Yakushima Transport Buses & Car Hire
Yakushima Transport 屋久島の交通
The main ways to get around the UNESCO World Heritage Listed island of Yakushima are by public buses, tour buses, hire car, bicycle or, of course, on foot.
Hiking, indeed, is your only option once you get off the roads and deep in to the cedar-forested mountains to visit the island's many peaks and the ancient trees such as Jomon Sugi and Wilson's Stump.
Yakushima Bus to Oko-no-taki Waterfall
Yakushima Buses in the main Anbo bus depot
Yakushima Buses
Yakushima has two bus companies: Yakushima Kotsu and Matsubanda Bus. This is rather surprising given the size of the island. A road runs 130 km around the island on the coast. However, is too narrow in some parts on the western side of the island, in the UNESCO World Heritage zone, for public buses (though tour buses do run here).
Yakushima Buses (Tel: 0997 46 2221) run west on the coast toad as far as Nagata, to Yakushima Airport east of Miyanoura, Anbo Port, Anbo, inland to the Yakusugi Museum, Yakusugi Cedar Land and the Kisensugi Cedar. Yakushima Buses also run on the coast road south of Anbo to Onoaida, JR Hotel Yakushima, the Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel, Kaichu Onsen and as far as Oko-no-taki Waterfall.
Buses from Miyanoura also run inland and south to Shiratani Unsuikyo. Visitors can pick up a useful bus map and timetable from the Tourist Offices.
Some fares are 550 yen from Miyanoura Port to the nature park at Shiratani Unsuikyo (35 minutes); 830 yen from Miyanoura Port to Anbo, 1290 yen from Miyanoura Port to the Iwasaki Hotel and 1,870 yen from Miyanoura to Oko-no-taki Waterfall.
Matsubanda Buses run from Miyanoura to Shiratani Unsuikyo, from Miyanoura and Anbo to Kigensugi, from Miyanoura and Anbo to Arakawa Trail head for the hike up to Jomon Sugi, and from Hirauchi on the south coast to the Arakawa Trail head.
Buses generally run from around 5 or 6 am in the morning to around 7 pm at night. A full timetable is available at the Tourist Offices.
Bus Passes
Bus fares can be expensive and it makes sense to purchase one of the passes offered by Yakushima Kotsu. These unlimited ride passes are 1,000 yen for one day, 2,000 yen for two days, 3,000 yen for three days and 4,000 yen for four days. Children are half price.
Where To Buy?
The passes can be purchased at the Tourist Office, next door to the Yakushima Environmental Culture Village Center near Miyanoura Port, where ferries from Kagoshima or Tanegashima arrive, Yakushima Airport, Anbo Port and various travel agencies and hotels in Yakushima (Seaside Hotel, JR Hotel Yakushima, Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel, Yakushima Youth Hostel).
Matsubanda do not offer a bus pass and Yakushima Bus passes are NOT valid on Matsubanda buses.
Yakushima Matsubanda Bus
Matsubanda Bus at the Yakusugi Museum
Tour Buses (Sightseeing Buses)
If your time on Yakushima is limited a tour bus maybe the answer. The tour guides talk (incessantly) in Japanese but even if you speak Japanese you will probably not be listening all the time. The Tourist Office has details of the various tours, which begin in Miyanoura and Anbo and can reserve seats for you. Then pay the tour guide on the bus.
There are both full and half day tours. There are four half day tours but doing two of the half day tours makes for a full day tour.
A Course: Anbo, Onoaida, Botanical Research Park, Miyanoura, Shiratani Unsuikyo, Yakushima Kanko Center (lunch) and drop off at Miyanoura Port.
D Course: Miyanoura Port, Nagata Inaka Beach, Seibu Forest Path, Oko-no-taki Waterfall, Nakama Gajumaru Banyan, Onoaida, Anbo. (A free bus ticket is provided back to Miyanoura if you are staying there). A+D = a full day tour.
B Course: Anbo, Onoaida, Yakusugi Land, Kigensugi, Sugisho (lunch), Anbo Port, Airport, Environmental & Cultural Learning Center (420 yen extra), Miyanoura.
C Course: Anbo Port, Airport, Environmental & Cultural Learning Center (420 yen extra), Miyanoura, Senpiro-no-taki Waterfall, Onoaida, Anbo. B+C = a full day tour.
Oko-no-taki Waterfall, Yakushima
Nakama Gajumaru Banyan, Yakushima
Hire Car
Car hire is probably the best way of getting around Yakushima. There are several operators offering both gasoline and electric vehicles. You will need either a valid Japanese driving license or an International Driving License.
Cars can be hired at Miyanoura Port, Anbo Port and Yakushima Airport.
Some operators are Toyata Rent-a-car (Tel: 0997 42 2000), Nippon Rent-a-car (Tel: 0997 49 4189) and Orix Rent-a-car (Tel: 0997 43 5888).
Scooters can also be rented and again you will need a valid International Driving License. Try Suzuki Rent-a-car in Miyanoura (Tel: 0997 42 1772).
Taxis
There are three main taxi companies on Yakushima: Anbo Taxi (Tel: 0997 46 2311); Matsubanda Taxi (Tel: 0997 43 5555) and Yakushima Kotsu Taxi (Tel: 0997 42 0611).
Bicycles
Mountain bikes and road bikes can be rented on Yakushima. Prices range from 1500 yen a day to 3,000 yen. Try Yakushima Kanko in Miyanoura (Tel: 0997 42 0091) or Youshop in Anbo (Tel: 0997 46 2705).
Hitch-hiking is a last resort.
Car hire is available at Yakushima Airport
Inakahama Beach on Yakushima is where Loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs and can be seen by tour bus
Accommodation in Yakushima
There is a range of available accommodation on Yakushima from budget minshuku guest-houses to high-end western style hotels and resorts. In Miyanoura try the Minshuku Iwakaya with rooms from around 6,000 yen for budget travelers. The Sankara Hotel & Spa is in the south west of the island near Anbo offers luxury accommodation including Thai massage and French cuisine. The Yakushima Youth Hostel is also on the south coast.
In Onoaida the JR Hotel Yakushima has ocean views. Also in Onoaida is the plushest hotel on the island, the Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel (0997 47 3888) with its own hot springs and wonderful sea vistas.
Search all the accommodation options in Yakushima including budget minshuku and western style hotels.
More pictures of Yakushima here
Bus to Arakawa Trail head, Yakushima
Map
Travel Books on Japan
Yakushima Transport: read how to get around Yakushima by public buses, tour buses, car hire, taxi or bicycle.
