How to get to Yakushima

Most visitors to Yakushima, whether traveling by air or sea, will pass through Kagoshima. (How to get to Kagoshima). The only way to circumvent Kagoshima is by taking a direct flight from Osaka or Fukuoka (from March 27, 2011).

By high speed ferry from Kagoshima

High speed jetfoil ferries operate between Kagoshima and Yakushima. Some travel directly to the island but most go via neighboring Tanegashima. The jetfoils depart from the high speed ferry terminal of Kagoshima Port, take about two to three hours depending on stops and cost 6500 yen one way. Round trip tickets are available for 11,600 yen and must be used within seven days.

Two companies operate the jetfoils for a total of eight ferries to the island per day. Five are "Toppy" jetfoils (1 direct, 4 indirect) and three are "Rocket" jetfoils (2 direct, 1 indirect). All direct ferries go to Miyanoura Port while half the indirect ferries stop at Miyanoura and half at Anbo Port.

By car ferry from Kagoshima

A car ferry, the "Yakushima Ferry 2" leaves every morning from Kagoshima New Port located just south of the main Kagoshima Port. The ferry costs about 5000 yen one way and takes 4 hours to reach the island. It accommodate vehicles, and costs about 25,000 yen one way for the average size car.

By air from Kagoshima

There are five flights per day from Kagoshima Airport to Yakushima. The flight takes 35 minutes. The regular one way fare is 14,000 yen, but discount fares are usually available for around 10,000 yen. Flights are operated by Japan Air Commuter, a member of the JAL group. Note that Kagoshima Airport is located almost one hour outside the city center.

By air from Osaka

Japan Air Commuter, a member of the JAL Group, operates one round trip per day between Osaka's Itami Airport and Yakushima. Flight duration is about 90 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 34,000 yen. (How to get to Osaka).

By air from Fukuoka

Japan Air Commuter, a member of the JAL Group, operates one round trip per day between Fukuoka and Yakushima. Flight duration is about one hour. The regular one way fare is 26,000 yen, but discount fares are usually available from around 17,000 yen. (How to get to Fukuoka).

Orientation

Yakushima is developed all along its coast except for in the west where the steep mountain slopes run all the way into the sea. A road encircles the island connecting the towns together, and the majority of Yakushima's hotels, beaches, hot springs, waterfalls and museums are within a short distance of it.

Yakushima's roads are easy to drive except for the one that traverses the west coast as well as the ones that lead into the island's interior as they are narrow and winding. The cedar forests are located in the mountainous interior and are accessed by a few roads from the larger towns, such as Miyanoura and Anbo, which lead to the various hiking trails and nature parks.

By car

The most convenient way to get around Yakushima is by rental car. Rental companies are located at Miyanoura Port and at the airport. Additionally, a car is the only way to access some trailheads and to circle the entire island since the narrow road along the western coast cannot be traversed by bus. It takes about 3 hours to circle the island by car.

By bus

Buses run about once an hour along most of Yakushima's coast except from Nagata to Okonotaki. Buses to the interior are infrequent with four per day from Miyanoura Port to Shiratani Unsuikyo (35 minutes, 530 yen), and two per day from Anbo Town to Yakusugi Land (40 minutes, 1330 yen) continuing on to Kigensugi (60 minutes, 1480 yen).

There are four buses to Arakawa trailhead per day, two from the south and two from the north of the island. These only run from March through November.

The buses are relatively expensive (1330 yen from Anbo to Yakusugi Land) although there are one day and two day bus passes available for 2000 and 3000 yen respectively.