Takachiho Gorge Tour
Takachiho Gorge Tour
Takachiho Gorge is a must see Kyushu location, but it is not easy to get to. This tour is a great solution, taking you on a scenic route through the Aso caldera to Takachiho Gorge. Arriving in the morning you can enjoy the gorge at its quietest and most scenic time of day. Take a guided walk, have the chance to go boating and enjoy some local dishes for lunch. In the afternoon we head to a beautiful mountain viewpoint, and visit a mythologically sacred shrine and cave.
Takachiho Gorge Tour information
- 1 to 6 people
- Tour duration 8.5 hours
- Language - English
- Price from 13,000 Yen per person
- Discount for children
- Activity level - Moderate
Takachiho gorge tour - Try catching Nagashi Somen noodles for lunch!
- Option to go boating on Takachiho Gorge
- Guided walk along Takachiho Gorge
- Catch some chilled, flowing noodles for lunch or try another local dish
- Visit the Kunimigaoka viewpoint, one of Takachiho’s best kept secrets
- Learn some of Japan’s ancient & fascinating myths
- Visit one of Japan’s most sacred caves
- Small group tour with dedicated transport
- Highly rated, friendly, informative English speaking guide.
Takachiho Gorge Tour Details
Meeting Point: The tour begins and ends from Higo Ozu Station, a 35 to 40 minute train ride from Kumamoto City. However, it may also be possible to arrange a pick up from your hotel if you are staying in the Minami Aso area. Please contact us with your hotel details to find out more.
Tour duration: 09:00 to 17:30 (8.5 hours)
No. of guests: Minimum 1 person, maximum 6.
*Groups of up to 9 people can be catered for but there will be an extra charge for the rental vehicle
Activity level: Moderate, the tour involves some walking up and down hill and on steps on the gorge walk and to the cave. Please let us know if this would be physically difficult and we will try and accommodate you.
Tour Inclusions:
English guide fee, dedicated transport, parking fees,
Tour Exclusions:
Lunch is not included in the tour price. But please notify us of any special dietary preferences when booking so we can advise you where to eat.
Time is allowed for rowing* but rowing boat rental and lunch are not included as standard. The price of rowing is 3000 Yen per boat plus 1000 Yen per person. A maximum of 3 people can ride in one boat. Life jackets are provided. (We do not include rowing as not everyone wants to do it and after heavy rain the river level can rise quickly which means rowing can be cancelled at short notice.)
*If rowing is not possible we will usually fit in an extra stop into your tour such as the Kunimigaoka viewpoint, offering 360 views of the Sobo mountains and Aso scenery or Takachiho shrine.
Weather: The tour can go ahead in most weather however, if the forecast is for storms, heavy rain or snow we will either offer you the chance to cancel or to change to a different tour itinerary.
Drop off: The drop off is at Higo Ozu station around 17:30. Trains back to Kumamoto City run approximately every 20 minutes. A drop off in the Minami Aso area may also be possible with advance booking. Please contact us with your hotel details to find out more
Takachiho Gorge Tour Itinerary:
Timings are approximate and the schedule and itinerary order may change according to the weather and time constraints.
*It is possible to customise the tour schedule if you request a private tour or are the only participants, there may be extra charges for this. Contact us to find out more.
08:51 Meet up with your guide in front of Higo Ozu Station (you can take the 08:12 train from Kumamoto City to Higo Ozu)
09:00 Departing from Higo Ozu Station we journey through the remote Minami Aso region breaking the journey with a stop off at a local farmer’s market and viewpoint called Asobonosato Kugino. There you can take in the beautiful views of the southern Aso caldera and take a look at some of the local produce.
10:50 We arrive in Takachiho and make our way to the boating area before it gets too busy. Boats cost 4000 Yen per boat on weekdays and 5000 Yen per person on weekdays and national holidays. The boating is for 30 minutes, up to 3 adults can ride in one boat or 2 adults and 2 pre-schoolers. On sunny mornings you can often see a rainbow in the waterfall that cascades into the gorge
From your boat you can view the amazing rock features, feed the ducks and get as close (as you like!) to the beautiful Manai waterfall, an experience not to be missed. (The river is very calm, life jackets are provided and only very basic rowing skills are needed.) If you would prefer not to row you will have extra free time to enjoy the gorge.
