Yakushima: Jomon Cedar Day Trek (English-Speaking Guide)

Guidance & Notes

What happens after you book

Once your booking and payment on Yamatrip are complete, Field & Mountain Co., Ltd. (trading as Yamakara Yakushima), who plan and operate the tour, will send one "Booking Information" email per participant. (If you book for three people, three emails are sent to the lead booker's address.) Completing the "Yakushima Additional Information Form" and the "Equipment Rental Form" linked in that email is mandatory — each participant receives their own unique URL.

A "Final Information" email is sent roughly five days before departure. If the "Yakushima Additional Information Form" has not been submitted, the final email will not be sent.

See also: Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join

Participants must be aged 10 to 69. (Under-16s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Under-20s need a guardian's consent.)
If you have a cardiovascular or respiratory condition, or any other relevant medical history, you must enter it in the appropriate field of the "Yakushima Additional Information Form".

Charter bus

A dedicated charter bus is used to and from the Arakawa Trailhead (arranged automatically when you book).

March to November: Bus fare ¥3,000 (round trip, paid in cash locally on the day)

December to February: No bus fare required. A guide will collect you at a designated pickup point. If you would rather drive a rental car and meet at the Arakawa Trailhead, please let us know at least 3 days before the tour.

⚠️ Please be at the pickup point 5 minutes before the departure time. Late arrivals are treated as same-day cancellations.

Charter bus stops and full details →

Transfers

Transfers cover accommodation between Onoaida and Miyanoura. If you are staying outside that area, we will let you know a designated meeting point.
See also: Accommodation names that are easily confused

Meals

Because we set off in the 4 o'clock hour, please arrange your own breakfast and lunch (two meals).

Hiking gear rental

Free rental of six pieces of hiking gear is included in the tour price. Even if you have your own equipment, you can pick and choose only what you need. There is no extra charge no matter how many items you rent. Rental items are delivered to your accommodation free of charge the day before the tour.

<6 free rental items>
1. Hiking boots (we recommend 0.5 cm larger than your usual size / 18.0–30.0 cm available)
2. Rain jacket and pants (waterproof, breathable fabric)
3. Backpack, 28–35 L (integrated rain cover; no separate cover needed)
4. Trekking pole (one per person)
5. Headlamp (spare batteries included, splash-resistant)
6. Fleece *Not stocked for May–September day trips as it is not needed / not available in men's 2XL and above

Apply through the rental form in the "Booking Information" email you receive after booking, by 23:59 four days before the tour. Return the items to your guide at the trailhead after you come down.
*Rental is not available for bookings made within 3 days of the tour date.

Free rental gear: details and size chart →

Clothing and what to bring

It rains often on Yakushima, so waterproofing the contents of your pack — for example by bagging them in plastic — is essential. Choose quick-drying synthetic fabrics or lightweight merino wool.

[Clothing]
Quick-drying base layer ／ long-sleeved shirt ／ trekking trousers (no jeans or cotton) ／ thick quick-drying socks ／ gloves ／ hat

[What to bring]
Packed meals (Jomon Cedar: breakfast and lunch, 2 meals / Shiratani Unsuikyo: lunch, 1 meal) · drinks (1–2 × 500 ml; water points along the way) · trail snacks
Folding umbrella · several plastic bags (waterproofing and carrying out rubbish) · health insurance card · everyday medication · prescription medication

Suggested preparation list (gear and clothing) →

Mountain conservation donation

To help protect Yakushima's natural environment, we ask for your cooperation with the voluntary mountain area conservation donation. Details are available here.

Rain and cancellation

The tour runs in the rain, except in dangerously severe weather. If you cancel or change your booking for weather-related reasons of your own accord, cancellation fees apply.
If the tour operator (Field & Mountain Co., Ltd.) decides not to run the tour because of a heavy rain warning, trail conditions or similar, no cancellation fee is charged.
If a flight or ferry cancellation prevents you from reaching the island, no cancellation fee is charged provided you contact us in advance. However, we cannot refund bookings where no contact is made between the close of business the day before and the day of the tour.

Changes and cancellation fees

If you cancel or change your booking for your own reasons, the following fees apply.
From the 7th day counting back from the day before the tour: 30% of the tour price
Up to 18:00 on the day before the tour: 50% of the tour price
After 18:00 on the day before, and on the day of the tour: 100% of the tour price
*Please send changes and cancellations by email to Field & Mountain Co., Ltd. (yakushima@field-mt.com).