NEWSLETTER Issue #9 &10 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009

Watch out for typhoonsSeptember and October can bring strong typhoons near the shores of Yakushima. If you are unlucky enough to be caught up in one on the island, it is a matter of holding up and waiting it out.

Check the following site for the projected trajectory of Japan-bound typhoons before you visit:

http://weathernews.jp/typhoon/

New Flight between Osaka and Yakushima

Transport to Yakushima was until very recently exclusively through the city of Kagoshima but Yakushima has begun a daily direct flight to Itami, Osaka.

A 74 seater DH8-Q400 will take passengers between Itami, Osaka and Yakushima on the following daily schedule:

Yakushima 11.20 - Osaka 12.45

Osaka 13.15 - Yakushima 14.45

Prices: Adult One way: 34,000 yen Adult Return: 31,100 yen

More details on www.jal.co.jp

www.yakumonkey.com

In this Issue

• Typhoons

• New flight route

• Arakawa Trail Entrance restrictions

• Yakushima Mori Festival

Arakawa Trail Entrance Travel Restrictions

The stretch of road between Arakawa junction and the Arakawa Trail Entrance is still closed to traffic and walkers until September 22nd. After this time there are no restrictions and the car park will be accessible by car/foot.

In the meantime the only way you can get to the Trail entrance is by shuttle bus, organised coach or taxi.

By taxi: Taxis need a special 'ticket' which costs 250 yen and without it will not be allowed up.

By bus: A shuttle bus will run from Yakusugi museum to Arakawa Trail Entrance and will cost

(one way) ¥1000 for adults and ¥500 for (Elementary School) children. If you intend on returning on the bus you must purchase two one-way tickets prior to travelling.

Both of the above tickets for the taxi and bus can only be bought the day before at the following places:

• Airport Tourist Information Centre [Tel: 49-4010] Open 8.30am - 6pm

• Miyanoura Tourist Information Centre [Tel: 42-1019] Open 8.30am - 5pm

• Anbo Tourist Information Centre [Tel: 46-2333] Open 8.30am - 5pm

• Yakusugi Museum [Tel: 46-3113] Open 9am - 6pm

• Yakushima Environmental Culture Village Centre [Tel: 42-2900] Open 9am - 6pm

If you don't use the ticket, you can get a

refund. One half of the ticket is retained and is a coupon for use in Yakushima (so don't throw it away!)

The Shuttle bus Timetable:

From Yakusugi museum car park: 6 buses - 4.45am, 5am, 5.15am, 5.30am (connects with the Matsubanda bus), 5.45 am (connects with the Yakushima Kotsu bus), 6am.

From Arakawa Trail Entrance: 13 buses - 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 3.45pm, 4pm, 4.15pm, 4.30pm (connects with the Matsubanda bus), 4.45pm, 5pm (connects with the Yakushima Kotsu bus), 5.15pm, 5.30pm and 6pm.

Yakushima Mori FestivalThe Yakushima Mori Festival takes place on 4th October in Miyanoura Recreational Park, a few kilometres up the

mountain from Miyanoura. The festival consists of afternoon workshops from 2.30 pm and an evening concert headlined by Bonnie Pink, Ayako Ikeda and Mayo Okamoto.

The entry price is a 'donation' of 3000 yen which buys you a thin cotton towel. This cotton towel is your ticket and can be bought wherever there are posters advertising the festival.

More information about the festival can be found at: www.greenheart-message.com/ yakushima/top.htm

Yakushima: A Yakumonkey

Guide

The guide book to Yakushima can be bought online from a number of sources in many countries or on Yakushima in various outlets.

Should you have any difficulty locating a copy of the guide let me know and I will see if I can help.

Updates on the information in the guide book will be on yakumonkey.com website at 'the guide book page' link.

Should you come across any changes to details in the guide book, please let me know at yakumonkey.com, and I can then inform everyone else. Thank you!

Copyright © Clive Witham 2009