Complete Guide to Takachiho: What to Do and Where to Stay
Nestled deep in the mountains of Miyazaki Prefecture in the southern Japanese region of Kyushu, Takachiho is a secluded, nature-rich town whose claims to fame are being the real-life setting of some of Japan’s best-known myths and the magnificent Takachiho Gorge. The serene, almost mystical atmosphere covering Takachiho has also earned it a reputation for being a power spot, a place of significant spiritual energy. Read on to discover the charms of this town filled with unspoiled natural beauty.
How to get to Takachiho
Being a remote town in the mountains, Takachiho is only accessible by car or bus.
From Miyazaki Station, take a limited express (approx. 70 minutes) or local train (approx. 100 minutes) to Nobeoka Station. Then, from there, take a bus to the Takachiho Bus Center (approx. 90 minutes). As of this writing, the direct bus service from Miyazaki Station to Takachiho is suspended.
You can also get to Takachiho from elsewhere in Kyushu. Making one round trip a day, a direct bus service links Kumamoto Station with Takachiho, with a one-way journey taking about three hours. Kumamoto is served by the Kyushu Shinkansen, so you can reach it from Kagoshima-Chuo Station (Kagoshima, approx. 45 minutes) or Hakata Station (Fukuoka, approx. 90 minutes) and take the bus to Takachiho from there.
Getting around Takachiho
As public transport in Takachiho is limited and infrequent, renting a car or taking taxis will make sightseeing around Takachiho more convenient.
Alternatively, you can rent a bicycle or walk your way around town if you’re up for it. Several of Takachiho’s main attractions, such as Takachiho Shrine and Aratate Shrine, are within a kilometer’s distance from the bus center — that means a walking time of approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Takachiho Gorge is two kilometers away from the bus center, so you can get there on foot in around 30–40 minutes.
Kunimigaoka and Amanoiwato Shrine are farther away from the bus center, at around six or eight kilometers, respectively. We recommend driving, taking a taxi, or boarding a bus to get to these two sites.
Things to see and do in Takachiho
Takachiho Gorge
Takachiho’s best-known attraction is the eponymous Takachiho Gorge, formed by eruptions from Mount Aso in neighboring Kumamoto. Here, steep towering cliffs narrowly line emerald-green waters, giving the area an otherworldly feel to it.
Rent a rowboat to see the gorge from below, observe the geographical formations on its cliffs, and get an up-close view of the 17-meter-high Manai Falls. Or, enjoy the view of the gorge from above as you stroll a paved footpath. The gorge is a sight to behold all year round, but it’s especially beautiful in autumn when the foliage changes color. Additionally, it’s sometimes illuminated at night for seasonal events.
Takachiho Amaterasu Railway
Admire Takachiho’s scenery from up on high with the Takachiho Amaterasu Railway, a former commuter railway now given new life as an open-top sightseeing train. On a 30-minute round trip, take in scenic views as you traverse Takachiho’s attractions: Takachiho Gorge, rice terraces, and more. On your journey, you’ll also cross Takachiho Iron Bridge, Japan’s highest railway bridge.
Takachiho Shrine
Befitting Takachiho's reputation as a power spot, this small town has a concentration of shrines; it’s said that there used to be as many as 500 back in the day! The namesake Takachiho Shrine represents the area by comprising earth-toned buildings that blend in with the surrounding woods. Enshrined here are multiple deities, including the deity of love and marriage.
Every night, Takachiho Shrine holds ritualistic theatrical kagura performances in a tradition called yokagura (evening kagura). While kagura is also performed at other shrines across Japan — and sometimes at night too — Takachiho’s version has been designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
From November to February, you can also catch longer yokagura performances elsewhere across Takachiho. The kagura repertoire has 33 performances, all related to the sun goddess Amaterasu and various other Japanese deities; a full staging of all 33 can go on all night!
Amano Iwato Shrine
Another noteworthy local shrine is Amano Iwato Shrine, dedicated to Amaterasu and right next to the cave where she is said to have hidden after a series of provocations by her brother. A 10-minute walk down a riverside path will lead you to Amano Yasukawara, a shrine inside a cave. Legend has it that several deities gathered here to discuss how to lure Amaterasu out of hiding.
Other shrines of interest in the area are Aratate Shrine — which is believed to bring good fortune in love, matchmaking, and career aspirations in the creative arts — and Kushifuru Shrine, where Ninigi-no-mikoto, Amaterasu’s grandson, is said to have descended to the mortal realm.
Kunimigaoka
Lastly, the Kunimigaoka viewing platform, which received a star from the Michelin Green Guide in 2011, is a great vantage point for observing the “sea of clouds” phenomenon. From late September to early December, visit early in the morning; if the conditions are right, you might see Takachiho and its surrounding mountains blanketed in mist.
Where to stay in Takachiho
Takachiho has a variety of accommodations, ranging from guesthouses to ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) and hotels. One hotel you can’t go wrong with is Hotel Takachiho, which is a five-minute drive from Takachiho Bus Center . With comfortable and reasonably priced rooms, Hotel Takachiho offers convenient access to Takachiho’s most popular attractions. Takachiho Shrine is just a five-minute walk away — perfect for those who want to watch a yokagura performance — and Takachiho Gorge is around 15 minutes on foot.