Takachiho Chō

Takachiho Gorge is an impressive ravine with countless waterfalls cascading into it, while nearby Ama-no-Iwato Shrine contains the cave where, according to myth, the sun goddess Amaterasu hid until Ame-no-Uzume lured her out. Another legend suggests that this is where Amaterasu's grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto descended to earth to establish Japan's imperial family, but that particular claim is contested by Takachiho-no-mine in Kirishima National Park to the south.

1 Takachihocho Kankokyokai Information Centre (高千穂町観光協会 観光案内所), 804 Mitai, ☏ +81 98-272-3031. Daily 08:30-17:00. Visit the office or see the website for general tourist information. (updated Aug 2024)

By bus:

Takachiho is deep in the mountains in the northwest of Miyazaki prefecture, and is easier to reach from the neighboring prefectures. When planning a day trip, the fastest public transport route will be a bus from Nobeoka which takes you one and a half hours. On the other hand, the bus from Kumamoto arrives at 12:00 and departs at 16:30, leaving you on a very tight four and a half hour timeframe.

From Miyazaki City, take the JR Nippo Line to Nobeoka (1 hr 15 min, ¥1700 by special express), then connect to the Kumamoto bus (departs 07:30 and 15:30), reaching Takachiho in one hour (¥1740). This is the best solution for a daytrip, leaving Miyazaki at 06:00 allows one to catch the 07:30 bus, and leaving with the 18:29 bus allows 10 hours to visit. This is also the fastest route if coming in from Oita to the north.

From Kumamoto City, the inter-city bus to Nobeoka reaches Takachiho in about 3 hr 10 min (¥2300), passing by Kumamoto Airport (2 hr, ¥2100) along the way. Pay when exiting the bus, or purchase a discounted round-trip double ticket (valid for 10 days) from the vending machine at Kumamoto central bus terminal (¥4000). The bus leaves at 09:11 from JR Kumamoto Station (09:22 from the central bus terminal) and arrives at 12:19 in Takachiho. Westbound buses depart Takachiho at 16:57 and reach Kumamoto central bus terminal at 19:50 (JR Kumamoto station 8 minutes later). The Kyusan express buses from Kumamoto and the Miyako express buses from Nobeoka are operated by two different companies that do not accept each other's prepaid tickets, but the local buses will accept the tickets of either express bus company.

From Fukuoka, direct buses from the Nishitetsu Tenjin Bus Terminal connect to Takachiho in 3 hr 15 min (¥4020, Sep 2018).

By car: