Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Yakushima Airport.
The population of the island is approximately 13,500. Administratively, Yakushima Town
(
屋久島町
; Yaku-shima-chō) encompasses the entire island, but the largest settlement, which
houses a good percentage of the population, revolves around Miyanoura Port (
宮浦港
;
Miyanoura-kō). Miyanoura is on the island's northeast side.
There is frequent, daily, year-round ferry and hydrofoil services to both Kagoshima and
Tanegashima. Kagoshima's about 80 miles (130 kilometers) due north and jetfoils take a little
more than two hours if they don't stop at Tanegashima on the way. Ferries take twice as long,
four hours, but are less expensive. For an additional cost, they can also transport your car,
motorcycle or bike, which the hydrofoils cannot.
Arrival at Miyanoura Port by the Yakushima Ferry
Round-trip ferry services are available daily from Kagoshima. Travel ime is four hours one way. In ad-
diion, there are a half dozen daily round trips on high-speed jefoils. They only take two hours but
cost about twice as much.
Tanegashima's southern end is only 12 miles (20 kilometers) across the Vincennes Strait
(
種子島海峡
; Tanégashima-kaikyō) from Yakushima and ferries from Miyanoura Port go to
both Nishinoomote, on Tanega's northern end, and Shimama in the south. Travel time is
around two hours and one hour, respectively. Ferry services to Kuchinoerabujima, the last
island in the Ōsumi's northeast group (which is the next island we'll discuss), located west of
Yakushima Island, are also found at Miyanoura Port. These ferries take a little less than two
