What Should You Know Before Hiking to Jomon Sugi on Yakushima? Routes and 2026 Closures

Published 2026-10-04 · Sources checked 2026-10-04 · Treasure Hunting Co., Ltd.

This guide is for visitors who want to see Jomon Sugi, the largest known cedar on Yakushima, and who need to know what the walk is really like. It covers the route, the access rules, the toilets, the mountain fee and the road closures that were in force when we checked.

We used the Yakushima Tourism Association's route page, its notices, the Ministry of the Environment's Yakushima World Heritage Conservation Centre and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). All pages were read on 2026-10-04. The island had storm damage in September 2026, so the notices matter more than usual. We name no guide companies or inns.

What the walk is

The tourism association says Jomon Sugi is estimated to be between 2,170 and 7,200 years old and is the largest cedar confirmed so far. You start at the Arakawa Trailhead, follow about 8.5 km of old logging railway track, then climb about 2.5 km of mountain path. On the way you pass the Wilson stump, Daio Sugi and Meoto Sugi.

The association's figures for the round trip are:

• Distance: about 22 km.
• Time: 9 to 10 hours.
• Height difference: 610 m, with Jomon Sugi at 1,280 m.

The page reminds readers that this is a real mountain walk, to be done with proper equipment. The Ministry of the Environment adds that both Jomon Sugi and Miyanoura-dake involve more than 10 hours of walking and that you should turn back if you run out of time or if the last bus is near.

Getting to the trailhead

From March to November, private cars cannot drive to the trailhead. The association says to take the Arakawa mountain bus from the Yakusugi Museum, where about 160 cars can park. From December to February the trailhead lot holds about 20 cars. By route bus you get off at the Arakawa stop, and by car it is 40 minutes from Anbo.

JNTO gives a sample route: a ferry to Miyanoura, a shuttle to the Yakusugi Museum, then a 35-minute bus ride to the trailhead. The association's operations page says the mountain bus can be cancelled by weather warnings and that its latest status is posted on the mountain conservation council's account on X.

Closures in force on 3 October 2026

This is the most important part for this season. On 9 September 2026 the association reported that Typhoon No. 24 had closed the prefectural roads to Yakusugi Land, Jomon Sugi, Kigen Sugi and Miyanoura-dake, as well as the road to Shiratani Unsuikyo. The Arakawa mountain bus was suspended and route buses to those places were halted.

A notice dated 3 October 2026 lists the areas open to walkers:

• The Jomon Sugi route, from the Arakawa Trailhead to Jomon Sugi and Takatsuka hut.
• The Miyanoura-dake route.
• All Yakusugi Land courses, including Taichu-dake.
• The Mocchomu-dake route and the Janokuchi Falls route.

At Yakusugi Land the exit side cannot be used, so you must leave by the entrance. The road to Shiratani Unsuikyo stays closed and no reopening date was given. Even where trails are open, the ground is loose and the risk of falling trees and slides is higher, so the association strongly recommends joining a guided tour. Conditions can change quickly, so read the notice itself before you plan.

Toilets

A notice updated on 20 September 2026 says the Kosugi-dani bio toilet on the route cannot be used because of the typhoon. The toilet at the Okabu path entrance no longer flushes automatically, but you can use it by pouring water drawn in a bucket. The association asks everyone to carry a portable toilet, which it sells at its information desks in Anbo, the airport and Miyanoura. The route has booths for using portable toilets, and used ones must be carried out.

The mountain fee and other rules

The Ministry of the Environment asks hikers for a mountain conservation fee of 1,000 yen for a day trip or 2,000 yen for a night in the mountains, for junior high students and older. The money pays for toilet waste removal, trail repair and the private car limits. You can pay at the Arakawa bus stop, the Yodogawa trailhead and the tourism association.

• Wear a rain jacket in two pieces, warm clothes and hiking boots. Sandals and sneakers are not suitable.
• There are no shops at trailheads or on the mountain, and all mountain huts are unstaffed.
• Mobile phones do not work in most of the mountains.
• Submit a climbing plan; it is the most important clue for a search.
• Stay on the trail and take all rubbish out.

When to go

The association says spring to autumn is the best season, and that December to February brings snow, which is dangerous for beginners. The Ministry says the cedar area can get over 50 cm of snow in winter. The association's FAQ says Yakushima gets about 4,500 mm of rain a year on flat ground and 8,000 to 10,000 mm in the mountains, so bring rain gear in any season.

What we could not verify, and therefore left out

• Whether the closures have changed after 3 October 2026.
• The bus fares and the current mountain bus timetable.
• Guide tour prices.

Related guides

• How to get to Yakushima by plane, high-speed ferry and ferry
• How do you get around Yakushima, and what are the rules?

Sources

All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.

1. Jomon Sugi trekking (Yakushima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (route, access)
2. Road and trail closure information, 3 October 2026 (Yakushima Tourism Association) — (open areas)
3. Typhoon No. 24 damage notice, 9 September 2026 (Yakushima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (road closures)
4. About the Jomon Sugi toilets (Yakushima Tourism Association) — (toilets)
5. Status of transport (Yakushima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (mountain bus)
6. Rules and manners in Yakushima National Park (Yakushima World Heritage Conservation Centre, Ministry of the Environment, in Japanese) — (fee, equipment)
7. Frequently asked questions (Yakushima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (rainfall)
8. Yakushima (Japan National Tourism Organization) — (sample route)