“Everything is brought into existence from one tiny drop of water,”
“It’s not just about beauty, it awakens further awareness and invites realization.”
Yakushima Kayak & Trekking “One Drop Yakushima”
Yakushima Certified Guide for sea kayaking and river kayaking
Guide Profile
Shohei Nakajima
Shohei Nakajima
Certified Yakushima Guide
After graduated the university, worked in Tokyo in my 20’s. And living in Australia for a couple of years in my early 30’s. And came back to home and looked for a place to live close to the nature, slow and quiet.
At the same time, observing the total solar eclipse was my first priority at the time, happened in Japan in July 2009, I visited Yakushima to see the one and impressed by the nature and people here.
I started to live in the island since then and still captivated by the life in Yakushima island and still getting something precious day by day.
The most attractive point of Yakushima is realization about nature, my own mind and relationships of everything exist.
I wish you feel the inter-relationship between you and everything.
Hope see you soon, Sho
Hobbies
- Surfing
- Yoga
- Hiking
- River trekking
- Total solar eclipses
Qualifications
- Yakushima Certified Guide (Yakushima Tourism Association)
- Yakushima Safety Sea Kayaking Association, member
- Japan Safety Paddling Association — Sea Guide II, Safety & Rescue Program
- Wilderness First Aid, Advanced — trained
- Basic Life Saving Certification
- NEAL Program — trained
- Australia TAFE Certificate IV in Tourism (Natural and cultural Heritage)
About YAKUSHIMA
All things in One.
For me,
The most attractive point of Yakushima is the realization of symbiosis among flora and fauna, including human beings in its unique environment.
There is nothing more precious than the experience, thoughts and further awareness with the people I meet and the opportunities I have, through this job.
And happy to share with you.
Yakushima is famous for its heavy rainfall, which is very intense sometimes.
What causes the much rain fall?
The landscape here makes its biodiversity so rich.
And high mountain ranges make a big difference of the climate even in the small island, place by place and elevation by elevation.
What I want to share and want you to feel is
“everything is connected”,
influence each other and live together” with your own perception.
- A single drop falling from a leaf,
- The scent of a forest full of life,
- The sound and the coldness of a mountain stream,
- Food grown with the water of Yakushima.
Tour Menu & Price
We can also add sightseeing around the island after the activity.
| Tour | Length | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Kayak | Half day (3-4h) | ¥13,000 | ¥18,000 | ¥24,000 | ¥30,000 |
| Sea Kayak | Half day (3-4h) | ¥18,000 | ¥24,000 | ¥30,000 | ¥34,000 |
| Sea Kayak | Full day | ¥25,000 | ¥32,000 | ¥45,000 | ¥52,000 |
| Snorkel | Half day (3-4h) | ¥14,000 | ¥18,000 | ¥24,000 | ¥30,000 |
| Shiratani / Yakusugi Land | Full day | ¥25,000 | ¥36,000 | ¥42,000 | ¥50,000 |
| Yamato Sugi / Mt. Tachu Take | Full day | ¥28,000 | ¥40,000 | ¥48,000 | ¥52,000 |
| Mt. Mocchomu | Full day | ¥29,000 | ¥41,000 | ¥49,000 | ¥52,000 |
| Mt. Kuromi Take | Full day | ¥30,000 | ¥42,000 | ¥50,000 | ¥54,000 |
| Island sightseeing | Full day | ¥30,000 | ¥34,000 | ¥42,000 | ¥52,000 |
| River Kayak & Yakusugi Land | Full day | ¥28,000 | ¥40,000 | ¥48,000 | ¥56,000 |
| Snorkel & Island sightseeing | Full day | ¥28,000 | ¥40,000 | ¥48,000 | ¥56,000 |
| Snorkel & River Kayak | Full day | ¥26,000 | ¥38,000 | ¥45,000 | ¥52,000 |
Gear rentals are included.
It is possible to combine two half day courses into one full day and/or multiple days booking makes your experience even better.
