Itinerary
Ancient Cedars & Coral Shores: A Solo Journey Through Yakushima and Amami Oshima
10 days · 24 stops · ¥180,000–¥280,000
Sat, May 1 – Mon, May 10
Ten days of deep immersion: first, the misty, moss-draped cedar forests of Yakushima, then the wild, turquoise-fringed beaches and mangrove creeks of Amami Oshima — all by rental car, on your own rhythm.
Days
Yosemite / CC BY-SA 3.0
Yaku Island Heritage Center
Kagoshima
Schedule
Day 01 of 10Land at KOJ · Sat, May 1 · from JFK · 1 traveler
Renting a car? Check the license rules
Some licenses (FR/DE/CH/BE/TW) need a JAF translation, not an IDP — 5-min guide.
Stay
Yakushima · 5 nights
Sat, May 1 → Thu, May 6 · 1 guest
14:00
EXPLORE
屋久島環境文化村センター
Stay ~1h
A quiet, well-curated introduction to Yakushima's unique ecology and culture — perfect for a light arrival afternoon. Note: this is Golden Week, Japan's busiest travel week — expect big crowds and book everything early.
~31 min by car (on Yakushima)
17:00
EXPLORE
宮之浦
Stay ~1h
No rail access (Yakushima has no railway) — Miyanoura Port: jetfoil (Toppy/Rocket) direct from Kagoshima ~1h50m, or the car-carrying Ferry Yakushima 2 (slower)
Stroll this sleepy harbour village, find a local izakaya for dinner, and watch the sunset over the sea.
Getting around, region by region
Your route mixes city and countryside — here's the best mode for each leg.
Yakushima · Days 1–5
Small island — explore on foot, by bicycle or local taxi (ferry across).
Amami Oshima · Days 6–9
Rural — a rental car reaches spots no train or bus serves.
Kagoshima (mainland) · Day 10
Rural — a rental car reaches spots no train or bus serves.
Rental 1: Amami Oshima · Days 6–9
Rental 2: Kagoshima (mainland) · Day 10
Separate rentals — you fly (or ferry) between these regions, so return each car before you leave it.
Browse rental cars on Klook →Getting around
🚄
JR Kyushu Rail Pass — All Kyushu Area
Matched to your route — one pass instead of point-to-point tickets on the rail legs.
View JR Kyushu Rail Pass — All Kyushu Area →🚗
Rental car recommended
Several stops on this route are in rural areas with limited rail access. A rental car from the nearest city hub gives you the freedom to reach places no bus serves.
Browse rental cars on Klook →⛴️
Ferry required
At least one destination is accessible only by ferry. Book in advance — island ferries sell out weeks ahead in peak season (Apr–May, Jul–Aug).
Browse ferry options on Klook →01 / 10
Journey map
Trip budget · お見積り
¥21,000–¥37,000 / person / day
¥210,000–¥370,000 total
💴 Carry ~¥5,000/day in cash — many hidden spots are cash-only.
Estimated from 23 travel legs and 9 hotel nights. International flights not included. Typical prices, not quotes.
Before you go
Passes for this trip
✓ Matched to your route
JR Kyushu Rail Pass — All Kyushu Area
Covers the rail legs on this route — one pass instead of point-to-point tickets.
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Stay Hidden
Sleep in a centuries-old ryokan. Tatami floors, onsen, and a 7-course kaiseki.
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Ship luggage ahead on the shinkansen route. Explore every day completely hands-free.
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