The Town of

Takachiho

General Incorporated Association

Takachiho Tourism Association

Takachiho Town

- Tourist guide book -The Town of Takachiho
Takachiho is located in northern Miyazaki Prefecture, in a scenic valley of natural
landmarks, tea fields, and terraced rice fields. These fields and the network ofwater canals that support them, many built by the community over the past one
hundred years and more, have been recognized as a Globally Important
Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS). The town has several nationally-recognized
natural landmarks, such as the Takachiho Gorge with its steep 100-meter highwalls and the picturesque Manai Falls at its center. Many visitors come to enjoy aboat ride during the day or the illuminated falls at night.
Home to several places featured in Japanese mythology, Takachiho’s shrines are
popular destinations. Many shrines have deep connections to Japanese myth andlocal legend. Amano Iwato Shrine, for example, houses the location of Amano
Iwato, a sacred cave where the sun kami deity once hid from the world. Kushifuru
Shrine on Kushifuru Peak honors the arrival of a vital mythological figure to earth:
Ninigi no Mikoto, the grandson of the sun deity, and the mythologicalgreat-grandfather of the first emperor of Japan, Emperor Jimmu. Kushifuru Shrinemarks the location where Ninigi is said to have arrived after descending from theheavens. In the Takachiho area, it is believed that Emperor Jimmu was born andraised on Takachiho’s Kushifuru Peak with his three older brothers. One of thosebrothers, Mikeiri no Mikoto, is venerated at Takachiho Shrine, a shrine with ahistory tracing back over 1,900 years.
Takachiho is where visitors can experience yokagura, a nationally-recognized folk
cultural asset. Yokagura is a theatrical Shinto dance, and at select times in thewinter different communities in Takachiho gather for night-long performance
ceremonies. Although usually a local tradition, visitors from other communities
can also celebrate yokagura events. During the festivities, guests can enjoy
traditional Takachiho cuisine such as kappo dori (a chicken dish cooked in a
freshly cut bamboo stem) and kappo zake (sake served in a heated bamboo cup).

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Takachiho Gorge

Manai Falls was chosen as one of Japan's
Top 100 Waterfalls for its scenic beauty.
The sight of the waters crashing into thegorge is a highlight for visitors.

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Mythological Tale

There are some places of mythological talein Takachiho.Each shrines have deep
connections to Jpapanese myth and local
legends.

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Takachiho Yokagura

For the people Takachiho,this is a sacredceremony that brings human and kami
deities together for a night of merriment.
Takachiho Yokagura was designated asignificant intangible folk cultural asset ofJapan in 1978.

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Shrines

There are many historical and traditional
shrines in Takachiho.They are now
considered the spiritual spots that connect
heaven and earth.People can honor these
Kami deities there.

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The original Scenery

Takachiho’s beautiful rice terraces aregreen in the summer and golden in theautumn.And Kunimigaoka is commonly
visited as a place to view a “sea of clouds”,
a natural phenomenon of cloud coversettling over the Takachiho Basin.

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Food / Souvenir

Takachiho has a lot of attractive specialties.You can enjoy Takachiho beef,Kamairicha tea,Masks of Kagura and so on..

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Manai Waterfall and View of the Three Takachiho Bridges
Pouring down from a height of 17 meters in a captivating white veil, Manai Waterfall is a highlight of any visit to the Takachiho Valley.
One of Japan's top 100 waterfalls, the wonders of the Manai plume, which feathers out in a cascade to the Gokase River, can be taken in bywalking the valley promenade or rowing into the river by rental rowboat. The myth of the origins of Manai Waterfall tells of a springcreated as the first source of water on earth by the gods when they found there was no water in the area.

Manai Waterfall / rental rowboat

1 Takachiho Gorge

MAP

Manai Waterfall in the season of autumn leaves

Takachiho Valley is a place of dramatic topography and scenery pervaded byAnother highlight here occurs after sundown from mid-July to mid-September when LED lights in blue, yellow, purple, and pink shine

the images of the gods and goddesses of Japan's creation myths and legends.

along the walls of the gorge as well as Manai Waterfall as part of the Takachiho Gorge Illumination. The best point to view the falls is

The steep precipices plunging down to the swirling currents of the Gokase

along the valley promenade, where 200 traditional-style lanterns are lighted at dusk, enhancing the atmosphere of the walk popular for an

River of Takachiho Gorge were formed by pyroclastic flows from double

evening stroll. Another rare perspective afforded by the gorge is Sanbashi (Three Bridges), claimed to be the only spot in Japan where you

eruptions around 120,000 years ago and 90,000 years ago that also gave

can see three arched bridges in one view. Each shows a variation in construction from different eras of Japan: Shinbashi, with stonebirth to the nearby volcano, Mt. Aso and its massive caldera. In 1934 themasonry over a concrete arch; Takachiho Ohashi, made of steel in the Showa era (1926–1989); and Shinto Takachiho Ohashi, a bridge

valley was designated a National Scenic Spot and Natural Monument, and inentirely of concrete constructed in the Heisei era (1989–2019).

