Mt. Tachudake

Name: Mt. Tachudake
Address: Tachudake, Anbo, Yakushima, Kumage District, Kagoshima 891-4311, Japan
Rating: 4.7

4.7 Natural FeatureEstablishment

Mt. Tachudake, standing at 1,497 meters, is one of Yakushima Island's striking peaks. Known for its distinctive shape, this mountain offers an adventurous, challenging, and rewarding hike. The trail takes you through dense, lush forests and rocky terrain, creating a journey filled with natural beauty and excitement.

Reaching the summit, hikers are greeted with spectacular panoramic views. On clear days, you can see across the entire island and out to the ocean, making the climb worth every step. The mountain is also famous for its unique rock formations, like the "Boulder of Death," a massive rock that seems to balance on the edge of a cliff.

Mt. Tachudake is part of Yakushima's UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its incredible biodiversity. The area is rich with plant and animal life, adding to the experience of the hike. This mountain offers more than just a climb; it's an immersion into nature's untouched beauty.

The area

Address

Tachudake, Anbo, Yakushima, Kumage District, Kagoshima 891-4311, Japan

Top ways to experience Mt. Tachudake

8hrs

Explore Yakushima Island on Foot with a Local Guide

From $423 /person

5hrs

Explore Yakushima's Enchanting Forests on our Yakusugi Land Walking Tour

From $403 /person

What other travelers are saying about Mt. Tachudake

Wow.. what a though and rewarding hike that was. So we got fooled by the « 210min » course mention that concerns the Yakusugi Land only, that’s enough time to enjoy the scenery and go back… but actually the way up to the top of Tachudake will make you go crazy. It keeps going up, super steep, slippery and narrow. I doubt that’s still a popular trail, regarding the condition of the road and the ropes 😱 Then you reach the summit of the mountain after 1h30 of excruciating knee/back pain, however you cannot actually climb the peak, not even Spiderman could tbh. I tried to go higher to have a better view but the black rope previously shown on the pictures is gone. Most likely it has been judged too dangerous to keep going up so it has been taken off. Wise decision cause let me tell you I almost **** myself on the last part. Chills through the body when I rethink of it… Anyway the whole hike from Arakawa parking will take you around 7hours. Leave well prepared, no need to take too much water cause you can drink from the river/waterfall on the way ( the taste is 🫶🏻 ) and expect to suffer. What an achievement it is to reach the top of the mount, the silhouette of Tachudake is frightening, I promised to myself to come back and finish it whenever I gain superpowers. Last thing is, the weather I keep hearing about when it comes to Yakushima. Huhhhh honestly don’t pay top much attention to what you read on the forecast, it doesn’t mean a lot. Cause of its unusual and demanding microclimate, the gap between Hawaii Sun / London Cloudy / Tropical Armageddon is thin as hell, so you might start the trail with great weather and not even 5 min after get hit by torrential rain like it’s 2012 baby. It depends on your altitude, the daytime, your luck, Kamisama’s kindness…. We were hiking on the Island in the midst of Tsuyu ( intense rainy season ) and we never saw such a random weather in the span of 3 days ( which adds to the uniqueness and experience for sure). You go around the island, always grab your poncho, waterproof shoes ( it’s possible to buy a spray for ¥300 in Miyanoura’s ¥100 shop ) and camera cause boy you’re going to see a lot of mesmerizing stuff trust me this ain’t no regular stuff happening down there. Enjoy and be careful on the road 🫸🏼🤛🏻🐒

Nearby attractions to see

Yakusugi Land

Wilson's Stump

Mt. Miyanouradake

Nearby attractions to see

Yakusugi Land

Wilson's Stump

Mt. Miyanouradake

More about Mt. Tachudake from our blog

Frequently asked questions

This mountain is famous for Tenshuseki, a gigantic 40-meter-tall monolith that towers over its 1,497-meter summit. Formed tens of thousands of years ago when the seafloor was pushed up by volcanic eruptions, Yakushima is littered with gigantic granite boulders. While I'm somewhat immune to boulders, I was still impressed by the boulders at Mount Taichu. To reach Mount Taichu, I left the 150-minute trail at Yakusugi Land and followed signs through many beautiful forests. Along the way, I was stunned by the sheer size of the Yakusugi trees and granite. However, only a few had names; most were nameless. The moist, humid forest was reminiscent of a Ghibli film, but the steep climbs and occasional ropes meant it wasn't always easy. I finally reached the summit, out of breath, and was rewarded with a panoramic view of the Awa village and the Pacific Ocean! It took the standard time of 3 hours plus 1 hour, but on this day we could see all the way to Tanegashima and the spectacular view made all the fatigue from the climb disappear.