I have looked into Yakushima and I've long wanted to explore the Kagoshima peninsula, but it's a bit of a hassle to reach and requires a bit more time than I want to spend on this coming trip; at least to do it properly as I intend to one day! I'd like to fly into Fukuoka and spend a couple of days (I have a friend in the city) before driving down to Minamioguni-machi in Kumamoto for a night at Takefue ryokan, then continue along to Wasurenosato Gajoen in Kirishima (Kagoshima Pref) and take the ferry to Yakoshima Island for a couple of nights. From what I recall from my research a few years ago (when I first began exploring Kagoshima as a potential add-on to my travels across Honshu) I discovered a picturesque albeit rustic and historic lodge set in the middle of the rain forest, which I would want to stay at when I eventually make the trip. I think I've decided to stick nearby Tokyo this time around. I just wrote to my contact at Boutique JTB requesting info for Asaba ryokan in Izu-shi, Shizuoka (approx. 50 mins by shinkansen from Tokyo Station) for next fall, as it's the one property that I really wanted to make it to on our last trip but never got around to. No point in wasting time and money on destinations that I wouldn't otherwise consider just to be by the ocean when we could do a lot better elsewhere.