1965, it was included in the Sobo-Katamuki Quasi-National Park. Coolingand erosion over time created cliffs of basalt columns with vertical rib-like

The stone of Kihachi's Might

protrusions that give them the look of scales on a dragon's back. Cliff heights
range from 80 to 100 meters and are best viewed from the 1-kilometer gorge
promenade as you look down the sheer walls or close-up from a rowboat on

Takachiho Ohashi

the Gokase River. Other features include the Manai Falls, enhanced also by aclose-up view from the water, and the three arched bridges that span thevalley. One valley legend describes servants fleeing the fall of Mitai Castle in1591 who, for lack of a bridge to cross the river, threw an enormous spear

ShintoTakachiho Ohashi

across to use as a bridge. Another link to regional myth is found in the river's
Onokoro Pond, believed to be where Izanami and Izanagi (the divine couple
credited with creating the islands of the Japanese archipelago) gave birth to
the natural formations and people of Japan. A huge boulder, dubbed the

Shinbashi

Onokoro Pond

Stone of Kihachi's Might, is said to have been hurled by the fearsome demon
Kihachi during a legendary battle he lost to Mikeiri no Mikoto, the brother ofJapan's first monarch.

Onokoro Shima
Takachiho Gorge Illumination

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View of the Three Takachiho Bridges

52 Mythological Tale

The dance based on the mythology

Creation According to Shinto Mythology
A Shinto interpretation of creation is that the world and its inhabitants are
not “made” but “born,” and the divine couple Izanagi no Mikoto andIzanami no Mikoto play a central role in this narrative. The couple marryand give birth to the islands of Japan, as well as to several importantnatural deities that give the islands shape. This myth of Izanagi and
Izanami introduces significant concepts, such as male and female roles,
marriage, copulation and birth, death and the afterlife, and the birth and
The Goshintai DanceThe Dance of the birth to the islands of Japan

death cycle.

Opening Amano Iwato,
The Heavenly Stone Cave
(The myth of luring the sun kami, Amaterasu Omikami, out of hiding)
In a famous Japanese mythical tale, the sun kami deity Amaterasu Omikami
hid away in a cave and plunged the world into darkness. To lure her backout, myriads of kami deities enacted an elaborate ruse: they staged a festivalwith song and dance outside the cave's entrance. Amaterasu, perplexed by
the revelry outside, cracked open the stone door of the cave to peek out, and

The Totori Dancethe deities used the opportunity to pry open the door and fling it away.

3 Takachiho Yokagura 3

MAP

Thus, a festival helped restore light to the world.

Yokagura, a ritual dance tradition passed down at Takachiho Shrine and the district of Takachiho, is linked to JapaneseAmaterasu is enshrined at Takachiho's Amano Iwato

mythology. In one of the myths, the sun goddess Amaterasu retreats into a cave after a quarrel with her mischievous brother,

Shrine. It is here that Amano Iwato (the cave in which

the storm god Susano O, and blocks herself in with a boulder, plunging the world into darkness. Other deities gather andAmaterasu hid) and Amano Yasukawara (the area

endeavor to lure her out, but to no avail. Finally, Ame no Uzume, known as the Divine Goddess of Revelry, performs a

where the kami gathered to discuss their strategy tohumorous and bawdy dance. Soon peals of laughter can be heard among those gathered outside the cave. Amaterasu grows

lure her out) are said to be located.

curious to learn what is causing the commotion and moves aside the boulder. As she does so, light spills out, filling the worldonce more with light.

Amano Yasukawara

Amano Iwato Shrine

The Takachiho district is widely believed to be the place where such myths originated, and its traditions of kagura (literally,“god entertainment”) dance may trace back to such beginnings. Kagura is today considered Japan's oldest performing art,and Takachiho's yokagura (“night kagura”) is an important branch of that tradition. Yokagura is performed, suitably“Tenson Korin”(The story of the sun kami's grandchild, Ninigi no Mikoto, and his descent to earth)
According to the Kojiki, Japan's oldest remaining chronicle, the sun kami deity
Amaterasu Omikami sent her grandson, Ninigi no Mikoto, to rule the lands of Japan.
He took with him three gifts, a jewel, a mirror, and a sword (which would later
become the imperial regalia of Japan). It is written that Ninigi and his procession
made their way through the heavens and descended at “Kushifurutake of
Takachiho.” Upon arrival, Ninigi declared the land good, and so established there a
The descent on the earth of Ninigi no Mikoto

grand residence. Kushifuru no Mine, the mountain believed to be the site of thisdescent, is where Takachiho's Kushifuru Shrine now stands. In Japanese mythology,
the first emperor of Japan is Ninigi's great-grandson.

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enough, from sundown to sunrise, between mid-November and early February. The performances are part of the harvest
festivals of numerous villages around. Each village has
its own renditions of dances depicting 33 episodes ofthe myth, presented in honor of the deities worshippedin the Takachiho district.
Takachiho Shrine also presents nighttime
performances throughout the year of four key episodesof the myths at its Kagura Hall (Kaguraden). Equallyengaging are the dramatic masks worn by performers,
which are all handcrafted by local artisans and can befound not just at yokagura venues, but displayed invarious places throughout the district.

