Stream Climbing Experience in Yakushima

Stream Climbing Experience in Yakushima

This is a two day hiking adventure to Mt Miyanoura and Jomon-sugi. This tour includes a heavy amount of walking, but the beautiful nature and view of Yakushima island will make it all worthwhile.

On the first day of the tour, you will start from the Yodogawa entrance and climb over Mt Miyanoura, the highest peak of Yakushima.

It is a tough and long trekking course, a vertical journey through the wide range of forest types, beyond the tree line, into the unpredictable sky of the high altitude (1,936m).

Unpredictable but if lucky, a 360° panoramic view from the top of the island is more than rewarding!

Note that beyond the tree line, where no tree is taller than ourselves, nothing protects you from sunshine or raindrops falling from the sky.

If you care, sunscreen is helpful, and rainwear is indispensable.

Then, we spend a night in Shin-Takatsuka hut.

Note that it is just a free hut with a roof and walls in which we have to share the space with other campers to sleep in sleeping bag. Some visitors complain that the hut and its toilet are not sanitary, but please remember it’s not a hotel.

Or, if it’s not raining, you can choose to sleep in a tent that our guide carries up in case.

The second day, we walk down toward Arakawa entrance (exit).

On the way, we get to see the most famous and long-living tree, Jomon-sugi, and the biggest tree stump (not only see, but step in and check how it is like to be inside the stump!), then walk on the old rail road to Arakawa.

◆Sample tour itinerary.
-Day1

4:00AM Hotel

5:00-5:30AM Edogawa Entrance

12:30PM Mt.Miyanoura

4:30PM-5:00PM Shin-Takatsuka Hut
-Day2

5:00AM Shin-Takatsuka Hut

6:30AM Jomon-sugi

9:30AM Wilson Stump

3:00PM-4:00PM Okabu-hodo → Arakawa exit

◆It is recommended to bring these items below on your own:
-trekking shoes
-rainwear (a set of jacket and pants, no matter what the weather cast says)
-backpack (at least 40 liters in size to carry what you want/need to take with you)
-headlamp
-sleeping bag
-rolled mattress for sleeping bag
-trekking poles (optional)
-gaiters (optional in case of raining or snowing)

◆Below is optional items that you can consider bringing.
-Hat and sunglasses
-Gloves (trekking requires rope-climbing at some parts)
-Down jacket (it gets cold in the mountain after the sunset)
-Soft-shell or fleece (in wintertime)
-Thermal underwear (in wintertime)
-Snack (or any portable food to charge your energy)
-Self-confidence (both physical and mental)
-Tolerance (both physical and mental, staying a night in an uncivilized area)