YAKUSHIMA MOUNTAIN HUTS 2020

There are 6 huts in the mountains in Yakushima. All of them offer a dry place to sleep and a toilet but little else. Water can be found in the streams that run near to them and like all the rivers and streams in the higher mountains is crystal clear and safe to drink. There are no staff members, no reservations and it’s free.


For the average monthly temperatures at each hut go to Temperatures in Yakushima.

SHIRATANI HUT (白谷山荘小屋)

Sleeps: 40

Building structure: Reinforced Concrete


Altitude: 825m

This hut is very accessible and is less than an hour’s hike from S1 Shiratani Unsuikyo car park. The toilet is actually inside which especially in summer can be an odour problem. It has an open area but also has three rooms with basic bunks. Like all the huts it is first come, first served. In summer it gets busy here as it’s on one of the routes to Jomon Sugi and Mt.Miyanoura.

YODOGAWA HUT (淀川小屋)

Sleeps: 20

Building structure: Wooden building


Altitude: 1380m

The Y1 Yodogawa trail can be reached via Anbo on the Yakusugiland road and the hut is less than an hour’s hike from the Yodogawa trail entrance. Because of this it can be a very popular hut to stay in and is often packed with hikers who take the road up in the late afternoon and begin their hiking to Mt.Miyanoura early the following morning.

The two huts near Jomon Sugi are popular places to stay after the long hike to get there. The nearest, Takatsu hut, is the most recently constructed and 1 km further is the larger Shin-Takatsu hut. One of these should have space as long as you hike outside of the major holidays.

TAKATSU HUT (高塚小屋)

Sleeps: 20

Building structure: Specially constructed cardboard building (rebuilt 2013)


Altitude: 1330m

This small hut was specially designed to use materials in harmony with the surrounding forest. It is the closest hut to Jomon Sugi on the A1 trail so expect it to be busy.

SHIN-TAKATSU HUT (新高塚小屋)

Sleeps: 40

Building structure: Wooden building


Altitude: 1460m

This hut is 1 km further along the A1 trail and is larger than the Takatsu hut so if the Takatsu hut is full, try here.

There are two other huts which lie in the high mountains, one near the summit of Mt.Nagata and the other near Hana-no-eigo highland marsh.

SHIKANOSAWA HUT (鹿之沢小屋)

Sleeps: 20

Building structure: Stone-built


Altitude: 1550m

This hut is on the N1 Nagata trail not far from the summit of Mt.Nagata. The Nagata trail is long and arduous and few people climb Mt.Nagata after climbing Mt.Miyanoura so the hut is usually quite empty.

ISHIZUKA HUT (石塚小屋)

Sleeps: 40

Building structure: Concrete-block building


Altitude: 1600

This is on a path off Hana-no-eigo highland marsh or alternatively at the top of I1 trail, the rarely used trail from Yakusugiland. Locals claim that it’s haunted with the ghosts of an American bomber crew who crashed into the mountain during the war and is probably the least used of the huts.

An alternative to the huts if the weather closes in when around the high peaks, there are several cave like rock formations which provide shelter and some of them have plastic sheeting stored for emergencies.




For more information about Yakushima accommodation and hiking check out the one and only Yakumonkey Guide to Yakushima

Comments

How much money per night are they? Also, is it possible to rent a house in Yakushima since there is no realty on the island itself?

Hello Chris, the huts are all free. If you mean short term holiday rentals – yes there are some, but if you mean long-term – it can be difficult finding a house available.

Is it free?

Yes, the huts are all free and open to everyone.

Thanks for the site. Very helpful for my plans to visit the island soon the first week of March. Planning a 3 day/2 night tour of the island. 
What are the regulations on campfires? I plan on staying in the mountain huts and would like to cook my food. Of course I will use all the safety precautions: preparing the pit, building the fire, maintenance and extinguishing. Thanks again for your help.

Campfires are a big NO in the mountains. The huts lie within the national park but also within the UNESCO protection zone. It’s not only the risk of fire but the damage done to the fragile ecosystem. If you want to cook your food, do what everyone else does and bring a camping stove. If not you can get into serious trouble. Have a great trip.

Reserved my burner at Nakagawa along with a bunch of other gear. Thanks for the heads up. I figured as much but thought I would ask, just in case. I leave in a few days so I will look for the book when I arrive on the island.