Village Ecotourism
Experience a culture and history born of the coexistence between nature and people.
Ninety per cent of Yakushima Island is mountainous, and therefore only the flat land along the coast is inhabited. There are twenty-four villages on the island. In the past, villages were separated by mountains and rivers, inhibiting close exchanges between villages until roads and bridges were built. Each village has its unique history and culture.
The Yakushima Village Tour Promotion Council was established to promote appropriate conservation and regional revitalization of local resources, culture and history in the village areas of Yakushima Island, to ensure that both tourists and islanders recognize the wholesome qualities of the island, and to develop a society promoting both environmental conservation and economic development. Working with villages, the council uncovers various local resources and provides guides to explain their experiences on the island, and to discuss the features of their villages they are proud of such as local history, culture, industry, and the natural environment.