Snorkeling tour is available from July to September, please ask for other seasons.
Extra fee may be charged for the private tour as requested.
About the payment, only cash on the day is available at the moment, because of the canceling of the tour due to the unsuitable weather.
Please prepare them beforehand, the ATM service is still limited in the island sometimes.
How to spend your time
Please take flexible and open mind for any situation to enjoy. A forest in the rain is a fine thing too.
Here on the island, we should consider the fickle weather here, where you stay, what sort of thing you prefer, how you feel and whatever. There are always Plan B and C.
You can choose two different things to do in one day. With the multiple days booking, it is possible to make the tours more flexible.
Recommendations
- River Kayak & Yakusugi Cedar Land forest walk — highly recommended to know the nature of the island
- Forest walk & sightseeing drive — go casual walking and the island drive
- River Kayak & visiting water falls — to spend a cruisy day
- River Kayak & Snorkeling — to go out to the water
The menu is only a set of common examples. Spend half a day active and half a day quiet, or go active all day. With a flexible mind, a forest or a kayak in the rain is just as good.
On the driving tour, we can drop into shops for souvenirs and cafes whatever you want.
Most of the participants are experiencing this kind of activities for the first time, so please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.
From one person can participate in any menu. You can combine two kinds of half-day courses and spend one full day with total support, or as many days as you want. We will propose a private Yakushima time according to your wishes.
We offer private tours for up to 6 people (with exceptions in high season).
What to wear & bring
Please come dressed as described below. To prevent sunburn and injury, we recommend covering as much skin as you can — when it comes to sun protection, covering up beats sunscreen. Petrochemical sunscreens pollute the water, so we ask you to avoid them as far as possible. We keep a reef-safe sunscreen on hand; just ask if you would like to use it.
What to bring (kayaking & snorkeling)
- Hat
- Sunglasses (a retainer strap is better)
- Long-sleeved rash guard (rental available)
- Swim shorts
- Long tights
- Sandals (tour boots lent free of charge)
- Rain jacket, depending on conditions
Please choose quick-drying synthetic fabrics. Trekking clothing works for all of the above.
For sunglasses, we recommend polarised lenses with UV protection.
What to bring (trekking)
- Trekking trousers
- Trekking shirt
- Rain jacket and rain trousers
- Trekking boots
- Thick socks
- A backpack of around 20L, with a rain cover
- Trekking poles, depending on the tour
- A portable toilet, depending on the trail and conditions
Rain jacket and pants are always recommended at any weather.
Trousers and shirts must not be cotton or denim. Quick-drying sports fabrics are fine.
In winter — and sometimes in spring and autumn — please bring warm layers such as a fleece, long tights, a beanie and gloves.
Rentals (for all tours)
All gears for the activities such as a life jacket, wet suit, etc are rented for free.
All you need to prepare is swim suit and/or sporty, quick dry materials shirts, & pants, long tights, hat, occasionally a rain jacket, and open mind to the fickle weather here.
FAQ
It depends on the tour and on the preparation we make together beforehand, so please feel free to contact us.
We use life-saving equipment such as life jackets, so there is no need to worry.
You don’t always need to swim, and capsizing rarely happens in river kayaking.
A cancellation fee is charged only when you cancel for your own reasons — not when the tour is cancelled due to bad weather or conditions unsuitable for the tour you booked.
| On the day | 1 day before | 2–7 days before | 8–14 days before |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | 80% | 50% | 30% |
Please let us know as soon as possible if your itinerary changes.
No — we still go out in the rain. Being in nature in the rain is not bad at all.
Yakushima is famous for its heavy rainfall, which is what makes the nature here so abundant.
Unless a heavy rain warning is issued, don’t hesitate to head outdoors.
In heavy rain, we recommend visiting waterfalls, cafés or craft workshops.
Please see “What to wear & bring”.
Gear for the activities, such as life jackets, is included in the price.
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