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Attendants in the Sacred Garden

The Stories Behind the 33 Dances

Attendants of the shrine busy themselves preparing the yokagura

Takachiho yokagura is a regional version of ritual shrine dances called kagura that can be traced back to the myth about Amaterasu

venue so that it is fit to welcome the local tutelary deities to a

Omikami, the goddess of the sun and a dance performed by the goddess Ame no Uzume. This myth is relayed in Japan's oldest extant

performance. This starts with the building of a visible landmark

chronicles, the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, both dating back to the early eighth century, while kagura itself dates back to the Heian period

where the deities are invited to settle (yorishiro). Three tall

(794–1185). Takachiho yokagura was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1978 and its legacy is carried on bybamboo stalks are erected and decorated outside the venue, or

local villages in the area that host overnight“kagura hall” (kagurayado). The attendants also set the sacredperformances in selected homes from mid-November

stage, which is known as the “gods' garden” (koniwa). Only men

to early February. The dances depict 33 episodes ofare permitted to take on this servant role and the same rule

the ancient myths centering around how Amaterasu

applies to the dance performers, who are called hosyadon.

Omikami, angered by her mischievous brother's

Each year some 20 venues, mostly homes throughout thepranks, blocked herself inside the Ama no Iwato cave

district, will be selected to serve as the sacred stages for thewith a boulder, plunging the world into darkness.

performances, which are unique to each village and scheduled on

When the other gods gathered to decide what to do,different nights from mid-November to February. As theseAme no Uzume began to perform a humorous dance,

events are held to petition the gods for a bountiful harvest for the current year and fertile conditions for the next. To prepare for the arrival

much to the amusement of the gathered deities,of the water god (mizukami) from the mountains, a dance must be performed to purify the space. During this ritual, the powerful god

causing the Sun Goddess to peek out at the revelry.

Tajikarao, who broke the rock door to allow the Sun Goddess to leave her cave, appears in a colorful costume, often with a bright red face

The powerful god Tajikarao breaks the rock door to

or blonde hair. Then comes a night of dance by the pantheon of gods and goddesses of Japanese mythology. Between November andallow Amaterasu to leave her cave, and as she
The Totori Dance

February, a total of 33 mythological episodes are performed at each of the venues, each accompanied by the lively strains of a hayashi

emerges, light is restored to the world once more.

ensemble made up of flutes and drums, and other traditional instruments.

Masks and Sculptures
Masks play an important role in ritual and dramatic traditions around the world.
Traditional Japanese performing arts such as kagura are no different, using masks
to great effect. In Takachiho yokagura masks are known as omote-sama—thecharacter for “omote” can mean either “mask” or “face.” Ranging in appearance
The Dance of Tajikarao

from comic and tragic to dramatic or terrifying, specific masks have captivatedaudiences for centuries and have become clearly associated with specific deities.

The Goshintai DanceAt Takachiho Shrine's Kagura Hall (Kaguraden), four of the 33 episodes are danced year-round: The Dance of Tajikarao, who is depicted

Mask makers, many of whom are members of family-run workshops, are highly

seeking Amaterasu's hiding place; Ame no Uzume's hilarious dance to entice Amaterasu out of the cave; the Totori Dance, when theaccomplished in depicting each deity's signature characteristics. Some workshops
have been active for generations, carving masks out of camphor laurel and

The Uzume Dance

Erimono(Kagura Paper Decorations)paulownia wood. Every step of the creation process is handled by one workshop,from felling the tree to carving and applying the final painting of the mask's surface. It takes two days to carve the wood into theexpressive features required and five more for the painting and glazing for a total production time of at least one week per mask.

red-faced Tajikarao shatters the rock blocking the cave; and the Goshintai Dance, performed by a couple representing the husband and wife
deities Izanami and Izanagi, who legend says gave birth to the islands of Japan, as they prepare rice as an offering to ensure a good harvest,
a happy marriage, and healthy children. The couple performs the dance while drinking rice wine, and their inebriated tumbling andstumbling among audience members is thought to transmit divine protection to the participants.

Mask makers here are also considered sculptors, as their masks are also used for display on four sides of the sacred stage referred to as
the gods' garden (koniwa) as well as in Takachiho Shrine's Kagura Hall and outside the homes where performances are held, with designs
signifying such elements such as wood, fire, earth, and water. The finely crafted masks are also sometimes used as celebratory gifts, hung

Kagura Hall

up for protection against evil spirits, and displayed as ornamental decor in public and private spaces.

The key episodes of Japanese mythology have been preserved in and around the town of Takachiho in part thanks to the yokagura dance
tradition. Formal performances of the dances take place annually at 20 select venues throughout the town and are largely held for the
residents of those communities. However, in recent years, Takachiho yokagura has started to
attract visitors, both from other parts of Japan and from overseas. To provide a venue thatshares this sacred heritage with visitors from outside the area, the Kagura Hall (Kaguraden)
within the grounds of Takachiho Shrine puts on four of the 33 episodes. The spacious halljust a few steps from the main sanctuary of the shrine has a broad stage festooned with masksof the kind used in the dances. Dancers, mostly male performers known as honadon who areaccompanied by a hayashi ensemble playing traditional flutes and drums, enact the dances of
Takachiho Yokagura masks

8the gods Tajikarao, Uzume, Totori, and Goshintai throughout the year.

