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Takachiho (高千穂) is a town in Miyazaki, Kyushu. Both a natural wonder and an important religious site, Takachiho draws over a million Japanese tourists yearly, but few foreigners make it this far.
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高千穂峡
Carved by the Gokase River, one of the main highlights is the 17-m Minai Waterfall, best viewed by the sightseeing railway above or renting a boat (¥5,000/30 min for up to 3 people) and going for a paddle, since the current is gentle and easy to navigate. But there is also a 300-m hiking path beside the river, which passes several striking rock formations, and terminates at a small rest area, parking lot, and bridge across the rapids in the narrowest part of the Gokase River.
天岩戸神社
The cave where Amaterasu hid and the shrine protecting it. This being a Shinto site, the cave is much too holy to let mere mortals inside, but there's an observation deck across the river and pilgrims have stacked countless stones on the paths around the shrine.
千穂の家
This establishment serves Nagashi Somen, thin wheat noodles streaming through bamboo chutes. The takachiho beef grill or rice bowl is also a must try here. Known for its sweetness, Japan-famous Miyazaki cattle here are fed with squeezed beer curd and once won national best wagyu awards.
ラーメン居酒屋十八番
Delicious tonkotsu ramen for a reasonable price.
ビジネスホテルかなや
Hotel has Western and Japanese-style rooms.
ソレスト高千穂ホテル
Spacious, more luxurious rooms than the typical hotel.
By car
Renting a car from any neighboring city (provided you have a valid local or international driver's license) provides a distinct advantage, as it solves the minor problem of getting in, and the much…
By train
Impossible. The Takachiho Railway from Nobeoka stopped running in 2005 after it was trashed by Typhoon Nabi, although a short section was resurrected as a sightseeing railway.
A shuttle bus used to operate between Takachiho Bus Center and the gorge (¥140, 5 min), but it's faster anyway to walk down the windy road to the gorge.
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Kumamoto · International · KMJ
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