Yakushima Sea Turtle Conservation Activities

Sea turtles of Yakushima

The main place where sea turtles lay their eggs on Yakushima is Nagatahama Beach (the collective name for Inakahama Beach, Maehama Beach, and Yotsusehama Beach), the island's largest sandy beach. This beach is known as the largest nesting ground for loggerhead turtles in the North Pacific Ocean, and is also registered as a Ramsar Convention wetland. Egg-laying has also been confirmed at Kuriohama Beach and Nakamahama Beach

The majority of sea turtles that lay eggs on Yakushima are loggerhead turtles, but a small number of green turtles also visit. Both are precious creatures that are designated as endangered species by the Ministry of the Environment's Red List and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Sea turtles spend most of their lives in the ocean, and only females come ashore to lay their eggs. Because it takes about 30 years for them to reach maturity, any decline in the success rate of egg-laying or the survival rate of hatchlings will have a clear impact on the population decades later

For example, if hatchlings born in one year do not survive due to beach degradation or climate change, the lack of breeding adults will become apparent 30 years later. This time lag makes it impossible to measure the effectiveness of conservation efforts based on short-term figures alone, and long-term monitoring is essential

Spawning season

The spawning season is from late April to early August, with peak activity between 9 PM and 3 AM

When a female sea turtle comes ashore from the sea, she uses all her strength to move across the sandy beach, searching for a safe spot above the high tide line. Using her hind legs skillfully, she first digs a body pit to fit her entire body, and then creates a deep egg chamber in which to lay her eggs. Loggerhead turtles lay around 90 to 130 eggs at a time. After laying the eggs, she carefully covers the nest with sand using her hind legs, then quietly returns to the sea

This is the time when sea turtles expend so much energy and expose themselves to the elements, which is why a quiet, undisturbed beach is essential. Even the slightest stimulus, such as light or the presence of a human, can cause sea turtles to abandon the egg-laying mission and return to the sea; this is known as a "false landing."

For these reasons, we ask that you refrain from entering the beach at Nagatahama from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM the following day from May 1st to September 30th as a local rule

Baby turtles leave

The eggs left in the sand will hatch in approximately 45 to 75 days using the heat of the sand heated by the sun. The hatching season on Yakushima runs from early July to late September. Once hatched, the baby turtles work together with their peers to dig their way through the sand over the course of 3 to 7 days, emerging from their burrows all at once under cover of darkness and heading for the sea

Baby turtles rely on the natural difference in light: the sky toward the sea is brighter than the sky toward the land. However, in modern environments, this instinct can backfire. Many baby turtles are attracted to street lamps, lights from private homes, and flashlights, and end up heading in the opposite direction from the sea

Sand that has been trampled down by people walking on it is also a serious problem for small baby turtles. In some cases, they are unable to break through the hardened layer of sand and die before they can reach the surface. In recent years, the rate at which baby turtles that hatch at Nagatahama make it safely to the sea (return rate) has been only 35-50%. It has been pointed out that trampling on the sand is one of the reasons for this. Garbage left on the beach also poses obstacles that are difficult for small bodies to overcome

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Protecting sea turtles: Island-wide conservation efforts

Currently, the Ministry of the Environment, Yakushima Town, specialized NPOs, and the local community are working together to protect Yakushima's sea turtles and their nesting grounds. What was once relatively free to do, such as strolling along the beach and watching the sea turtles, has now been replaced by observation tours accompanied by specialized guides under the "Nagata Beach Sea Turtle Observation Rules."

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Introduction to sea turtle observation events

Our hotel offers sea turtle nesting observation events.
This is a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of sea turtle ecology and conservation, so if you're interested, please apply.

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[Nighttime Sea Turtle Viewing Tour]
With a professional guide, you may witness the moment when a mother turtle lays her eggs, striving to keep her baby alive, on a quiet beach at night. The only sound you can hear is the sound of the waves. In this special space, you will have an unforgettable experience experiencing the mystery and power of life up close. Learn about the rules of sea turtle conservation while quietly watching this ancient activity.

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This year's sea turtle observation event will be held on the following dates:

Period: 2026/5/21~7/10

‍Sea turtle observation reservations

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Conclusion: Yakushima's sea turtles and our responsibility

Makoto Goto, Representative of THE HOTEL YAKUSHIMA

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Yakushima's sea turtles are crucial to the entire North Pacific, but their future faces many threats, including beach disturbance and light pollution caused by human activities, as well as global climate change and marine plastic pollution

The number of eggs laid fluctuates from year to year. This is why we cannot get a complete picture based on short-term figures alone. Long-term monitoring and flexible responses according to the situation are required. There is no easy answer to the question of how to balance the economic activity of tourism with the protection of sea turtles. Everyone involved needs to continue to communicate and cooperate in order to find a sustainable approach that preserves both local livelihoods and the lives of wild animals

And there is one more important thing. We want as many people as possible to know about the problems facing sea turtles. We believe that everyone who visits Yakushima should be able to experience the island's nature and the reality of sea turtles. This will be a sure step towards protecting these precious lives and building a future for the region where we can live in harmony with nature

If each of us could share the responsibility to protect this natural heritage so that the sea turtles of Yakushima can continue to come and live on these beautiful sandy beaches, it would surely be the greatest gift we could give to future generations

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P.S.:

The reason that Yakushima's sea turtles have been able to return to the island's sandy beaches for generations is not only due to the island's abundant natural environment. It is also thanks to the longstanding understanding and cooperation of the local community, who have watched over the beaches every day and cherished coexistence with the sea turtles. The story of the sea turtles' lives is deeply connected not only to the beautiful sea and sandy beaches, but also to the warm feelings of the people who live there

Our hotel also offers a "Sato Meguri" tour, where you can walk through the village that spreads out right next to the beach where sea turtles live. You may encounter old stone walls that tell the story of the island, narrow streets filled with the wisdom of daily life, and above all, the smiling faces of the people who live there

Along with learning about the mysteries of nature through the sea turtles, we hope you will also experience the charm of the villages, which are another treasure of this island. We hope that by learning about both the beach and the village, your trip to Yakushima will be deeper and more enriching