9Shrine Heritage
Among the deities enshrined in the main sanctuary are seven that are collectively
known as the Takachiho Sumegami. These are actually three couples and include thedeity Ninigi no Mikoto, grandson of sun goddess Amaterasu (from whom it isbelieved all Japanese emperors are descended), and his wife Konohana sakuya-hime
as well as their son Ho-ori. As related in the early chronicles, Ho-ori was the
grandson of Japan's first monarch, Emperor Jimmu, who is said to have reigned
between BCE 660 and BCE 585. Also enshrined here are 10 deities known as the
Jissha Daimyojin who are Emperor Jinmu's older brother, Mikeiri no Mikoto, and his
wives and children. Among the sculptures inside the hall is one of Mikeiri, shownwielding a sword over the head of a demon. This is a depiction of a local legend
about Mikeiri's battles with a fearsome demon named Kihachi, who had descended
from his mountain cave below the mythical Futagami Shrine and terrorized local
residents, kidnapping Princess Unome along the way. After two attempts Mikeiri
eventually defeats the demon, cutting him up into three pieces, and rescues theprincess, who becomes his wife. In addition to the statue, the influence of this legend
can be found throughout the Takachiho area, including the annual Boar Offering

4 Shrines

Festival at Takachiho Shrine, which is held to appease Kihachi's spirit and ensure henever troubles residents again. Mikeiri is therefore seen as a divine protector against
misfortune and the guardian of farming and other industries against evil deities that

Takachiho Shrine 4

descend from the mountains and roam the region.

MAP

Although details of its founding remain unknown, Takachiho Shrine is referred to in Japan's “six national histories” (rikkokushi) from theArchitectural Highlights

Heian period (794–1185) as the highest-ranked Shinto shrine in Hyuga Province, the ancient name for present-day Miyazaki, theThe Main Hall is noted for architectural and decorative

prefecture where Takachiho is located. Today it serves as the parent shrine of 88 other shrines in 18 villages in the area. The shrine's mainfeatures more commonly found in Buddhist architecture thansanctuary and its pair of komainu guardian figures have been designated National Important Cultural Properties, while various sites in andshrines: the phoenix carvings below the front-bay gable,around the shrine, both natural and architectural, are believed to be directly related to Japan's creation myth and the tales of its gods andcurved rainbow beams connecting the roof's supporting

goddesses. Twenty-three deities are worshipped within and around the grounds, 16 of them in the main sanctuary (honden) and seven atpillars, and “frog's-leg” struts supporting the crossbeams. The

nearby Aratate Shrine. These divinities are worshipped as guardians of agriculture, thought to assure bountiful harvests and protection

facade shows signs of having been colorfully painted, but theagainst evil spirits. It is said that Takachiho Shrine has also served as a protector of the yokagura dance tradition for more than 800 years.

colors have long since faded, leaving the structure in perfectharmony with its wooded surroundings.

Kagura Hall, the venue for regular performances of the dances, is located within the shrine grounds. The shrine's simple architecture is inharmony with the towering trees found throughout the shrine grounds. Among these sacred trees are two, the 800-year old Chichibu Cedar
and the Meoto Sugi (Husband and Wife Cedars) pair.

Meoto-sugi

Main Sanctuary
Early chronicles suggest the Takachiho Shrine was founded during the reign of the

To the left of the entrance to the Main Shrine is a pair of immense Japanese cedars

legendary Emperor Suinin (est. BCE 29–CE 70), though the present buildings,(sugi; Cryptomeria japonica), known as Meoto-sugi (Husband and Wife Cedars) as they

including the main sanctuary, date back to 1778, when Naito Masanobu

have grown from common roots. The pair of trees symbolize the dedicated(1752–1805), third daimyo of the ruling Nobeoka clan, had them rebuilt.

husband-and-wife pair, and visitors who circle the tree three times while holding hands

Recognized as an Important Cultural Property in 2004, the main sanctuary(honden) is a five-bay wide structure (gokensha) roofed in the nagare-zukuri

The shrine grounds colored by autumn ginkgos

prosperous home, and a family with many children.

(flowing) style, which features a sloping roof extending further over the front than

Takachiho Shrine is surrounded by a grove of tall and straight cedars that heighten theat the back. Shrines in the nagare-zukuri style are not uncommon in this region,

sense of a place endowed with the presence of the divine. They are adorned withmaking it a distinctive feature of the landscape, but few are as large as theshimenawa, which are ropes indicating an object or demarcated space imbued with the

Takachiho Main Hall. Three bays are fitted with folding doors and the two outerspirit of the divine. Often the ropes are adorned with stalks of straw or zig-zag shaped

bays with latticed panels. Other notable features of the shrine include the various

streamers (called shide). Cedar trees often grace the approach to shrines, providing

decorative elements, including intricate sculptures and carvings.

seclusion and a natural corridor between the secular and sacred realms as well as shade
Worship Hall(left) Main Sanctuary(rear right)

10with someone they love are believed to be blessed with peaceful relations, a happy andfrom the sun.

