The Yakushima Environmental Cultural Village Centre (Yakushima Kankyo Bunka Mura Centre) in Miyanoura port town is the best introduction to the island's ecology before heading into the forest. A large wraparound cinema screen shows an immersive film about Yakushima's landscapes, seasons, and wildlife that gives visitors a sense of the island's full range — from the tropical coastline to the alpine summit — in a single 20-minute session.
The main exhibition covers the island's ancient cedar ecology, the classification of yakusugi trees (those older than 1,000 years are "yakusugi"; younger ones are "kosugi"), the island's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the human history of logging that preceded conservation. The centre is good value and the film in particular is worth seeing on arrival — the screen and sound system put most urban cinemas to shame.