Takachiho / Nobeoka

Top Things to do

• Amanoiwato Jinja

  4.5

  387 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.

• Takachiho-jinja Shrine

  4.5

  77 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.

• 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.

• Roadside Station Takachiho

  3.5

  57 Reviews

  Miyazaki Pref. Nishiusukiguntakachihochou Mitai 1296-5

  This is a roadside station in Takachiho Town, Nishiusuki County overlooking the “Shinto Takachiho Ohashi Bridge” and “Takachiho Gorge”. Visitors can enjoy shopping and dining as well as obtain tourist information. In the farmer’s market freshly picked vegetables and special local products are available. There is also a restaurant where visitors can taste seasonal produce and the regional specialty, chicken nanban (fried chicken with a sweet and sour sauce).

• Roadside Station Kitagawa Hayuma

  4.0

  49 Reviews

  Miyazaki Pref. Nobeokashi Kitagawamachinagai 5751-1

  This is a roadside station in Nobeoka City providing tourist information and a place to enjoy shopping and dining as a gateway to the southern region of Kyushu. Nobeoka agricultural produce and marine products, souvenirs, sake such as shochu and local beer of Miyazaki Prefecture are available for purchase. As for dining, relax at the restaurant where you can enjoy an extensive menu of local seasonal ingredients, or at the café where you can taste freshly ground coffee and special soft serve ice cream.

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

  3.5

  87 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.

• Roadside Station Seiun-bashi

  3.5

  25 Reviews

  Miyazaki Pref. Nishiusukigunhinokagechou Nanaori 8705-12

  This is a roadside station located on National Route 218, providing a “local farmer’s market” where visitors can purchase local fresh produce and specialties. Visitors can enjoy the popular local specialty “chicken nanban” at the restaurant on the second floor overlooking the “Seiunbashi Bridge”. “Seiunbashi Bridge Park” and “Hinokage Onsen Station”, where visitors can enjoy a hot spring, are in the vicinity.

• Takachiho Gorge Freshwater Fish Aquarium

  3.0

  24 Reviews

  Miyazaki Pref. Nishiusukiguntakachihochou Mukouyama 60-1

  At this freshwater fish aquarium visitors can see about 100 types of freshwater fish, including fish from the Gokase River basin and tropical freshwater fish from Africa. The lights in the building are dim, making the fish in the tanks easy to view. There is also an enclosed fishing area at the facility where you can catch rainbow trout. Many tourists drop in while visiting “Takachiho Gorge”.

• Naochan

  4.5

  96 Reviews

  Miyazaki Pref. Nobeokashi Sakaemachi 9-3

  This chicken cuisine restaurant is located in Nobeoka City. The simple taste of chicken nanban, made with Miyazaki grown chicken breast and an original sweet and sour sauce, is popular. Rice cooked freshly in a pressure cooker pot, dried anchovy from Kitaura and miso soup made with Mukabaki dried shiitake mushrooms are also popular. Enjoy chicken cuisine using carefully selected local and prefectural produce.