Yakushima Island Circuit

How would you rate Yakushima Island Circuit?

Tap a star to share your experience and help other hikers.

Yakushima Island Circuit: Yakushima Traverse Guide

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

405

Ranked #405 of 974

See the Top 100 →

HikeList Score

Yakushima Island Circuit scored 81/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 66
Balanced challenge 80
Scenery & wildness 98
Varied terrain 77
Accommodation 66
Food & support 88
Path quality 98
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The “Yakushima Island Circuit” is best understood as the Yakushima Traverse: a hard, point-to-point mountain crossing on Yakushima, Kagoshima Prefecture, southern Japan. The core route is about 25 km and usually takes 2–3 days, crossing Miyanoura-dake and passing Jomon Sugi between Yodogawa and Shiratani Unsuikyo. It suits experienced hikers comfortable with long wet days, slippery roots, stream crossings and basic unstaffed huts. It is not an official closed-loop trail.

Route Overview

The standard traverse runs between Yodogawa trailhead in the south and Shiratani Unsuikyo ravine trailhead in the north, and can be walked either way. From Yodogawa the route passes Yodogawa Hut, Hananoego marsh, the Kuromi-dake branch, Nageishidaira, Okina-dake saddle and Miyanoura-dake before descending via Shin-Takatsuka Hut, Takatsuka Hut, Jomon Sugi, Wilson Stump, Kusukawa junction, Tsujitoge pass and Shiratani Hut to Shiratani Unsuikyo. Both trailheads are reached by road or bus from the coast. If you only want the giant cedar approach, compare the Jomon Sugi Trail; for other Japanese multi-day options see the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route or Kamikochi to Mount Yari Trail.

Yakushima’s Cedars and World Heritage Status

Yakushima’s giant cedars were logged for centuries, especially from the Edo period and again in the 20th century. Jomon Sugi was identified in 1968 and became the island’s best-known natural emblem. In 1993, the mountainous interior of Yakushima was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and now lies within Yakushima / Kirishima-Yaku National Park. The modern traverse links long-used trailheads, huts and cedar-forest routes across this protected mountain core.

Notable highlights

Miyanoura-dake (1,936 m): The highest point of the traverse, the highest mountain in Kyushu and one of Japan’s “100 Famous Mountains”. In clear weather its granite summit gives wide views across Yakushima’s peaks and nearby islands.
Jomon Sugi: The largest and oldest known yakusugi cedar on Yakushima, estimated to be at least 2,300 years old. Hikers view it from a protective deck on the descent.
Shiratani Unsuikyo: A moss-cloaked cedar ravine at the northern trailhead. Its dripping green forest is widely cited as an inspiration for the woodland in Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke.
Wilson Stump: A huge hollow cedar stump felled in the late 1500s. From inside, an opening above frames the well-known heart-shaped patch of sky.
Hananoego marsh: A small high-altitude marsh near Miyanoura-dake, often described as Japan’s southernmost alpine bog and a sharp contrast to the surrounding forest and granite.

Challenges to expect

Expect a serious non-technical mountain trek: long days, about 1,380 m of ascent on the core traverse, wet boardwalks, slippery roots, rocky singletrack and stream crossings that can become unsafe or impassable after rain. Yakushima is extremely wet, and heavy rain can occur in any month. Huts are free but unstaffed, first-come, first-served and have no supplies, so carry sleeping gear, food and stove.

405

Ranked #405 of 974

See the Top 100 →