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Yakushima island 屋久島

Checked October 2026 · next check January 2027 · 1 post since 2013

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Visiting Yakushima island today

  • What it is: A mountainous, forested island south of Kagoshima. In 1993 it became one of Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Sites, together with Shirakami Sanchi.
  • Getting there: Jetfoils run from Kagoshima to Miyanoura or Anbo ports in 2-3 hours (¥12,700 one way). The car ferry takes four hours (¥6,000). Flights from Kagoshima take about 40 minutes.
  • Getting around: A rental car is easiest; circling the island takes about three hours. Coastal buses run roughly hourly, but not on the west coast. Bus passes cost ¥2,000 for one day or ¥3,000 for three days.
  • Best time: Nagata Inakahama beach is Japan's largest sea turtle nesting site, with nesting from May to July.
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Sea turtle nesting season at Nagata Inakahama, May to July

Checked against: Yakushima access (japan-guide.com) · Yakushima (JNTO japan.travel). Check opening times and prices before you go.

Yakushima island on Shibuya246

Photos and stories from our visits, as they were written at the time.

Travel

Yakushima Sunrise

I took a 3 day trip to Yakushima and came back with a few nice photos. Here are some rocks on the beach with a nice sunrise at Yakushima on my birthday.