Yakushima Ferry Guide 2026: Booking, Terminals, & Timetables
Planning a trip to Yakushima? Discover the best way to reach this UNESCO World Heritage island, famous for its ancient cedar forests and Princess Mononoke inspiration. Learn about ferry bookings, terminal locations, and updated timetables for 2026.
The Ultimate Guide to Getting to Yakushima
Ferry Bookings · Terminal Locations · Real Travel Tips & Reviews
ⓒ Yeong's Travels
Yakushima is the magical island that served as the real-life inspiration for Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke.
It's home to the ancient Jomon Sugi (a cedar tree estimated to be up to 7,200 years old) and breathtaking, moss-covered primeval forests. In fact, the entire island is registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site!
Most travelers head here for world-class trekking. However, because there are quite a few different ways to get to Yakushima, planning your route can feel a bit overwhelming at first.
In this post, I’ll break down the most popular route to Yakushima:
Kagoshima Airport → Limousine Bus → Ferry
This is a complete, step-by-step guide based on my own recent trip!
01. Understanding the Yakushima Routes First
📌 How to Get to Yakushima
| Flight | High-Speed Ferry (Toppy/Rocket) | Standard Ferry (Large Vessel) |
Route | Kagoshima Airport → Yakushima Airport | Kagoshima Honko-ku (South District) High-Speed Ferry Terminal → Yakushima (Miyanoura Port / Anbo Port) | Kagoshima Honko-ku (South District) Ferry Terminal → Yakushima (Miyanoura Port) |
Travel Time | Approx. 40 mins | Approx. 1 hr 50 mins – | Approx. 4 hours |
Fare (Adult) | ¥9,000–¥20,000 (~$55–$122) | ¥12,200 (~$75) | Standard: ¥6,000 (~$37) First Class: ¥7,300 (~$45) |
Pros | · Shortest travel time | · Frequent departures · Choice of arrival ports (either of the island's two main ports) | · Observation deck onboard · Smooth ride; you can walk around · Dining and shopping options available onboard |
Cons | · Small propeller plane with limited seating · Hard to book tickets during peak seasons | · Long transit time (about 1 hour) from the airport to the high-speed ferry terminal | · Same as the high-speed ferry: about a 1-hour transit from the airport to the terminal · Only 1 departure per day |
Best For | · Travelers on a tight schedule | · Those who want a flexible schedule to explore Kagoshima too · Travelers staying near one of the ports | · Those who want to enjoy a slow, scenic cruise |
First things first:
there are currently ❌ no direct international flights ❌ to Yakushima Airport.
Aside from flying domestically, the two most common routes are:
✔ Direct flight to Kagoshima → Ferry (High-Speed or Standard) ✔ Direct flight to Fukuoka → Travel to Kagoshima → Ferry |
I highly recommend Option 1 (flying directly into Kagoshima) for a much smoother journey!
02. Comparing Ferries to Yakushima: High-Speed vs. Standard
Since the large standard ferry only runs once a day,
most travelers choose between the high-speed ferry and the standard ferry
depending on their schedule. Let's compare the pros and cons of both options.
📌 High-Speed Ferry vs. Standard Ferry
Category | High-Speed Ferry | Standard Ferry |
Travel Time | Approx. 1 hr 45 mins – 2 hrs | Approx. 4 hours |
Fare | One-way: ¥12,700 (~$78) | Standard: approx. ¥6,000 (~$37) |
Daily Departures | Approx. 6 round trips | 1 departure (morning only) |
Arrival Port | Miyanoura Port or Anbo Port | Miyanoura Port |
Booking Method | Online reservation available | In-person purchase at the terminal |
Most travelers heading there for trekking choose the high-speed ferry (Toppy & Rocket),
and that's exactly what I did.
If you take the standard ferry, you won't arrive on the island until around 6:00 PM.
Since almost everything on Yakushima closes early,
arriving that late leaves you with very few options for the evening.
So, I highly recommend taking the high-speed ferry
to get an early start on the island!
Also, currently, Klook is the only platform where you can book online,
and you can reserve your tickets at about ~$6 off the regular price!
Since high-speed ferry tickets sell out quickly during peak season,
I highly recommend booking in advance as soon as your travel dates are set.
▼▼▼
🔗 Check Seat Availability & Book Yakushima High-Speed Ferry Tickets
Yakushima High-Speed Jetfoil "Toppy" or "Rocket" Round-trip Ticket - Klook⚠️ Timetables change depending on the season
and cancellations due to weather are common,
so be sure to check the operational status the day before departure!
