Shiratani Unsuikyo
白谷雲水峡30°23′ N 130°34′ EGorge¥800, about CAD 7.20 or USD 5.10 (October 2026 rates)Temporarily closed
Shiratani Unsuikyo suits walkers who want Yakushima's moss forest without the full day to Jomon Sugi, and it is closed for now after a landslide cut its access road in September 2026.
Road closure
A landslide keeps the road to Shiratani Unsuikyo on Yakushima closed
The prefectural road to Shiratani Unsuikyo has been shut by a landslide since 4 September 2026, and the ravine is closed until the road reopens. From 1 March to 30 November bicycles are also barred from the road to the Arakawa trailhead for Jomon Sugi, where a shuttle bus runs.
Checked 2026-10-11 · town.yakushima.kagoshima.jp
Photo MaedaAkihiko · Wikimedia Commons · CC0 and others, credited in the gallery
Access
Three marked courses run from about one hour (the Yayoi Sugi course) to three hours (Bugyo Sugi) and four hours (Taiko-iwa), between 600 and 1,050 metres up.
Shiratani Unsuikyo is a forest of clear streams, ferns and deep moss about 12 km from Miyanoura. Its Moss Forest, Tsuji Pass and Taiko-iwa rock are the places people link to the animated film Princess Mononoke, and in a normal year a bus runs up seven times a day.
Since 19:00 on 4 September 2026 the prefectural road to Shiratani has been closed by a landslide during Typhoon No. 24, and the mountain conservation council lists the gorge as closed for the time being. You cannot enter by the Kusukawa trail either. Yakusugi Land, on the other side of the island, reopened on 16 September with some course changes.
Worth knowing
- Check the Yakushima mountain conservation council's road and trail table before you plan around Shiratani.
- Courses shorten when streams run high after rain, even in a normal season.
Quick answers about Shiratani Unsuikyoよくある質問
Is Shiratani Unsuikyo open?
No. A landslide closed the prefectural road to Shiratani Unsuikyo on 4 September 2026 during Typhoon No. 24, and the gorge stays closed until further notice. Yakusugi Land reopened on 16 September 2026.
How much does Shiratani Unsuikyo cost?
Prices at Shiratani Unsuikyo start at ¥800 per person (2026), about CAD 7.20 or USD 5.10 (October 2026 rates).
Within 12 km
