Kyushu's highest peak at 1936m.

The trail starts amid beautiful old-growth forests. . .

. . . winding around conifers . . .

. . . to the World Natural Heritage Site.

Enjoy the crystal clear and ice-cold Yodogo River.

The trail gets narrower as it goes up.

Cross Hana no Ego, Japan's southernmost high-altitude peat marsh.

Leave the forests behind and walk among the realm of the gods in the Central Mountains.

Will you be greeted with clouds or blue skies?

Links:

• Certified Guide List
• Town Page
• Hiking Notification
• Brochure and Island Map
• Trail Times
• Yakushima Life Page

Content last updated in 2020.

Experience Level:

Intermediate~Advanced
-Fixed ropes to assist scrambling on the approach.

Trail Head Access:

Car or Taxi

Time:

7~8 Hours

Round Trip Distance:

10 km

Trail Head Elevation:

1365 m

Peak Elevation:

1831 m

Costs:

The town of Yakushima recommends a voluntary donation of ¥1000 (valid for all World-Hertiage Site day hikes in one month) per hiker and purchase of a disposable toilet kit.
For a guided hike expect to pay from ¥10,000 to ¥24,000 depending on season, number of hikers, options, etc.
The cost of a taxi from Anbo runs around ¥7,000 (2020) each way.

Getting to the Trailhead (GPS coords: 30.3000, 130.5337):

You can take a taxi or drive. The road from Anbo to the Yodogo (Yodogawa) Trailhead is about an hour's drive on a narrow, winding road. If you're driving, watch out for monkeys, deer, fallen objects, oncoming traffic, and the occasional cyclist. Most hikers leave the trail between 6 and 7 am.

Toilets:

At Park Entrance and rudimentary toilet 1.5km into the hike. Bring a toilet kit (wag bag) for use along the trail and carry out all waste and toilet paper.

Equipment List:

Water Bottle, Lunch + Snacks, Headlamp + Batteries, First Aid Kit, Map, Compass, GPS, Rain Jacket + Rain Pants, Hiking Boots, Spare Jacket, Disposable Toilet Kit, etc.

Also of interest:

Kigen Sugi, Yakusugiland

The Hike:

This hike starts at the Yodogo Trail Head at an elevation of 1365m and continues along the same trail to Miyanoura Dake for the first several hours. Set out on a mountain trail over rough, sometimes muddy, often slippery terrain. Keep your eyes open because less than ten minuets into the hike, you'll pass the largest Yakusugi on this trail (cryptomeria tree over 1,000-years old). A half hour later, enter the World Natural Heritage Site, stop by the Yodogo Hut, and cross the beautiful Yodogawa (Yodogo) River. Many hikers choose to eat breakfast around the bridge over the Yodogo River. The latrine at the hut is the last one until you return.

From here, the trail starts to seriously ascend. Small trees begin to crowd the trail, making passage difficult in snowy months. There is a short boardwalk across Hana-no-Ego, Japan's southernmost high-altitude peat marsh. Shortly after the peat marsh, you reach the turn-off for Kuromi Dake, and are soon met with some fixed ropes to help the ascent to the rocky peak. Stay alert: The trail is well marked, but careless hikers are known to wonder the wrong way. On a windy day, the last rock can be a little harry, but for most of the climb you will be surrounded by trees. On a clear day, it's well worth the views from the summit!

The high-altitude Yakushima rhododendrons are particularly stunning in the rainy season at the end of May.

In the case of bad weather:

This hike should not be attempted if the road to the trail head becomes dangerous because of ice or threat of rockslides due to particularly intense rain, if a severe weather warning is issued, or if high winds or heavy snow is predicted. Lightning storms are also possible in summer. In minimal snow conditions from fall through spring, micros-spikes and mini(instep)-crampons are recommended for icey patches. In deeper snow, the trail may become burried, and postholing and the steep, rocky terrain make hiking difficult. Tacchu Dake is a fun alternative.

If a storm catches you at any point in this hike, you should be able to turn back.