Along the approximately 10.7-kilometer one-way trail from the Arakawa Trailhead to the Jōmon Sugi, four new designated smoking areas, including the Taka Tsuka Hut, will be established. Additionally, smokers will need to bring their own ashtrays.
The Jōmon Sugi section is very popular, with the number of hikers increasing year after year. Previously, some visitors complained to the Yakushima Tourism Association, saying, "We came to enjoy nature, but unfortunately there was the smell of cigarette smoke." In response, the council discussed countermeasures.
It is reported that although this regulation is not legally binding, guides will remind hikers who smoke outside the designated areas. This rule will also be included in the annual "Mountain Behavior Guidelines" published by the council starting in 2013.