Takachiho Tour
1.Places
Takachiho is located in the center of Kyushu island, a mountainous region neighboring Aso Caldera. Despite the remote location, a lot of foreign tourists as well as domestic gather here all through the year because it leaves fabulous nature and relaxing atmosphere.
Surprisingly, Takachiho is known as a sacred ground where the god descended to earth at the first time. There also are a lot of mythologies how deities in ancient times created Japan here. Residents here have handed down Takachiho Kagura, sacred dance rituals reenacting these mythologies.
Takachiho is such a wonderful place filled with beauty and mystery.
Although Takachiho is in Miyazaki prefecture, it is located in the north-western edge of Miyazaki and adjacent to Aso. Therefore we recommend to start the tour in Kumamoto city and head there via the southern part of Aso caldera.
(1) Takachiho Gorge
The highlight here is Takachiho gorge. The spectacular steep walls of this gorge were formed by the columnar jointing, due to the rapid cooling of an ancient lava flow from Mt. Aso.
The best way to enjoy the grandeur and beauty of the gorge is to row a boat and look up from the surface of the river. You can take a lot of fabulous photos of the gorge with the beautiful Manai waterfall. This waterfall is designated as one of Japan’s top 100 beautiful waterfalls. After the boat-ride, we will walk on the promenade along the river to enjoy beautiful scenery of the gorge again from a different angle. It is about 700 meter long for 15-20 minutes’ walk one way.
≪The boat service≫
capacity: 3 passengers per boat
time: 30 minutes
price: boat rental fee 3,000 yen per boat
boarding fee 1,000 yen per passenger (500 yen for 6 years old or younger)
(2) Amano Iwato Shrine
You also must not miss this shrine in order to feel the atmosphere of ancient times. It is full of mythologies how deities created Japan here.
It venerates the nearby site of the Amanoiwato or "Holy Rock Cave" where, according to Japan's oldest chronicle, the Sun Goddess “Amaterasu” hid herself when she got furious at the violence of her brother God “Susano-o”. Suddenly, the world plunged into the darkness and series of disasters occurred.
The big statue of the God welcomes you in front of the shrine. He is the hero who took Amaterasu out of the cave and retrieved the light in the world.
This shrine is such a mysterious place!
(3) Amanoyasugawara
A 10-minute walk along the beautiful Iwato River from the Amano Iwato Shrine is the large cavern where, according to legend, all gods and goddesses gathered and conferred on how to get the Sun Goddess “Amaterasu” come out of the rock cave and end the darkness of the world.
One more mysterious site! You may hear voices of gods.
Originally there was only a shrine structure on this riverbank, but over the years visitors carried stones to the site and arranged them in piles. The immense array of stone piles now standing here adds more mystical and fantastic aura to the site.
2.Timetable
(duration: 8.5 hours)
07:30 pickup in Kumamoto
Minami Aso Road Station
(short break)
09:45～12:30 Takachiho Gorge
lunch
12:45～14:00 Amano Iwato Shrine
Amanoyasugawara
16:00 farewell in Kumamoto
3.Price
(1) Guiding fee: 7,000 yen per person
(2) Transportation: shared by tour member
* Big group discount and children discount are available. Please make contact with us.
* Boat service, lunch and admission fees are not included above.
4.Lunch
We can provide 2 options.
(1) We prepare a traditional handmade lunch box. If the weather is fine, we can eat outside.
Please refer to "Special Treat" tag.
(2) We take you to a local restaurant near Takachiho Gorge. There is a very unique but traditional
and popular Japanese restaurant which serves Nagashi Somen, thin wheat noodle. There also is a
restaurant which serves delicious Miyazaki Beef with reasonable price.
