Is Yakushima safe?
Very safe from crime. Rain, sudden river rises, long hikes and typhoons are the real risks.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-14.
- Homicide rate in Japan: 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Japan: 3.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
Safety in Yakushima at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Almost none beyond occasional theft from parked cars at trailheads. |
| At night | Very quiet and dark; restaurants close early and streetlights are scarce outside ports. |
| Solo women | Very safe alone. Mountain hikes are best done with a guide or group. |
| Other risks | Heavy rain and flash floods in gorges; Typhoons Aug–Oct can cancel flights and ferries; Cold and hypothermia in the high mountains |
Scams, areas and local laws
Take care
- Hiking Jomon Sugi without a start by dawn: 10–11 hr round trip
- Stream crossings after heavy rain: fast flooding in gorges
Laws visitors break by accident
- Short-term visitors must carry their passport at all times; police may ask for it.
- Adderall and strong pseudoephedrine decongestants are banned; check medicines before packing.
- Cannabis, including CBD with THC, is illegal; using it has been a crime since Dec 2024.
How Yakushima compares in Japan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kyoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Osaka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hiroshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nara | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sapporo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Okinawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakone | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kawaguchiko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Niseko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yokohama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kanazawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Takayama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagoya | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nikko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kamakura | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kobe | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakuba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ishigaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagasaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Shirakawa-go | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Miyakojima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakodate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Otaru | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Beppu | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matsumoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Koyasan | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Furano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yakushima | 5/5 · Very safe |
Quick answers
Is Yakushima safe for solo female travelers?
Very safe alone. Mountain hikes are best done with a guide or group.
Is Yakushima safe at night?
Very quiet and dark; restaurants close early and streetlights are scarce outside ports.
What is the crime rate in Yakushima?
Almost none beyond occasional theft from parked cars at trailheads. Nationally, Japan records 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Yakushima?
Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
More about Yakushima
Going to Yakushima solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Yakushima Tourism Association
- Yakushima Town
- Kagoshima Prefecture tourism (Travel Kagoshima)
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.