Yakushima is a small, mountainous granite island known for its ancient giant cedar trees – “Yakusugi” – and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This island is a popular destination for Japanese tourists and has a good infrastructure of hotels, restaurants and transportation.
However, very few westerners take the time to visit this pristine area. Yakushima is reachable from Kagoshima (all these “shimas”) by hydrofoil, approximately $150 US round trip, a two-hour ride.
AloJapan.com