Easy walks & waterfalls await in Kyushu’s Miyazaki Prefecture
How do you fit in a Takachiho Gorge day trip while traveling around Kyushu? A simple itinerary and as little as an hour are all you need, but there’s plenty to do for longer stints too. We’ll show you how you can visit for as little as an hour or two, complete with easy walks and waterfalls around Takachiho (高千穂峡, Takachiho-kyō).
Plus, while renting a rowboat is a popular activity, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this area without one.
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Watch this video for our family’s experience plus tips for visiting Japan’s Takachiho Gorge
Is Takachiho Gorge worth visiting?
Takachiho Gorge is very much worth visiting.
The gorge itself narrows as you descend, and is criss-crossed with bridges for cars and pedestrians. Inside the gorge itself, foliage growing at the top and throughout the gorge can provide beautiful colors throughout the seasons, from bright spring leaves and blossoms, to vibrant reds and golds during autumn.
Paths, trails, and shrines line the gorge. Informational signs clue in visitors about notable mythology and other stories underlying the features around the gorge. (For signs that are only in Japanese, be ready with your phone’s translation app.)
Mobility accessibility notes
- Maintained paved paths make it fairly easy to get around, including for travelers with mobility impairments.
- Some stairs are uneven
- Some spots along the riverside trail have long staircases
- Parking lots are small, as are parking spaces. Staff may be able to direct you to more accessible parking, but parking availability overall is limited
- Pedestrians and vehicles share the roads, but most areas are pedestrian only
Getting there
Takachiho Gorge is in a northwestern rural part of Miyazaki Prefecture. It’s a worthwhile detour when traveling between Kumamoto or Oita prefectures on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu.
This area is most easily reached by car, though buses from Kumamoto and Miyazaki can get you to the Takachiho Bus Center. From the bus center, you can catch a taxi to the gorge or take about a two kilometer walk.
It’s easiest to get to Takachiho Gorge by rental car
Renting a car gave us the ease of driving right into the Takachiho area, where there are numerous paid but small parking lots. There can be a wait for parking, but it didn’t take us long to find a space. Once parked, we could walk around the gorge area easily.
If you’re accustomed to renting a car in destinations such as the USA or Canada, renting a car in Japan is easier than you might think. Plus, the backroads in this part of Kyushu make for low-key, scenic driving.
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Renting a boat to paddle around Takachiho Gorge’s Gokase River is okay, but feel free to skip it
When it comes to visiting the gorge, odds are you’ve noticed people paddling around in little blue boats. That’s an option, but one we skipped. Boats are reservable weeks in advance and can sell out quickly. When we arrived, no more were available.
As of when we made this video, boat rentals are for up to thirty minutes. Every 10 minutes beyond that costs an additional thousand yen per boat, or US$7. For groups, each boat can fit up to three people.
The boats are nifty, but they are just one way of many to enjoy Takachiho Gorge.
Many paths and attractions abound around the gorge itself
Paved paths and hiking trails criss-cross much of the around above and along the gorge. We enjoyed slow strolls along koi ponds and a side path where we could check out an old waterwheel works.
Parallel to the gorge itself, a path takes you upstream. You can check out the rocks, or the plant life in different seasons. During our late autumn visit, the trees still were vibrant with fall color. Different areas of the gorge also lead to shrines, and of course there are food stalls and souvenir stalls aplenty.
The riverside path showed us how much the area can change within a few meters. The gorge narrows and widens, channeling the waters and then releasing the. Rocks showcase columnar basalt and other formations. And after about 1 km, you can also reach the Takachiho Shrine.
Take the open-top Amaterasu Railway train
A fun way to take in the gorge’s views? The Grand Supercart of the Amaterasu Railway is a 30-minute, 5-kilometer round-trip ride from Takachiho Station. Highlights include a lit-up tunnel and views from a 105-meter high railway bridge, the highest in Japan.
Itinerary: How to enjoy Takachiho Gorge in as little as an hour
- Park at one of the paid lots
- Wander the paved path with the koi pond and waterwheel
- Go down the nearby steps toward the paved path that runs parallel to the river
- Walk along the river, which has great vantages for photos of the gorge and waters
If you have more time, consider including some of the following:
- Block in about an hour for a trip on the Amaterasu Railway (but check the schedule first). The ride is about 30 minutes, but you’ll want to build in buffer time for getting to and fro
- Walk to Amanoiwato Shrine, which is about 5-15 minutes away from most parking lots (more info on access here)
- Rent a boat for 30 minutes to paddle along the river in the gorge itself (and add on about 15 more minutes to account for pickup and drop-off)
And yes, if you want to stay at least a night in the area, there is accommodation around Takachiho Gorge. Depending on the season, shrines in the gorge also are known for various performances and presentations.
Takachiho Gorge is a serene, delightful day trip stop during your travels around Kyushu
From counting koi to walking the paved trail alongside the river, we stayed about an hour and a half at Takachiho Gorge. The crisp fall air, afternoon sunshine, and bright leaves, combined with the deep color of the water, combined into a serene yet invigorating side trip as we drove across Kyushu from Kumamoto to Oita.
As you travel this part of Japan, stopping at Takachiho Gorge isn’t just a side trip, but a top-up for the soul.
Follow our family’s day trip to Kyushu’s Takachiho Gorge
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Takachiho Gorge FAQ
How long is the boat ride at Takachiho Gorge?
Your fee for a boat rental includes 30 minutes, with additional charges for each 10 minutes thereafter.
Do I need to rent a car to visit Takachiho Gorge?
Renting a car is the easiest way to reach Takachiho Gorge. You can easily rent cars from throughout Kyushu, including Fukuoka, Oita City, and Kumamoto.
Can I get to Takachiho Gorge on a tour or public transportation?
It can be challenging to get to Takachiho Gorge on public transportation. There’s no train service, but there are buses from Miyazaki City and Kumamoto. Buses can take about 3–4 hours depending on route, schedule, and origin point. You’ll arrive at Takachiho’s bus center, and from there can walk about 2 km or take a taxi to the gorge itself.
Many tours also take visitors to Takachiho Gorge.
How long do I need at Takachiho Gorge?
You can visit Takachiho Gorge in as little as an hour. The paths in and along the river are a great attraction.
If renting a boat, the rental time is 30 minutes, and give yourself an additional 15 minutes for pickup and drop-off.
If taking the scenic train, tack on another hour. The ride itself is around 30 minutes, and you’ll want to add around another 30 minutes for getting there and heading back.
Can you swim in Takachiho Gorge?
Nope, you may not swim in Takachiho Gorge. Please enjoy the gorge without getting into the Gokase River itself.
Takachiho Gorge is a narrow chasm cut through the rock by the Gokase River. The nearly sheer cliffs lining the gorge are made of volcanic basalt columns which resemble the scales of a dragon where the stone twisted and flowed as it formed.
