activity

    Mt.Mocchomu

    A soaring monolith—experience the sculpted beauty of Yakushima.
    Rising sharply toward the heavens, the mountain stands as a living memory of the island’s deep past.The massive granite outcrop, shaped over years of uplift, stands like a sculpture carved by nature’s own will.For generations, the surrounding villages have revered it as a sacred mountain, an important place of take-mairi pilgrimage.Venturing deeper into the forest, the scenery shifts with every step until you reach the summit—where the island stretches below and the vast sea meets the horizon. The landscape before you tells a story, revealing the true essence of Yakushima.This is a mountain journey to encounter the island’s divine form, where ancient prayers still echo in the land.

    Basic information

    Season
    Year-round
    Standard Duration
    Activity time: Approx. 7 h
    Schedule when departing from Sankara: Depart at 7:30am, return at 3:00pm
    Required Hiking Gear
    Hiking boots, rain gear for hiking (jacket and pants), backpack and cover.
    (Hiking equipment is available for rental. As availability is limited, please inform us of the items you require in advance.)
    Packed meals (breakfast and lunch)
    Drinks (at least 500 ml, refill points available)
    Snacks (easy-to-eat foods)
    Headlamp
    Portable toilet
    Recommended Additional Gear
    Trekking poles, folding umbrella
    Packed meals
    Packed lunch: Orders are accepted until 7:00pm the day before.
    *It will be handed to you at the front desk.
    Schedule
    7:30am: Depart from hotel
    7:45am: Arrive at Senpiro-no-taki Waterfall (toilet break)
    8:00am: Start hike
    10:00am: Bandai-sugi cedar
    11:15am: Kamiyama Viewing Point
    11:45am: Mt. Mocchomu Summit
    1:00pm: Kamiyama Viewing Point
    2:00pm: Bandai-sugi cedar
    3:00pm: Arrive back at Senpiro-no-taki Waterfall
    3:30pm: Arrive at hotel
    Restrooms
    1 restroom (Senpiro Waterfall Trailhead)
    Guide Fee (Reference)
    From ¥15,000 per person (including tax and insurance. Private guided tours are available for an additional fee)
    Access
    Rental car: Senpiro Waterfall is 15 min. from Sankara.
    Parking lot available (30 spaces).
    Bus: No service to the trailhead.
    Taxi: Advance booking is required.
    On foot: Senpiro Waterfall is a 1 h 20 min. walk from Sankara (approx. 5 km).
    Advice
    Mt. Mocchomu, with its sharply rising silhouette, stands out as a striking symbol of Yakushima’s geological formation, where granite uplift continues even today.Along the way, encounter natural wonders characteristic of Yakushima, such as ancient Bandai-sugi cedar, aged over 3,000 years, and beautiful streams meandering through a moss-covered landscape.Though the route is short, the mountain reveals a rich variety of landscapes on the way to the summit.At the summit, a breathtaking panorama comes into sight, with villages and the vast sea below, while the ridgeline of Mt. Okudake rises behind you.Here, the island’s three-dimensional terrain and the immense scale of nature is revealed in breathtaking majesty.The trail is short but extremely steep, with continuous rocky sections, making it a demanding hike that requires stamina.Alongside Mt. Aiko, this route is one of the island’s rare paths where you step directly into the Natural World Heritage site’s forest from the trailhead.