Takachiho / Nobeoka

Top Things to do

• Takachiho Gorge

  Miyazaki Pref. Nishiusukiguntakachihochou Mitai Please Shioi

  This gorge owes its roots to pyroclastic flow that was discharged from the Aso caldera due to volcanic activity and flowed down along the Gokasegawa River. These pyroclastic deposits rapidly cooled and formed cliffs of columnar joints, which then experienced years of erosion from the Gokasegawa River, resulting in a V-shaped gorge. The approximately 100-meter high cliffs extend for seven kilometers, and the sunlight that filters through the tall cliffs and various trees above pours down into the clear streams of the river to create a mysterious atmosphere. One of the sights in the area is Manai Falls, a magnificent waterfall with a 17-meter cascade of water which has been selected as one of Japan’s top 100 waterfalls. Visitors can rent a rowboat and look up at the beautiful gradation of light.

• Takachiho-jinja Shrine

  4.5

  401 Reviews

  Miyazaki Pref. Nishiusukiguntakachihochou Mitai 1037

  The head shrine of the 88 Shrines of Takachiho Village, it is believed to have been erected around 1900 years ago. The shrine’s principle deities are Takachiho-sumegami and Jisshya-daimyojin and the shrine is believed to answer prayers in particular connected with the agricultural industry, the exorcism of evil, and luck in marriage and love. The shrine’s main building and guardian iron lion-dogs are designated Important Cultural Properties. The shrine is famous for the Yokagura, a ritual involving music and dance dedicated to the gods conducted from mid-November to early February the following year. The Takachiho Kagura, however, a similar dance conducted by performers wearing masks depicting the gods of Japanese myth, is held in the shrine’s kagura hall every night throughout the year at 8 pm; visitors can view this performance by paying a small fee.

• Amanoiwato Jinja

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  337 Reviews

  Miyazaki Prefecture Nishiusuki-gun, Takachiho-cho, amano-iwato 1073-1

  This Shinto shrine is dedicated to the myth of Ama-no-Iwato, the cave to be where the sun goddess Amaterasu once hid herself from the world according to the Kojiki, the oldest existing chronicle of Japan. The shrine’s western and eastern main shrine buildings are dedicated to Amaterasu and straddle the Iwato River. After requesting to do so at the shrine office in the western shrine building, visitors can be purified and are then allowed to worship directly before the Ama-no-Iwato cave. In addition, the river bed (Amano-yasugawara) and cave where the innumerable gods and goddesses gathered and discussed what to do after Amaterasu went into hiding, is a 10-minute walk from the Western shrine building along the Iwato River.

• Nippo Kaigan Coast / Okuragahama Beach

  Miyazaki Pref. Hyugashi Hiraiwa 12298-6

  Approximately a six-minute drive from the Hyuga Interchange, this sandy beach is located on the Nippo coast and includes the southern district of the Nippo Kaigan Quasi-National Park. The white sand beach with green pine trees stretches for four kilometers and was chosen as one of Japan's top 100 beaches and 100 most beautiful white sand and blue pine tree beaches in Japan, and you can not only go swimming at the beach on the southern tip but also what is called a sacred ground for surfing because there are waves year-round. Swimming is only allowed from late July to late August. The white clamshell Go stones made using shells of hard-shell clams caught at this beach are precious items.

• Kanegahama Beach

  Miyazaki Pref. Hyugashi Hiraiwa 2338-1

  This sandy beach is located approximately a three-minute walk from the Kanegahama bus stop. Known as a great surfing spot visited by surfers from inside and outside the prefecture, there are many sightings of famous celebrities. The biggest attraction is that you can enjoy surfing throughout the year, so several competitions are held there. It is also said to be the birthplace of surfing in Kyushu. You can swim for the month from late July to late August, and besides facilities such as showers and lockers, there is also an inn and campground nearby.

• Amanoyasugawara

  Miyazaki Pref. Nishiusukiguntakachihochou Iwato

  This riverbed is about a 10-minute walk up along the Iwato River from Amanoiwato-jinja Shrine. It is said that when Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun Goddess, shut herself inside this cave behind a rock door, eight million gods gathered here and held a ceremony. If you stack rocks and make a wish, it will supposedly come true—which is why countless piles of rocks can be seen in the area, creating a mysterious sight indeed.

• Makes your wishes come true TheSeaofCruz

  Miyazaki Pref. Hyugashi Hososhima

  “Cruz” is the Portuguese word for “cross.” From the “Sea of Cruz” viewing platform, the distant rocks seem to form the Japanese character for “kanau” (“to grant”), and as such it is said that visitors will get their wishes granted. A bell was installed here for visitors to purify their hearts and announce to the heavens their wishes. The shape of the bell represents two people looking after and caring for one another.

• Aratate-jinja Shrine

  Miyazaki Pref. Nishiusukiguntakachihochou Mitai 667

  According to legend, this is the place where Sarutahiko no Mikoto and Ame no Uzume no Mikoto were married and lived. Because the shrine was hastily made from rough wood, it was given this name. Many people visit this shrine to pray for matchmaking, and because Sarutahiko no Mikoto is a patron god of the arts, it is also visited by entertainers.

• Tunnel’s station, Takachiho Tourist Information and Souvenir Hall

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  81 Reviews

  Miyazaki Pref. Nishiusukiguntakachihochou Shimono 2221-2

  This is an undiluted sake storehouse for the Kagura Shuzo brewery, famous for products such as the mugi (barley) shochu Kurouma and soba (buckwheat) shochu Tensho. Originally a tunnel for the Trans-Kyushu railroad, construction was stopped due to flooding but gained new life as a barrel storage facility for shochu due to its unchanging temperature and humidity. Around 1,300 barrels are stored in the 1,115-meter-long tunnel, through which the rich aroma of vapor shochu drifts. At the facility’s tourism center, one can try the stored distilled spirit for free.