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Chichibu Cedar
The 800-year-old tree standing to the left of the main hall's sanctuary
is called the Chichibu Cedar. The towering 55-meter tree is 9 metersin circumference. According to legend, it was planted by thetwelfth-century samurai Hatakeyama Shigetada (1164–1205), a
renowned figure who appears in the fourteenth-century epic, Tale ofthe Heike (Heike monogatari), and often portrayed in paintings andpublic statues. Hatakeyama planted the tree upon being sent to theshrine by Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199), first shogun of the
Kamakura shogunate, to pray for peace and tranquility in the country.
An interesting historical footnote is that Hatakeyama had, in fact,
planted two cedars, but the second one fell over during a typhoon in
1992 and its wood was milled to build the shrine's Kagura Hall. The
surviving tree's name is said to come from Hatakeyama's home ofChichibu, in present-day Saitama Prefecture, a town also known formany sacred sugi preserved from antiquity.
The precincts of Takachiho Shrine is thick with cedar trees (sugi)that have been standing for centuries. Their presence adds to the senseof the presence of the divine and the harmony with nature felt
throughout the grounds. Often the trees are encircled with shimenawa,

Ama no Iwato Shrine 5West Sanctuary

MAP

lengths of rice-straw or hemp rope used to signal a ritually purified or
sacred space and ward off evil spirits. When placed around trees likethe cedars at Takachiho Shrine, they also indicate the presence of
spirits known as kodama and cutting them down is therefore

The shrine of Ama no Iwato (Cave of Heaven) is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the primary divinity in the pantheon of indigenous

forbidden.

religious belief. Though commonly known as the Sun Goddess, her full name describes her influence as the Great Divinity Illuminating
Heaven. She was assigned to rule the High Celestial Plain of Heaven and is the primary female deity in the pantheon and ultimate progenitor
of the line of emperors ruling Japan. It is not surprising, therefore, that the shrine dedicated to her is nestled in a secluded natural setting on

Iron Guardian Statues and Sacred Stone

the edge of a gorge filled with ancient trees and a fast-flowing river. Behind a green curtain of trees on the far side of the gorge opposite theshrine is the Ama no Iwato cave, where Amaterasu, in the myth that gave birth to the kagura dance tradition, hid until she was lured out by

Komainu are guardian statues found in pairs at the gates of Shinto shrines andthe lively dance of the deity Ame no Uzume. Though that cave is hidden from sight, you can observe this mysterious, sacred area from thesome Buddhist temples. Originally carved from wood and sheltered, theAma no Iwato shrine observation deck across the gorge. This site and that of Ama no Yasukawara, the cave where the gods met to decide how

guardian statues were first placed outdoors in the fourteenth century, whento entice Amaterasu out of the Ama no Iwato cave, are under the protection of the shrine.

they began to be made of stone. The komainu at Takachiho Shrine are
distinctive in being made of iron. Their rarity, quality, and cultural value areWest and East Sanctuaries

such that they were given the Important Cultural Property designation in 1971.
The statues were dedicated to Takachiho Shrine by first Kamakura shogun

This shrine honoring the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami is made up of two sanctuaries, West (Nishi Hongu) and East (Higashi Hongu).

Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199). It was here that Yoritomo sent his

The exact details of the shrine's founding are unknown, though it is thought both sanctuaries were originally from different shrines. The

retainer Hatakeyama Shigetada to pray for future of his rule, and here that theIron Guardian Statues

Chichibu Cedar was planted to commemorate that visit.

West Sanctuary is dedicated to the goddess in her aspect as a child known as Ohirume no Mikoto. This wing is near the Ama no Iwato cavewhere Ohirume went after falling out with her mischievous brother, Susano O, and leaving the world in darkness, finally to be lured backout by an amusing dance performed by Ame no Uzume. The cave where she hid is known as Ama no Iwato, and West Sanctuary venerates
her today through the cave, hidden behind trees. The cave is sosacred that it may not be approached directly, but may beviewed from the shrine observatory located across the gorge. A

12The Shizume-ishi (“quelling stone”)

trail from Nishi Hongu leads to the riverside cave of Ama no

Another sacred artifact of the shrine is a foundation stone, enshrined to the side

consult about how to bring Amaterasu and her light back intoof the main sanctuary and known as the shizume-ishi ( “quelling stone” ).

the world.

Enclosed within a plain wood lattice structure, the stone is said to possess divine

The East Sanctuary, which was incorporated into Ama no Iwato

power. Praying to this stone is believed to relieve suffering and quell disorder in

Shrine in 1970, sanctifies the first place that Amaterasu

the world.

Omikami was thought to reside after emerging from her cave.

