From Fukuoka: Takachiho Gorge & Amano Iwato Tour (Optional Train)

Take the bus from Hakata
to Takachiho Gorge

Meet at 8:00 at the Lawson store near the Chikushi exit of Hakata Station and travel by bus to the mountains of Miyazaki Prefecture. After about 3 hours, you arrive at Takachiho Gorge around 11:00.

The gorge walls are volcanic rock columns formed by pyroclastic flows from Mt. Aso, with the Gokase River flowing between them. Walk the riverside trail for about 1 hour and take photos of Manai Falls dropping into emerald water. Rowboats in the gorge are operated separately and are not included.

Lunch and free time in Takachiho town

There is a 1-hour lunch break from noon. Try the local specialty, Miyazaki beef, or choose any nearby restaurant (lunch not included). During the following free time of about 1 hour, visit the forest Takachiho Shrine, said to date back about 1,900 years, or stroll around town.

If you like, you can ride the Takachiho Amaterasu Railway, whose open cars overlook the valley. The railway is operated separately, tickets are bought on site, and riding is optional. It does not run on the third Thursday of each month for maintenance, and the group visits the shrine instead.

Walk through the mythical Amano Iwato

Around 14:00, move on to Amano Iwato, the cave where the sun goddess Amaterasu is said to have hidden and plunged the world into darkness. From the shrine, follow a forest path along the river to Amano Yasukawara, a cave where visitors stack stones while making wishes. The path is natural stone and uneven in places, so wear sturdy shoes.

After sightseeing, the bus takes about 3.5 hours to return to the meeting point in Hakata around 18:30.

※ On weekends, holidays and in peak season, the return may be after 19:00 depending on traffic.
※ The itinerary may change depending on local conditions, and time at each stop may be slightly shorter.