What's on in Yakushima (Yakushima National Park), Japan through the year

Busy — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Snow on the peaks (15 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Snow on the peaks (15 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Busy — Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Snow on the peaks (15 Dec – 31 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Golden Week, Spring break (haruyasumi) in Japan

• Holiday

  Golden Week

  29 Apr – 6 MayCrowdedBook early

  A run of public holidays from 29 April to 5 May when much of Japan travels at once: trains, flights and hotels fill, rates peak and popular sights are crowded. Book well ahead or come the week after. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Golden Week, Golden Week in Japan

• Nature

  Loggerhead nesting

  10 May – 10 Jul · usuallyTurtle nestingBook early

  Inakahama at Nagata is the largest loggerhead nesting beach in the North Pacific. The beach is closed at night from May to August and the only way on is a registered tour with no lights. Source ↗

• Nature

  Yakushima rhododendron

  15 May – 20 Jun · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  The island's own dwarf rhododendron flowers along the high ridges as the low ground goes into the rainy season. It is a full day's walk above the cloud to see it.

• Season

  The wettest weeks

  25 May – 10 Jul · usuallyMonsoonRisk

  Yakushima is the wettest inhabited place in Japan and June is the wettest month of its year. The Jomon Sugi trail runs whatever the weather; the river crossings are what close it.

Still on: Golden Week (29 Apr – 6 May)

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Loggerhead nesting (10 May – 10 Jul (usually)), Yakushima rhododendron (15 May – 20 Jun (usually)), The wettest weeks (25 May – 10 Jul (usually))

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Hazard

  Typhoon season

  15 Jul – 15 Oct · usuallyClosures

  The ferry and the hydrofoil from Kagoshima stop a day before a storm and do not restart for a day after. Budget a spare day either end of a trip in this window. Source ↗

Still on: Loggerhead nesting (10 May – 10 Jul (usually)), The wettest weeks (25 May – 10 Jul (usually))

Busy — Summer break (natsuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Typhoon season (15 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Typhoon season (15 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Typhoon season (15 Jul – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Busy — Winter break (fuyuyasumi) in Japan, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Snow on the peaks

  15 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyClosures

  It is subtropical at sea level and alpine at the top. Miyanoura-dake holds snow through the winter, the high trails need proper kit, and the bus to Yakusugi Land can be cut off.