What other travelers are saying about Yakushima Tourist Center, Kagoshima
A bif selection of local products and foods. The wooden carvings are beautiful. Very helpful staff for purchasing the bus day-passes. Rental of hiking equipment too.
The Yakushima Tourist Center provides comprehensive visitor support including detailed information about hiking trails and mountain climbing routes, particularly for Mount Miyanoura. The facility features a ground floor souvenir market with over 5,000 local Yakushima specialty products, climbing equipment rental services for mountain expeditions, and luggage storage during operating hours. The second floor houses a restaurant serving traditional Yakushima cuisine, while knowledgeable staff offer guidance about the island's unique ecosystem and wildlife.
The center operates daily except the third Tuesday of every month, with this closure rule suspended during peak season from July through October. The facility observes an extended closure from December 28 to January 1 for the New Year holiday period. During regular operating periods, the center provides consistent daily service to assist visitors with their Yakushima exploration plans.
The center is located at 823-1 Miyanoura within the Yakushima Environmental Cultural Village Center, positioned near the "Miyanourako Iriguchi" bus stop. Visitors arriving at Miyanoura Port can easily reach the center via local buses or on foot. Those arriving at the airport can take buses to Miyanoura or rent a car, as rental outlets are available at both the airport and Miyanoura Port. Free bus pass tickets for Yakushima Kotsu buses are available at the jetfoil reception counters.
Yes, the Yakushima Tourist Center offers climbing equipment rental services specifically for visitors planning mountain expeditions and hiking adventures. This service is particularly valuable for those planning to climb Mount Miyanoura at 1,935 meters or explore the ancient cedar forests. The rental service eliminates the need to transport heavy hiking gear to the island, making it more convenient for travelers arriving by ferry or flight.
Yakushima holds the distinction of being Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its ancient cedar forests containing trees over 1,000 years old called yakusugi. The island inspired Studio Ghibli's "Princess Mononoke" and hosts unique wildlife including approximately 7,000 wild Yakuzaru monkeys and 7,000 Yakushika deer found nowhere else. The Tourist Center serves as an essential first stop because staff provide crucial guidance about the island's extreme weather variations, from coastal areas receiving 4,000mm of annual rainfall to mountain peaks experiencing over 10,000mm yearly, ensuring visitors are properly prepared for their adventures.
The tourist center combines a souvenir shop, cafe, large restaurant and has toilets. This is the best place to buy postcards.
Luggage can be left at the front door while you shop or eat in the cafe on the second floor.
Very friendly and helpful staff. They have a translation system that supports several languages with live interpreters (not only English) that works super well! They gave nice tips and provided bus time tables. In addition, they sell cookies, fish, teas and souvenirs in general. They also sell water and other beverages. It is possible to pay with credit card provided the bill is above 2000 yen. They have restrooms and a restaurant on the 1st.
There are no English-speaking staff here. Jomon-cedar trekkers can buy bus tickets between Yakusugi Museum and Arakawa trailhead here, or other visitor centers. Cash only. 2,000 yen one way, 3,000 yen round trip.
This bus ticket DOES NOT RESERVE a specific bus service , date, time or seat. On the morning of the trekking day, go to the Yakusugi Museum and give this ticket to the staff. At that time, you will receive a VOUCHER . The voucher indicates which time bus you can board on the day.
It is super complicated procedure because they don’t digitalized at all.
You can also purchase the tickets directly at the Yakusugi Museum on the day of trekking. It’s better to buy it to avoid crowds, especially for those who go on weekends and holidays.