Yasukawara, where the kami deities are believed to have met toEast Sanctuary

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MAP

Kushifuru Shrine

Riverbed of Ama no Yasukawara 6

The steep trail following a branch of the Gokase River gushing

MAP

through Takachiho Gorge descends gradually into a cool realm
between rock walls and noted for its place in legends surrounding
sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami. The trail leads to the riverside
cave of Ama no Yasukawara, where the heavenly gods convened toconsult about how to lure Amaterasu, who had darkened the world
by retreating into another cave, to come out again and bring lightback to the world.
Along the trail are stone cairns left by pilgrims and visitors. As thestones are often set up as forms of prayer, they must not be disturbed.
Another Shinto myth says this is the place where Ninigi no Mikoto came when his grandmother, Amaterasu, sent him to earth. This direct
descendant of the sun goddess is considered responsible for Japan's rice-planting agriculture as well as the progenitor of its unbroken line ofemperors.

Aratate Shrine 7

MAP

Aratate Shrine venerates Ame no Uzume and

The sculptures of a phoenix and a dragon

Sarutahiko no Mikoto, deities who according to legend
were married and lived on these shrine grounds. These

Kushifuru Shrine is built on the site where it is said Ninigi no Mikoto, grandson of thedeities represent the model of matrimonial bliss and

Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami, arrived with other gods (kami) when his

fulfillment that draws worshippers even today. The

grandmother sent him to rule the earth and establish the ruling line. Ninigi came bearing

shrine's name comes from the story that they used

three gifts she had given him: a mirror, a jewel, and a sword. These three subsequently

rough wood (ara-ki) to hastily construct (tate) the

became the imperial regalia. Ninigi and his attendants descended through the clouds,

shrine.

which he dispersed by scattering rice stalks across the land, symbolically giving birth toAme no Uzume, the “Goddess of Divine Revelry,”rice culture starting from this place, and reached the mountaintop of Kushifuru no Mine,

performed the hilarious dance that brought the Sun

where the shrine now stands. He declared the land to be of fertile and built a grandGoddess out of her cave, bringing light back to thepalace of immense height and towering columns.

world. Among Sarutahiko's powers are guidance in

It was not until 1694 that a shrine dedicated to these deities was built on the mountaintravel, and in the early chronicles he is credited with

where they are believed to have arrived in ancient antiquity. Even before this, it is

guiding Ninigi no Mikoto when he descended from the heavens to found Japan's ruling family. Those who seek guidance in their careers,

believed the mountain was revered as the abode of the divine and therefore long

their family's well-being, or their search for a partner come to the shrine to consult in private with its priests.

regarded as sacred. It was, in fact, thought to be too sacred even to build a physicalshrine. The efforts to construct the shrine by people of 18 Takachiho villages was

Two paintings in the Prayer Hallsupported by Miura Akihiro, a high-ranking government official of the Tokugawa

Of special note are two paintings in the Prayer Hall, which also reflect the additional

officially called Futagami Shrine, which is also the name of a mythical mountaintop

role of the shrine's deities as protectors of entertainers and entertainment. One shows

shrine under which the fearful deity Kihachi resided in a cave. The name was changed to

Ame no Uzume during her legendary dance, which is said to be the origin of ritualKushifuru Shrine in 1910.

shrine dances (kagura) performed throughout Japan and a highlight of Takachiho. The

Naturally, the principle deity of worship at the shrine is Ninigi himself, whose

second portrays that powerful first meeting of Ame no Uzume and Sarutahiko, so struck

successful founding of the imperial line is seen in the first emperor of Japan, Jimmu, theshogunate (1603–1867). It was known under a variety of names until 1871, when it waswith each other they couldn't wait to build their home. Many visitors—including thosefrom Japan's entertainment world—also make a

The powerful first meeting of deities

point of striking the wooden boards that hang

14

god's great-grandson.

throughout the shrine grounds and along paths

The origin of the sport of sumoof its grove. These boards are known as the

Other kami venerated at the shrine include Takemikazuchi, whose way of proving his“lucky seven virtue blocks” (shichifuku tokuju

strength is said to have been the origin of the sport of sumo. Noteworthy decorative

bangi), and striking them seven times with thefeatures of the shrine's main sanctuary include the intricate wood carvings from theaccompanying mallets, is said to bring goodseventeenth and eighteenth centuries, including phoenix and dragon motifs drawn

fortune and fulfillment of prayers.

lucky seven virtue blocks

Ame no Uzume's legendary dance

The stairs of the approachfrom Chinese mythology.

The sumo ring

15

MAP

Takachiho Amaterasu Railway 11
To accommodate growing interest in the district and its traditions, such as its kagura shrine dances, the Takachiho Amaterasu Railway
began offering special train tours of local sights in 2017. The single, 30-passenger capacity diesel-driven Super Grand Cart train takes
visitors on a 30-minute, 2.5- kilometer ride through tunnels and into landscapes that include Ama no Iwato Shrine, Aratate Shrine, and the
Takachiho rice terraces (recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by the United Nations in 2015). The highest pointof the journey is atop the 353-meter-wide Takachiho Iron Bridge. At 105 meters high, this span was for a time Japan's highest-elevation
railway bridge. The train's glass floor allows heart-stopping views of the gorge below. The train departs every 40 minutes, offering 10 trips
daily (except Thursdays). But journeys may be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.

