Yakushima Taikoiwa Trekking Tour

I was overwhelmed by the fantastic atmosphere of the mossy forest and the view from the taiko rocks. Since it was a private party, it was very comfortable to walk at one's own pace.

We usually hike low mountains and this was our first time to Yakushima, but we were able to enjoy both Taikoiwa and Moss Forest thanks to the guide's good advice. The guide gave us interesting explanations of the trees along the way, and we did not feel tired or tired. At Taikoiwa, there were a few clouds, but it was nice to see peaks such as Miyaura-dake from time to time as the scenery changed from one place to the next. It rained a little on the way back, but that was no problem as it was one of the best parts of Yakushima. I would like to stay with you again if I have a chance.

We joined the tour as a couple. As we were tired from the Jomon cedar trekking the day before, we were guided to the moss forest and a 360° mossy area slightly off the trekking route recommended by the guide. I really appreciated the photo opportunities at the scenic and atmospheric spots and the talk about the history of Yakushima and its plants/mosses. We enjoyed the coffee you brought for lunch and the homemade bread. On the way back, we were introduced to a hot spring and were dropped off there. We were not pressed for time and were able to move at our own pace. This was exactly the kind of private tour that we had imagined and we were very satisfied with our time there. Thank you very much.

My sister and I joined this group in mid-October 2025. I am 58 years old and my sister is 61 years old, both of us have trekked only a few times and only in low mountains of about 1000 meters or less. We had no confidence in our physical strength as we had not been training hard, so we decided to take a private tour with a guide. As a result, I enjoyed it very much. The guide was able to keep up with our pace and taught us about the flora and fauna of Yakushima, the climate, daily life, and the wonders of Yakushima, which only a local guide could know. On the way back, the pain in both knees slowed us down even more, but he never rushed us and encouraged us, and we finally made it back to the starting point over an hour later than scheduled. Personally, we were both glad that we had a dedicated guide with us. We were surprised at how often the weather changed during our stay in Yakushima, but we were glad that it hardly rained at all during the trekking. If it had rained, our footing might have been in a very dangerous condition. We were happy to see a group of Yakuzaru (Japanese macaques) (baby macaques are the size of your palm!) and deer. I was also happy to see a group of Yakuzaru (Japanese monkeys) and deer. I would like to go back to Yakushima. Thank you very much, guide.

Two of us joined the tour. We started early in the morning, so I almost regretted it when we woke up (laugh), but thanks to the guide who allowed us to take a good rest in the car that picked us up and dropped us off, we were able to conserve our energy. Above all, walking through the forest in the quietness of the early morning was truly special and an unforgettable experience. Since it was a consecutive holiday weekend, by the time we descended the mountain, it was crowded with many people, so I would definitely recommend the early morning tour to those who want to enjoy the quiet forest. Luckily, there were no other visitors this time and it was just the three of us with the guide. We were able to adjust our pace and timing for taking pictures and walking at our own pace, so we were able to enjoy the tour in a relaxed manner without worrying about our surroundings. The guide gave us easy-to-understand explanations about the nature and ecology of Yakushima at each point, and we enjoyed learning about it. He also took a lot of pictures at the recommended spots, all of which turned out beautifully and we were very satisfied with the results. We were very happy to be able to leave our memories behind in a tangible form. Through this tour, I felt again strongly the charm of Yakushima. I really wanted to come back to Yakushima again for sure! I would definitely ask the Yakushima Guide Club to take care of us next time we visit Yakushima!

The view from the high altitude drum rocks blew away all the stress of everyday life. I was not confident in my physical strength, but they helped me by taking breaks at my pace.