03. How to Get to the Ferry Terminal from Kagoshima Airport via Limousine Bus
📍 Kagoshima South Ferry Terminal
(南ふ頭旅客ターミナル)
📍 Kagoshima
Honkoshimmachi, Kagoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture 892-0814, Japan
To catch the ferry to Yakushima, the place you need to head to first is the
South Ferry Terminal.
There is another port nearby,
the Kagoshima Port Sakurajima Ferry Terminal
(鹿児島港 桜島フェリー터미널),
which is for the ferry heading to the Sakurajima Volcano.
Make sure you don't confuse the two!
The easiest way to get there is by taking the limousine bus.
📌 Kagoshima Airport Limousine Bus Essential Info |
✔ Boarding Location: Domestic Terminal, Bus Stop No. 8 (3–5 min walk from the International Terminal) ✔ Ticket Purchase: Ticket Vending Machine in front of the platform (Cash only / No reservations allowed) ✔ Fare: Adult 1,500 JPY / Child 750 JPY ✔ To Kagoshima-Chuo Station: Approx. 55 mins ✔ Departure Schedule: Every hour at :00, :10, :20, :30, :45 (Buses run every 10–15 minutes) |
There is no direct bus from the airport to the ferry terminal,
so you will need to get off at Kagoshima-Chuo Station or Tenmonkan,
and then make your way to the terminal (a 17-min walk or a 5-min taxi ride).
With that in mind, you should budget about 1 hour and 20 to 30 minutes in total to get from the airport to the ferry terminal.
04. Journey from Kagoshima Airport to Yakushima
After stepping outside the airport, we bought our bus tickets with cash
and waited for the bus in the queue at Stop No. 8.
Because there were so many people heading into the city,
we were a bit worried we might not fit on the bus.
Fortunately, they unfolded the aisle jump seats
to make sure as many passengers as possible could get a seat.
After getting off at Kagoshima-Chuo Station,
we headed over to catch a taxi.
Taxis were quite easy to flag down, so luckily we arrived at the ferry terminal
well ahead of schedule.
We exchanged our reservation for physical ferry tickets
and relaxed in the seating area while we waited.
The ferry departure was scheduled for 1:20 PM,
but they asked us to be ready to board at least 10 minutes prior.
Finally, it was time to board the Yakushima high-speed ferry!
We left our suitcases in the storage area on the first floor
and headed up to our seats on the second floor.
If you sit on the left side facing forward,
you'll catch a glimpse of Kagoshima's famous
Sakurajima Volcano.
The ferry seats are super plush and spacious,
and there's even a TV on board to keep you entertained
throughout the journey.
Arriving at Miyanoura Port after a 1 hour 45 minute ride!
Once we got off, the very first thing we did was
stop by the Yakushima Tourist Information Center,
pick up our reserved rental car,
and head to our accommodation near Miyanoura Port.
(※ See the "Related Posts" below for details)
📌 Quick Summary: How to Get to Yakushima |
✔ Fly direct to Kagoshima ✔ Kagoshima Airport → Airport Limousine Bus at Bus Stop No. 8 ✔ Get off at Kagoshima-Chuo Station → Head to the South Ferry Terminal ✔ Board the high-speed ferry → Arrive at Miyanoura Port, Yakushima |
Make sure to book your ferry tickets in advance
for a smooth and hassle-free trip to Yakushima!
▼▼▼
🔗 Check Seats & Book Your Yakushima High-Speed Ferry Ticket
Frequently Asked Questions
If I am traveling from Kagoshima Airport, which terminal should I go to for the high-speed boat or regular ferry to Yakushima?
To take a boat to Yakushima, you need to go to the Kagoshima South Ferry Terminal. Be careful not to confuse it with the Kagoshima Port Sakurajima Ferry Terminal, which is for the Sakurajima volcano.
How do I get from Kagoshima Airport to the Kagoshima South Ferry Terminal, and how long does it take in total?
You should take a limousine bus from Bus Stop No. 8 at the airport's domestic terminal and get off at Kagoshima-Chuo Station or Tenmonkan, then walk or take a taxi to the terminal. The total travel time from the airport to the ferry terminal is about 1 hour and 20 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
What is the difference in fare and travel time between the high-speed boat and the regular ferry to Yakushima?
The high-speed boat costs 12,700 JPY one-way, takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours, and operates about 6 times a day. On the other hand, the regular ferry costs about 6,000 JPY one-way, takes about 4 hours, and operates only once a day in the morning.
Are there any seating tips for seeing the Sakurajima volcano when taking the high-speed boat to Yakushima?
When boarding the high-speed boat, sitting on the left side facing the direction of travel will allow you to see Kagoshima's Sakurajima volcano. You can store your luggage on the first floor and sit comfortably in the second-floor seats.
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