国見ヶ丘

5 The original Scenery

Kunimigaoka

MAP

Kunimigaoka 8

Takachiho Iron Bridge

Kunimigaoka affords vast panoramas in every direction from a height of
513 meters, with views of various mountain and valley landmarks of the

MAP
Rice Terraces andthe Mountainside Irrigation Network 9

area. To the east is the Takachiho Basin, the setting of several Shinto
myths, while to the west, rises the peaks of Japan's largest active
volcano, Mt. Aso, and its huge, ancient caldera. But what holds

According to legend, Takachiho's rice fields began when theparticular interest here is the view of Takachiho's famous rice terraces.

grandson of Amaterasu Omikami, Ninigi no Mikoto, scattered

Between September and October, the terraces, together with Takachiho

precious rice stalks across the land. A statue of the famous
progenitor with two local men who helped him stands atop theBasin, can been seen blanketed by the naturally occurring “sea ofclouds” phenomenon.

The sea of clouds

scenic outlook at Kunimigaoka. Today, the vista embraces riceterraces that cover more than 1,800 hectares and are irrigated by amanmade network of ditches. In 2015, the rice paddies and themountainous Takachihogo-Shiibayama agriculture and forestry

A statue of Ninigi no Mikoto
In the legends associated with Kunimigaoka, Ninigi no Mikoto, thea Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).

grandson of sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, figures prominently.

But for centuries, the lack of an adequate water supply meant the

He was sent to this place, it is said, to plant rice and establish the line

main crops here were millet and other grains rather than rice. Inof rulers of the land as a direct connection to his grandmother. Whenthe Meiji era (1868–1912), resourceful residents sought toNinigi and his entourage encountered dense clouds on the way down,

remedy the water supply problem by building by hand an intricate

it is said that he cast “precious” (taka) and “numerous” (chi) “ricenetwork of ditches to transport water from the mountains. Today,

stalks” (ina-ho), breaking through the clouds to alight on the earth,

these waterways, some of them over 100 years old, comprise aand this became the mythical source of the town's name, Takachiho.

network more than 500 kilometers long, all maintained by the

A statue has been erected atop Kunimigaoka hill to commemorate thislocal community. The ditches act not just as irrigation sources,

legend.

16

region supporting them were recognized by the United Nations as

The statue of Ninigi and his entourage

but also help to drain away rainwater and prevent flooding.

The beautiful rice terraces

The traditional irrigation17

6 Food / Souvenir

Takachiho Beef
Among the highlights of Japanese cuisine prized overseas is wagyu beef. Takachiho is known in particular for its beef, with local producers
winning the Prime Minister's Award in 2007 at the Ninth National Japanese Beef Ability Expo, also known as the “Wagyu Olympics.” Two

Kamairi Tea

hundred of the 500,000 cows raised in the area are groomed as Takachiho beef each year, feeding on pasture grass and drinking spring water

The Nishiusuki District that surrounds Takachiho is known for its kamairi-cha, a green tea

from the 1,756-meter Mt. Sobo nearby. Such limited numbers mean the beef is not often shipped outside of the immediate area, but themade using a pan-firing process that draws out the depth of flavor of the leaves. While

excellent quality of the beef draws diners eager to taste the high-quality marbled beef produced here. The heritage of careful cattle raising inmost green tea is prepared by steaming, kamairi tea undergoes a pan-firing process that

Takachiho is not only the result of on-going efforts to improve stock since the Meiji era (1868–1912) but also by careful nurturing of the

gently heats, rotates, and massages the leaves, resulting in the characteristic rolled-up form

breed since early in the twentieth century.

of the leaves. Because the tea leaves are tightly packed in the pan-firing process, the tea
does not oxidize, distinguishing it from other teas where the oxidation process is allowed toprogress, such as oolong and other Chinese teas. Its color is lighter than similar teas while
having a rich aroma. Production volume of the tea accounts for just 1 percent of all theother green teas grown on plantations throughout Japan. For years this small volume has
meant that while kamairi tea is the staple beverage in the surrounding area, it is something
special elsewhere. At present there are some 33 family-owned and operated plantations that
continue to flourish by maintaining and preserve this precious legacy of tea.

The restaurant “Nagomi”

Kappo Zake (Sake) andKappo Tori (Chicken)

Kappo Tori

Kappo cha tea and kappo zake are two beverages that are

Kappo tori is a chicken dish that, like kappo cha

Takachiho specialties. They are brewed and served in a fresh,tea, is cooked over a flame inside a bamboo tube.

green bamboo tube, which is reminiscent of Takachiho's rural

The care taken in its preparation is now

past when field workers used bamboo tubes to make tea fromconsidered an expression of hospitality in thespring water and mountain-grown leaves. The term “kappo” is

Takachiho area, and so it is often served atthought to come from the word for these tubes in the local

special occasions such as local festivals. Kappo

Takachiho dialect. It may also be a vocal imitation of the soundt ori i ngr edi ent s m ay di f f er by season or

the bamboo makes as water is poured from it. Moisture frompreference, but typically include chicken,

fresh bamboo lends a natural sweetness to both tea and sake.

shiitake mushrooms, burdock, and leeks.

