Kyoto to Yakushima

Wanted to go to Yakushima Island from Kyoto with our JR Pass. I heard its 5.5 hours by train and then the ferry is 4 hours...(total 9.5 hours, but that's only if train arrival and ferry departure are back to back...) but I only found 1 source that said that, so I'm not super confident of its accuracy.

Does anyone know how long it would take?

I'm only in Japan for 2 weeks so I'm trying to be frugal with my time, but I also want to fully monopolize my 7 day JRPass.

Thanks!

JR-Pass vaild until JR Kagoshima-chuo stn.
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/

Then take local bus or taxi to ferry port.

I would first like to suggest that you look through the YakuMonkey web page:

http://www.yakumonkey.com/2007/06/transport-to-and-from-yakushima.html

That said, to maximise you time on Yakushima Island, I would suggest the Kotsu packaged bus tour A & B. Here is a link to the 2012 Yakyshima Kotsu Bus Timetable from YakuMonkey:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/92078097/Yakushima-Kotsu-Bus-Timetable-2012

You should check out of you hotel in Kyoto, and have your bags held for you until late afternoon. Enjoy a morning and afternoon in Kyoto, and pick up your bags around 4PM. You can then ride a Shinkansen to Kagoshima and check into a hotel.

If you take the 7:45 Jetfoil, It will arrive at Yakushima Island at 9:45, and the tour bus driver will put your luggage on the bus. You will then go on the "A" course, and be dropped off with your luggage at your hotel.

I would suggest that you stay at one of the Hotels listed at the start of the "B" course.

The following day, the tour bus will pick you and your luggage, take you on the "B" course, and drop you off at the Arbo port at 1PM, just in time to take the 1:30 PM Jetfoil back to Kagoshima. You will arrive at Kagoshima at 3:30 PM, and should be able to get to another location that night.

I hope this helps.