Yakushima Airport guide

Yakushima Airport sits on the east coast of Yakushima, the island in Kagoshima Prefecture known for its UNESCO World Heritage cedar forests. It lies between the ports of Anbo and Miyanoura, the island's two main gateways. The Yakushima World Heritage Conservation Center puts the drive from the airport to the trail areas at about 15 minutes, and the airport also appears under the ICAO code RJFC.

The airport began service in July 1963 as a locally managed airport with an 1,100 m runway. The runway was extended to 1,200 m and then to 1,500 m in 1976, and it was strengthened in 2004 so that DHC-8-400 turboprops could land. Kagoshima Prefecture manages the airport. A further extension to 2,000 m is approved to allow jet aircraft, and the transport ministry said in April 2024 that the project would start that fiscal year.

The runway is aligned 14/32, and the apron holds two propeller aircraft. The airport is open from 8:30 to 19:30. Japan Air Commuter flies the scheduled service to Kagoshima, Osaka Itami and Fukuoka. Passenger numbers peaked near 175,000 in fiscal 2005 and stood at 164,980 in 2015, with 4,752 aircraft movements that year.