Enjoy kappo zake, kappo tori, and other local Takachiho

Seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic, kappo tori

delicacies at the Nakayama Castle Ruins Campground or

takes about 30 minutes to cook. When the

Kagura no Kan Lodge. You can make your reservation on the

moisture from the bamboo begins to bubble up, it

Takachiho Tourism Center website.

is ready to be served.
Kappo Tori

18

Kappo Zake

19

Takachiho Amaterasu Railway

11

Tourism Association Information Center
Takachiho Tourism Association

Takachiho Town Hall

7 Aratate Shrine
Michino-Eki Takachiho
Souvenir Store
13
3

Takachiho Yokagura

3 Takachiho Yokagura

4 Takachiho Shrine

5 Ama no Iwato Shrine

6 Ama no Yasukawara

7 Aratate Shrine

8 Kunimigaoka

9 Terraced Rice Fields

10 Takachiho Gamadase Market

11 Takachiho Amaterasu Railway

12 Tourism Association

10
4

Takachiho
Gamadase Market

Takachiho Shrine
Takachiho Gorge(T

Kushifuru Shrine
to on
mo ectima dirKu oriTo akam

Takachiho Gorge

12

Kushifuru Shrine
Takachiho
Bus Center)

Information Center

6 Ama no Yasukawara
Ama no Iwato Shrine 5

13 Michino-Eki Takachiho

Takachiho Yokagura

Souvenir Store

Kunimigaoka 811

9 Terraced Rice Fields

712
13
3 4 10Souvenir Storeare something daily fresh vegetables,processed products.

Ama no Iwato Shrine
Ky

10 Takachiho Gamadase Market
You'll enjoy the local food,handicrafts,and so on..There2us

To Kumamoto

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13 Michino-Eki Takachiho Souvenir StoreYou can get some information for your fulfiling tour.

Tourism Association Souvenir Shop

Takachiho Gorge

To
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Takachiho Shrine

2021Access to Takachiho

From Airports

Yamaguchi

By CarKokuraStationHakata Station
Approx.
3 hours

Oita IC

Kitakyushu JCT
Fukuoka IC

Fukuoka
AirportApprox.
2.5hours

Fukuoka

MiyazakiAirportDazaifuFukuoka Airport: Approx. 3 hours 30 mins

Miyazaki Airport: Approx. 2 hours 15 mins

TAKACHIHOTAKACHIHOFukuoka Airport
Tosu JCT
Saga

YufuinAso
Kumamoto
AirportBeppu IC

Kumamoto Airport: Approx. 1 hour 30 mins

TAKACHIHO

Saga-Yamato IC

By highway bus

Tsukumi IC

Nagasaki

MashikiKumamoto
Airport IC Aso

Saeki IC

Oita

Fukuoka Airport

Kumamoto Airport

Nagasaki IC Kumamoto IC
Approx.
3.3 hours

Fukuoka
AirportTakachiho
Kashima JCT

Approx.
2 hours
Approx.
3 hours

Mifune IC

Hinokage
Fukasumi IC

YamatoNakashimanishi IC

Matsubase IC

bullet train

NobeokaJCT

AirportApprox.
1 hours
Approx.
1.5 hours

Miyazaki

Kumamoto

Ebino JCT Miyazaki IC
Kagoshima
Kiyotake JCT

Miyazaki Airport

Kagoshima IC
Sakurajima

TAKACHIHOReservation Required

Approx. 2 hour

TAKACHIHO

2 buses a day

By Train and Bus
HakataStationnational route / local road4 buses a day

Hakata Station

JR
expressway

Approx. 3 hours and 30 min.

Aso Kumamoto Airport
Express Bus Aso-gou, Takachiho-gou
AsoKumamoto

KurataKumamoto Station

Highway Express Bus Gokase-gou

Approx.
2 hours
Approx.
2.5 hours

Kyushu Shinkansen (Bullet Train)
Approx. 30 min.

Express Bus Aso-gou, Takachiho-gou
Kumamoto
StationApprox. 3 hours

2 buses a day

Reservation Required

TAKACHIHO

Miyazaki Station
Miyazaki
Station

JR Express Train
Approx. 1 hour

Kumamoto Station
Kumamoto
Station

Route BusTAKACHIHO

1 hour and 30 min.

Nobeoka
StationExpress Bus Aso-gou, Takachiho-gou
Approx. 3 hours

2 buses a day

TAKACHIHOReservation Required

Kagoshima-chuo Station

TOKYO
OSAKA
MIYAZAKI

22

Approx.3.2 hours

General Incorporated Association

Takachiho Town

Takachiho Tourism Association
809-1 Mitai, Takachiho-cho Nishiusuki-gun,Miyazaki 882-1101 Japan

https://takachiho-kanko.info/en/
mail:info@takachiho-kanko.jp

13 Mitai, Takachiho-cho Nishiusuki-gun,Miyazaki 882-1101 Japan
official site

instaglam

This English-language text was created by the Japan Tourism Agency.

2022.0301

23