Yakushima South Village

The people at South Village made this stay especially nice. Everyone was kind, and one volunteer often went spear fishing, then made us fresh sashimi from his catch. That kind of hospitality felt special to find on Yakushima. It's an easy drive if you have your own car, on the southern side of the island. There's a fun Izakaya nearby and a coffee shop too. The rooms are cozy and Japanese-style, with a well-equipped kitchen, a lounge and TV area, and an outdoor terrace. A lovely spot to relax and get away from everyday stress.

We had to extend our stay by a few nights unexpectedly because of a typhoon, and Miki made the change really easy. We'll happily come back to Yakushima and stay here again. Thanks to Miki and the staff for looking after us so well. The hostel was a comfortable place to return to after hiking, driving, and exploring. Our clean room had two bunk beds, with curtains around each bed, and we all slept well. The two baths, one wooden and one iron, were lovely to use every day. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were supplied. Bring a towel or rent one for ¥100. We were lucky to have two breakfasts and one dinner at the hostel restaurant. It was convenient on early mornings and on lazy evenings. The homemade meals were affordable, with something different each day: rice porridge and homemade vegetable sides, fresh salad with biscuit and soup, and fried flying fish with vegetables, rice, and soup. Definitely worth trying if you stay. There's lots of room in the common areas, including a kitchen, dining space, tetami room, and TV room. We found plenty of dishes and utensils, plus room to store groceries. The hostel also sells emergency instant ramen and pasta in the common area for late night hunger. There were at least three other groups staying at the same time, but sharing the space was never a problem. People were considerate and even offered us food.

The setting is great value for the quality. We saw a full spread of stars right outside the lodge one night, and the owner's big collection of comics and books made the evenings feel a bit like being in a small library. It's a very nice wooden lodge, clean and well equipped, with a large shared area. A good base for the southern and western coast of Yakushima, including onsens, Kurio, and the waterfall.

South Village guest house is clean throughout, with shared toilets and showers. A dorm bed is 3240 yen, or a private Japanese-style room is 4320 yen. You need to bring your own food, though bicycles and mountain gear are available. It's a little away from the shore. The bus stop is about a five-minute walk, but buses come only once an hour and the ride to miyanoura port takes 80 minutes.