4 days 3 nights, departing/returning to Tokyo
Yakushima Hiking Tour. Yakushima is a World Heritage island in the southern part of the Japanese archipelago. Approximately round in shape, its highest point reaches almost 2,000m above sea level, meaning that it is often snow capped in winter despite its subtropical location. Yakushima’s rugged, volcanic surface is challenging for plant cover, resulting in the world famous “yaku sugi”. Sugi is a member of the same plant family as California Redwood. Post-war sugi plantations, together with the other popular plantation species hinoki, cover an amazing 70% of Japan’s land area. However, the rugged growing conditions on Yakushima mean that natural sugi grows very, very slowly here, resulting in very dense wood that is largely resistant to insect attack and decay. This feature enables yaku sugi to reach very old age. Yaku sugi was logged from around half a millennium ago until recent times, but fortunately a handful of original giants remain for us to enjoy. Hiking level: 6 Moderate to Challenging.
Photo Ben Everitt
Number in group: Up to 6
Yakushima Hiking Tour Itinerary:
Day 0. For easy access to Haneda Airport to fly to Yakushima on Day 1, please overnight (own arrangement) at either Shiba Park Hotel (4 star) or nearby Richmond Hotel Hamamatsu (3 star).
Please do not include a weekend in Yakushima as flights/accommodation on a weekend cannot be guaranteed and even if available will incur a surcharge. Thanks.
Day 1.
10am meet lobby of Shiba Park Hotel carrying just 1 x 30 litre day pack and 1 x cabin carry-on size small wheeled suitcase with change of clothes for 3 days. 10 minute walk to Hamamatsu station, monorail to Haneda airport. Lunch at airport after check in.
1330/1825 Fly Haneda/Yakushima via Kagoshima. Walk to accommodation adjacent to airport, Jomon no Yado Manten or similar. Dinner at hotel.
L, D
Day 2. Breakfast at hotel
9am depart hotel for today’s hike, a 7km warm up, moderate up/down out and back along Shiratani (White Valley) trail. This trail has been immortalized as the inspiration for famous Japanese anime movie Princess Mononoke (recommend participants take the opportunity to view prior to the tour, kind of Japan’s version of The Lorax). Marvel and cry at the enormous sugi stumps left behind by ancient loggers, and also the remains of what was one of the 3 eldest remaining sugi, Yayoi Sugi, until blown down by a typhoon in 2024. Rejoice at a few towering sugi monsters left for us. Picnic lunch on the trail
from local supermarket en route. Dinner at hotel.
B, L, D
Day 3. Our big day out. Pre-dawn departure from hotel, munch simple picnic breakfast from local supermarket en route to trailhead. Final leg of journey to trailhead (Arakawa) by compulsory National Park bus designed to control visitor numbers to this sacred route. Start with 8km gentle 4 degree gradient uphill hike along the disused logging railroad. Then our work starts with 3km steepish uphill grind over broken volcanic terrain to the big wood, several massive ancient sugi pointing the way to our goal Jomon Sugi (over 2,000 years old). Turnaround and follow our inward footprints home. Picnic lunch at
appropriate place en route also sourced from local supermarket. Total 22km hiking for the day. Dinner at hotel.
B, L, D
(please note that Day 2 and Day 3 programmes may be reversed due to weather and/or other conditions)
Day 4. Breakfast at hotel.
9am checkout, visit Yaku Sugi Museum, experience the full Yaku Sugi story in this well curated, authentic and interactive local museum. Transfer to airport, picnic lunch after check in (small rural airport).
1345/1845 Fly Yakushima/Haneda Airport via Kagoshima, tour concludes on arrival at Haneda airport (although guide can escort clients by train back to Shiba Park/Richmond Hamamatsu if required).
B, L.
Photo Ben Everitt
Yakushima Hiking Tour fees:
| pax | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| JPY | 1,282,020 | 1,651,860 | 1,814,700 | 2,184,540 | 2,297,700 |
Included in Yakushima Hiking Tour tour fee: return economy flights Haneda/Yakushima, 3 nights accommodation (room share), local transport on Yakushima, entrance fees, 4 days expert guiding fee and gratuity, 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts, 4 picnic lunches, insurance. (Standard Japan travel agency terms and conditions apply). Please email your reservation request to tonyeveritt@tokaido.blog, noting number of participants and departure date.
Photo Ben Everitt