11:30 You can then enjoy a relaxing walk along the Takachiho gorge. Your guide will tell you about the features of the gorge and some of the ancient myths associated with it. The walk has some steps but the pace is slow with plenty of time for photographs. Take in the views and enjoy some of the many ancient Shinto myths connected to the Takachiho area.
12:30 For lunch there are several restaurants to choose from including a charming and unique restaurant specialising in Nagashi Soumen, a popular Japanese summer dish which originated in Takachiho. The fast flowing noodles are a challenge for your chopstick skills and a lot of fun to eat.
Nagashi soumen noodles
13:45 After lunch, depending on the weather and your interests we either take a 15 minute drive up to a fantastic mountain viewpoint called Kunimigaoka or take a short drive out of the gorge up to the Takachiho Shrine – The solemnly peaceful shrine with a history dating back over 1,900 years. The shrine is set in a wonderful grove of towering Japanese Cedar trees, the oldest said to be around 1000 years old. The most famous of the trees are the ‘Meoto Sugi’ said to be a male and a female tree growing side by side and married to each other. A popular ritual for couples or families is to walk around the trees clockwise three times, to ensure good fortune and happiness.
14:30 We then take a 15 minute drive out of Takachiho Town through some beautiful countryside to the tiny village of Iwato. This is the famed location for two caves associated with Japan’s most important Shinto kami, the sun goddess Amaterasu. Here you will hear the story of Amaterasu and how she became the most important of all the gods. Amano Iwato Shrine venerates one of the caves; one of the most important sites in Japanese mythology. The shrine is in a peaceful setting, in the darkness of the main temple a copy of the mirror that tempted Amaterasu out of her cave is displayed glowing brightly.
The cavern is a mysterious place as over the years the custom has begun for visitors to carry stones to the site and arrange them in small piles as prayers that their wishes may be answered. The immense array of stone piles in the cave and on the riverbank adds a mystical and sacred feeling to the site.
15:30 Heading back we usually have some free time for an icecream or drink break near the shrine before heading back to Higo Ozu Station around 16:00.
17:30 Arrive back at Higo Ozu Station
Trains back to Kumamoto City run approximately every 20 minutes, you will usually be in time for the 17:27 or 17:44 departure.
If you are visiting in early to mid April and the sakura is in bloom we can also take the scenic route past the 1000 sakura in Takamori to
Takachiho Gorge Tour Pricing
1 person – 26,000 Yen
2 to 3 people – 15,000 Yen per person
4 to 6 people – 13,000 Yen per person
Private & customised tours are available – contact us with your requests and no. of people
Family discounts available. (Please contact us with your children’s ages to find out more)
All tours are paid for in cash on the day, no deposit is required.
About Takachiho
Kumamoto is the nearest city to Takachiho which is just over the border in Miyazaki Prefecture, the romantic Takachiho Gorge winds its way through the sleepy mountain town of Takachiho. The gorge was formed from the pyroclastic flow of the Aso volcanos, when sudden cooling led to the formation of dramatic columnar rocks and sheer cliffs that rise above the river between 80 to 100 m high. At the base the blue green Gokase river runs, and sightseers row at a leisurely pace past the stunning Manai waterfall that falls over the gorge edge. The gorge is renowned as one of the most uniquely, beautiful scenic spots in Kyushu and was designated a National Scenic and Natural Monument in 1934. Takachiho also has a deep connection with the mythology of Japan, it is connected with the legend of Amaterasu the sun goddess and said to be the birthplace of the first Emperor of Japan.
Takachiho Gorge tour - How to book
If the date is blank it can be booked for any tour of your choice. Just fill in the contact form with your request.
If there is already a takachiho Gorge tour running for the date you want, check the number of places available and then contact us to make a booking.
If the date you want is unavailable, it may be possible to put you in touch with a freelance English speaking guide, contact us with your details to find out more.
You can also combine a trip to Takachiho Gorge with a visit to Mount Aso
Takachiho and Mt Aso Tour
Take a scenic drive through the southern side of the Aso caldera to the fantastic Takachiho Gorge. Spend the morning there then after lunch head to the top of Mount Aso to visit the active volcano.
Aiming for Responsible & Sustainable Tourism
We will invest and promote the local communities we visit and the nature we cherish
We will offset the carbon emissions from each tour with Gold Standard carbon credits