The following are important changes to the published information for 2019:
ARAKAWA MOUNTAIN BUS
NEW PRICES
Adults: ¥1,380 return, ¥690 one way + donation of ¥1,000 for 1 day or ¥2,000 for 2+ days
Children: ¥700 return, ¥350 one way (No added donation)
When you buy your bus ticket the donation amount will be added on the total amount you pay. So for example if you take a day trip to Jomon Sugi, you pay ¥1,380 for the return bus trip and ¥1,000 donation, so the total to pay is ¥2,380. If you are staying overnight in a hut or if you plan a longer trip over more than one day, then you would pay the bus + ¥2,000 donation.
If the bus is cancelled, you can get a full refund from the first 4 offices listed below. You can also get a refund if you cancel for personal reasons (but in this case the donation is not refundable).
You can buy a bus ticket for the Arakawa Mountain Bus at the following places:
ARAKAWA MOUNTAIN BUS TICKET SALES & REFUNDS
- Miyanoura Tourist Information Center
- Anbo Tourist Information Center 9:00-18:00 TEL: 0997-46-2333
- Airport Tourist Information Center 8:30-18:00 TEL: 0997-49-4010
- Arakawa Mountain Bus stop at Yakusugi Shizenkan Museum in Anbo 4:00-17:00 TEL: 0997-46-3317
ARAKAWA MOUNTAIN BUS TICKET SALES ONLY (NO REFUNDS PROCESSED)
- Yakushima Kanko Center in Miyanoura 8:00-19:00 TEL: 0997-42-0091
- Mori-no-kirameki in Anbo 9:00-19:00 TEL: 0997-49-7101
- JR Hotel Yakushima in Onoaida TEL: 0997-47-2011
- Sankara Hotel and Spa in Mugio TEL: 0997-47-3488
- Seaside Hotel in Miyanoura TEL: 0997-42-0175
- Tashiro Bekkan in Miyanoura TEL: 0997-42-0018
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTERS
- p.40 Miyanoura Tourist Information Center is inside Yakushima Environmental Culture Village Center near Miyanoura Port, which is bus stop 21.
- p. 40 Anbo Tourist Information Center is inside ECOTOWN AWAHO which is across the road from Anbo port. It is bus stop 64 or 65.
HIKING IN THE MOUNTAINS: DONATION
As mentioned in the previous section, there is a donation fee which is payable when you hike in the mountains. This is the Mountain Environmental Conservation Donation program and the purpose of this fund-raising program is for environmental conservation and to assure user safety by maintaining the trails and the facilities in the mountains.
When you pay the donation of ¥1,000 (for 1 day) or ¥2,000 (for 2+ days) to this program, you are given a ticket and a stamped wooden token which entitles you to offers from participating businesses around Yakushima within a month of the date of the stamp.
You can donate at these sites in the mountains
- Yodogawa Trail Entrance
- Shiratani Unsuikyo
- Arakawa Trail Entrance
Or at these sites before/after you go
- Yakushima Tourism Association
- Tourist Information Center
- Yakushima Environmental and Cultural Village Center,
- When purchasing the Arakawa Mountain Bus tickets
BUSINESSES & SERVICES
These businesses have changed owners/moved:
- p.60 AIKOTEI restaurant / p.45 AIRPORT Hotel are now RAKUSA Hotel
- p.60 LA MONSTERA is now a breakfast cafe
- p.80 WARUNG KARANG has moved to Anbo
These businesses have different opening hours:
- p.46 M MART (Koseda) opens at 07.00
- p.46 SOME’S opens 08:00-20:00
- p.46 TANAKA SEIKA 09:00-20:00 TEL: 0997 49 7177
These businesses are now closed:
- p.46 AI SHOP IMAMURA
- p.54 WANRON
- p.62 SHIMASHIMA KITCHEN
- p.64 BANRAIKEN
- p.69 SUGI-NO-CHAYA
- p.71 MUIGOKKO
- p.79 MOCHOMU VIEW TONE
These prices have changed:
- p.104 Disposable Toilet Kit is ¥500 (1) and ¥700 (2)
- p.48 Baggage forwarding costs ¥550 per item
These services are added/removed:
- p.48 No coin lockers in Furusato Ichiba
- p.48 Sagawa Express forward baggage on Yakushima for ¥500 per item
- p. 105 Mountain Guide: The tourist information centers will help you find a professional guide with the correct training and competence. Call or visit at least 2 days in advance. TEL: 0997 49 4010.