Every year, backpackers from everywhere travel across the world to explore Yakushima, Japan’s premier spot for hiking. Yakushima is filled to the brim with challenging trails meandering through breathtaking landscapes. Situated on an island off Kyushu’s southern coast, this protected plot of land is lush with a subtropical rainforest and towering, mountains close to 7,000 feet tall. With around 1,900 species and subspecies of vibrant, thriving flora and an ancient 1,000-year-old cedar forest, hikers are given the chance to tackle a difficult but awe-inspiring terrain.
In fact, the renowned Japanese animated filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki, is said to have taken inspiration from Yakushima’s rainforests while creating the magical, mythical worlds of his most beloved productions. Because of Yakushima’s environmental significance, history, and unparalleled beauty, the island was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. That said, if you are a skilled hiker, Yakushima has to have a place on your bucket list.
Yakushima’s best trails for advanced hikers
Yakushima is a mountainous island, so the area provides hikers with an abundance of trails to choose from. One of the most popular attractions to hike to in the park is Jomon Sugi, a 2000 to 7200-year-old cedar tree. To arrive here, most visitors will take a combination of the Anbo Trail and the Okabu Trail beginning at the Arakawa Trailhead. Along this trek, you’ll find a popular place for photos, the Wilson Stump. This cedar stump is large enough to venture inside and check out the small shrine within it. On average, the total journey takes about 10 hours. To arrive at the trailhead, hikers can take the bus from the Yakusugi Museum to the Arakawa Trailhead.
For a longer, overnight expenditure, you might want to try the trail to Mount Miyanoura from Yodogawa. This hike is not for amateurs and can take around 10 hours. To arrive at the trailhead, you take a 70-minute bus ride to the Kigensugi stop. Once you arrive, walk about half an hour alongside the road to come to the Yodogawa Trailhead.
Things to know before hiking in Yakushima, Japan
Yakushima Island is a hiker’s haven. However, as wonderful as it is, you’ll want to plan ahead to ensure your trip is all that you hope for. The area is a subtropical rainforest, soit’s important to be prepared for the sometimes unpredictable weather conditions. The reason Yakushima is home to such vibrant greenery is that it is also home to a somewhat excessive level of rainfall. To give you a picture, there’s a funny local claim that it rains “35 days a month” in Yakushima.
That said, you should always check the weather forecast and park conditions before heading out on a trail. However, in general, June is the wettest month of the year, and August to September are the peak periods for typhoons. While the winter in Yakushima offers the least rainfall, you must anticipate trails laden with snow.
If you choose to do one of Yakushima’s long-distance hiking trails, you may need to spend a night in the park. Luckily, there are six mountain huts within the area for lodging purposes. These accommodations are not staffed, do not take reservations, and beds are obtained on a first-come-first-serve basis. If the hut is full, be prepared to camp outside in a location designated on the hut’s grounds. However, camping outside of these sites is not allowed.
