How Do You Get to Yakushima by Plane, High-Speed Ferry and Ferry?
This guide is for visitors who want to reach Yakushima, the World Heritage island off the southern tip of Kyushu, and who need to choose between a plane, a high-speed ferry and a slower ferry. It explains each option, the two ports on the island, and how to get from central Kagoshima to the right terminal.
We used the Yakushima Tourism Association's pages on access and on transport operations, its list of frequently asked questions and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). All pages were read on 2026-10-04. Flights and sailings change with the weather and the season, so check the operator before you travel. We name no hotels or restaurants.
The three ways to cross
The tourism association says Yakushima lies about 130 km south of Kagoshima City, so you must come by air or by sea. It compares the three options in one table.
- Plane: from Osaka, Fukuoka or Kagoshima. It is the fastest and is less affected by weather, but it costs more and has few seats, so the association advises booking early.
- High-speed ferry: from Kagoshima, about 1 hour 50 minutes to 3 hours. It is quicker than the slow ferry and runs more often, and you can pick a port. Passengers must stay seated, seasickness is possible and it is affected by weather.
- Ferry: cheaper and steadier than the high-speed boat, and it can carry cars and motorbikes. It runs less often and takes longer.
By plane
The association says the flights are run by Japan Air Commuter, part of the JAL group. There are direct flights from three airports.
- Osaka (Itami): about 1 hour 50 minutes, one flight a day.
- Fukuoka: about 1 hour 10 minutes, one flight a day.
- Kagoshima: about 40 minutes, four to eight flights a day.
The association notes that seats can sell out in some seasons. For delays and cancellations it points to the JAL operations page, and it lists a number for the airport on the island.
By high-speed ferry
The high-speed boats are called Toppy and Rocket and are run by Tane-Yaku High-Speed Ferry Co. The association gives the route as Kagoshima Honko (the main port) to Miyanoura Port or Anbo Port. Some sailings stop at Ibusuki or Tanegashima on the way, so the journey time and the arrival port change from one sailing to the next. It says there are six sailings a day, with the number depending on the season.
The association's operations page says the final decision to sail is made one hour before departure. It points travellers to the company's own status page.
By ferry
There are two long-distance ferries from Kagoshima.
- Ferry Yakushima 2 runs from Kagoshima Honko (Minami Futo wharf) straight to Miyanoura. It takes about 4 hours and sails once a day. The association says it has shops and viewing space on board and can carry vehicles.
- Ferry Haibisukasu leaves Taniyama Port in the evening, stops overnight at Tanegashima and reaches Miyanoura early the next morning. The total is about 13 hours, once a day. The association says it is the cheapest, at less than half the high-speed fare.
The association also lists a third ferry, Taiyo II, which links Yakushima, Tanegashima and Kuchinoerabu Island. Its news list also carries notices about planned no-sail days for Ferry Yakushima 2 from July to November and about a fare revision in March. We could not read the details, so look at the operator's page.
Getting to the right terminal in Kagoshima
The high-speed boats and Ferry Yakushima 2 leave from different terminals. The association says the high-speed terminal is the Tane-Yaku terminal and the ferry terminal is the Minami Futo passenger terminal, about a 7-minute walk apart.
- From Kagoshima Chuo Station: a bus marked for the high-speed ship terminal takes about 20 minutes from stops 5 and 6, or a taxi about 15 minutes.
- From Tenmonkan: a taxi takes about 5 minutes, or you can walk in about 20 minutes.
- From Kagoshima Airport: a shuttle bus to the terminal takes about 55 minutes. The page said 11 a day, as of February 2024.
- To Taniyama Port for Haibisukasu: it is more than 10 km from the city centre. The bus from Kagoshima Chuo Station takes about 50 minutes and a taxi about 40.
The two ports on the island
Yakushima has two ports, Miyanoura and Anbo. The association says the ferries always use Miyanoura, while the high-speed boats use one or the other depending on the sailing. Check your ticket, because the two ports are far enough apart to affect your first bus or taxi. The association adds that the island has three gateways in all, counting the airport.
Weather and money
The association says typhoon season in southern Kyushu runs from about July to October, with three to four typhoons approaching or landing each year. Its table of the monthly average number of approaches shows 1.2 in September and 0.5 in October. Leave a spare day if your flight home is fixed.
The association's FAQ says the island has no convenience stores, and that the airport and ports have neither ATMs nor foreign currency exchange. Cash withdrawal is possible at bank or post office ATMs. Many shops accept PayPay and some take cards, but inns and guide tours often want cash, so confirm in advance.
Where our sources disagree
JNTO's hiking page describes the crossing from Kagoshima Port Minami Futo to Miyanoura as a two-hour ferry. The association gives about 4 hours for Ferry Yakushima 2 and 1 hour 50 minutes to 3 hours for the high-speed boat. We used the association's figures because it is the local body and its page is more detailed.
What we could not verify, and therefore left out
- Current fares for the planes and ferries.
- Today's timetables, which change with the season.
- Whether the planned no-sail days for Ferry Yakushima 2 affect your dates.
Related guides
- What to know before hiking to Jomon Sugi on Yakushima
- How do you get around Yakushima, and what are the rules?
Sources
All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.
- How to get to Yakushima (Yakushima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (planes, ferries, terminals, ports)
- Status of flights, high-speed boats and ferries (Yakushima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (operations, third ferry)
- Frequently asked questions (Yakushima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (typhoons, cash, lockers)
- Getting around the island (Yakushima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (three gateways)
- Trekking (Yakushima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (news list)
- Yakushima (Japan National Tourism Organization) — (ferry time in English)