A moderately difficult hike that took us 7 hours to complete. A good option if you want to summit a mountain in less than 10km (out and back). There is a bathroom at the beginning of the hike and a stall one-third of the way through for wag bag use.
Once you leave Yakisugi Land, the hike is mostly a steep ascent on a fairly well marked path. Some rope sections near the top. The summit of Tachudake provides a great 170-degree view of the national park.
This giant rock is clearly visible from the Yakusugi Land parking lot. It looks close, but it takes 90 minutes for fast hikers and 180 minutes for slower hikers. There are many Yakusugi trees along the way, making it a route full of interesting sights, so it would be a shame to just do a quick round trip.
For more details, it's best to check the hiking records on Yamareco or YAMAP. Furthermore, beginners should hike with a guide. The Shaka-sugi cedar and its spring, located halfway along the course, are definitely worth seeing.
The guides for the Jomon Cedar course were fully booked, so I booked the Taichudake course instead. This course is fantastic. First of all, there are fewer people, yet the journey is very fulfilling, and above all, the feeling of accomplishment upon reaching the goal is incredible. Along the way, we even encountered Yakushima monkeys and Yakushima deer.
A fantastic hike, but not to be underestimated. The last kilometer in particular is quite challenging (climbing with ropes and rather steep). However, you are rewarded with this unique natural setting at every step. So, as long as you are fit and not too afraid of heights, I can highly recommend this hike. We were out for a total of 5 hours from the Yakusugiland entrance, including a few short breaks.
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.
