Traveling solo to Yakushima - No guided tour necessary!

3-Night, 4-Day Solo Trip to Yakushima

To see the Jomon Cedars in the Yakushima World Heritage Site, I didn't need a guided tour at all. The roads were paved, so I didn't get lost. If you'd like to enjoy trekking with an explanation, I recommend signing up for a tour. I felt like I was receiving spiritual power from the Jomon Cedars. If you're planning on sightseeing elsewhere, I recommend renting a car.

Day 1: Haneda - Kagoshima - Yakushima
I earned JAL Card EST miles and used the Sakura Lounge while traveling. The trip from Kagoshima to Yakushima was a breeze, about 40 minutes.
After arriving at Yakushima Airport, I purchased and paid my bus ticket and contribution for the next day at the tourist information center, a one-minute walk from the airport.
I took a local bus to the bus stop nearest my hotel and went to bed early.

Day 2: Jomon Cedar Trekking
I woke up at 3:00 AM, got ready, and quickly filled out my hiking registration form using the "Compass" app. I took a local bus to the Yakusugi Nature Museum.
Upon arriving, there was already a large line of people, likely tour groups or people with rental cars. I waited about 30 minutes before boarding the bus to the trailhead. The bus arrived in 30-40 minutes.
After a quick restroom visit and some light stretching, I headed along the 8km trolley road. Guidebooks say the trip takes 4-5 hours one way, so I hurried along while enjoying the scenery and taking photos. The trolley road isn't particularly wide, but there were several tour groups that had departed earlier, so I arrived at the Ohkabu trailhead without getting lost. I took a break at the restroom just before the entrance and then began the full-scale hike. While there were many steep sections, the path was well-maintained and easy to climb.
I arrived at Jomon Sugi in 2 hours and 57 minutes, including breaks, which was a fairly fast pace, but thanks to the lack of other groups, I was able to enjoy the view at a leisurely pace. I felt this was a major advantage of traveling solo. I returned in the same time.

Day 3: Sunrise, Senpiro Falls, and Sightseeing in Awa
Canoeing on the Awa side is definitely worth it. We had planned to rent a bicycle if it had been sunny, but since the weather looked like it was going to be bad, we decided to travel by bus instead. Having a rental car is convenient for sightseeing.

Meals on Days 2, 3, and 4 (Recommended)
1. Yakushima Burger
This burger was made with Yakushima deer and had absolutely no odor, making it incredibly delicious.

2. Urokoya
This breakfast spot is something we stumbled upon after watching the sunrise. Open from 6:30 AM to 11:00 AM. We enjoyed a luxurious morning of local fish.

3. Shimanami Kitchen (Pukarido)
Before boarding our return flight, we strolled through the souvenir shops within walking distance of the airport. The Yakushima tea Basque cheesecake at the cafe was incredibly rich and delicious.

If you're struggling to decide whether to travel to Yakushima alone, be sure to check this out!