Guides who grew up on the trails

Yakushima SP is led by third-generation mountain guides who were born on the island and learned its trails the way local children do — before we learned to drive. Since 2007, our family-run operation has guided more than 12,400 guests into the cedar forests that make Yakushima one of Japan's most extraordinary places, with a published 98.2% summit completion rate.

Two rules define every departure. First, groups are capped at six guests, because the forest experience collapses at tour-bus scale — for the hikers and for the trails. Second, every booking funds verified cedar re-stocking through the Yakushima Forest Trust; more than 14,200 trees planted to date and counted openly.

Our routes

• The Jōmon Sugi traverse: the classic two-day trek to the ancient cedar, paced for real conditions, not brochure optimism.
• Shiratani Unsuikyo moss forest walks: the shorter, otherworldly routes most visitors only scratch.
• Custom island itineraries built from 18 years of on-island knowledge — seasons, tides, and weather windows included.

Our environmental standard is simple: zero plastic on treks, packs in-packs out, and routes scheduled to distribute impact rather than concentrate it. We hire no outside subcontractors; the guide who answers your email is the guide on the trail, and the family name is on the permits.

Who treks with us

Serious hikers chasing the big routes, photographers waiting on weather windows, and travelers who chose Yakushima precisely because it isn't a checklist stop. If you can walk for six hours, we can show you an island you will never forget. Yakushima SP is eco-guided trekking on Yakushima by the island's own family of guides — small groups, deep knowledge, and a forest given back more than it is taken.