road that circles the island, so it is recommended to visit tourist spots while driving around in a rented car. If you wish to go trekking, it is recommended to check the course and time required in advance and plan accordingly for efficient sightseeing.
summary
There are so many wonderful places in the mountains, ocean, and rivers that it is difficult to see them all in one trip to Yakushima!
We hope you enjoy your trip to Yakushima by referring to this article.
Also, make good use of guided tours to fully enjoy the nature of Yakushima♪
⬇︎ Read the article at ⬇︎
![[Yakushima · Private Tour] Led by a Female Guide! A Relaxing One-Day Forest Tour to Recharge Among Moss and Yakusugi Cedars](https://yakushima-tour.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/a0e0857e7f1ee70e49fee427cac12402-825x510.jpg)
