Yakushima

Most visitors come to experience the ancient cedar trees and forests. This requires some--or a lot of--hiking see Do below.

Yakusugi Museum

Yakusugi Shizenkan, 2739-343 Anbo 3 kilometers inland from Anbo port; 40 minutes by bus from Miyanoura; 6 minutes by bus from Anbo; part of a museum complex at the base of the road leading to Yakusugiland and the Arakawa trail to Jomon sugi, +81 0997 46-3113. Every day, 9AM-5PM last admission 4:30PM; closed 1st Tu of month, and 12/29 to 1/1. There are photos, movies and hands-on exhibits showing the island's natural wonders and the history of the logging industry. You can also hug a section of a 1660-year-old yakusugi. English explanatory pamphlet provided. ¥600 student reductions A short walk away is the World Heritage Conservation Center.

Yakushima Fruit Garden

Yakushima Furuutsu Gaaden, 629-16 Nakama on the southwest coast, south of Kurio; 50 minutes by bus from Anbo to Nakama bus stop then 20-minute walk, +81 0997 48-2468. Every day 8:30AM-4:30PM. Walk among the hundreds of tropical fruit trees and plants, with seasonal fruit like papaya, mango, guava and starfruit available to eat or drink. ¥500.

Shitogo Gajumaru-en Banyan Garden

志戸子ガジュマル園Shitogo Gajumaru-enon the coast north of Miyanoura; 10 minutes by bus from Miyanoura to Shitogo bus stop, then a 5-minute walk, +81 0997 42-0100. Every day 8:30AM-5:30PM April to August -6:30PM. There are 300-year-old Banyan trees and a variety of sub-tropical plants in a park setting. ¥200.

There are several waterfalls on the island, including Ooko-no-taki which is justly rated as one of Japan's best. It is on the remoter southwest coast of the island, a 60- and 90-minute bus ride from Anbo and Miyanoura respectively. The 90-meter falls are easily accessible, being a short walk away from the main highway on a paved road, and visitors can approach the base for a good view. Those wanting to get closer and wetter can scramble over boulders to the plunge pool.

If you leave the towns, villages and main highway, you are almost guaranteed close encounters with the resident deer shika and monkeys saru. Both varieties are small. If you have a car, the most accessible place to see them is the short section of coastal road in the west south of Nagata that has not been widened into a highway and where buses do not run. Here, deer often scramble down to the road, and in the afternoons monkeys groom each other on the warm asphalt, stopping all traffic.

On several beaches, including Nagata-inaka-hama Beach, giant turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. This is a rare occurrence from the end of May to August and very early in the morning 1AM-2AM. Only red flashlights may be used so as not to scare away the turtles who are blind to red light. Two ecotour centers offer guided tours: Native Vision Miyanoura, +81 0997 42-0091, (http://www.native-vision.com/). Outdoor Yakushima Guide System Anbo, +81 0997 46-3220, (http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~iw...). From ¥8000 per person.