Mountain town in northern Miyazaki tied to Japan's foundational creation myth. The sun goddess Amaterasu retreated into a cave near here, and the village's nightly kagura performance reenacts how the other gods coaxed her out. The gorge, traversed by rowboat, runs past Manai Falls. Takachiho Shrine, Kushifuru Shrine, and Aratate Shrine each anchor a piece of the myth-cycle, and most visitors stay overnight for the kagura.
What Takachiho is known for
Top-rated in Takachiho
Manai Falls
4.8nature
Sacred waterfall in Takachiho Gorge associated with Japanese creation mythology, viewed from traditional rowboats below.
Takachiho Shrine
4.5shrine
An ancient shrine in a mystical cedar forest, known for nightly Kagura dance performances depicting Japanese mythology.
Amano Iwato Shrine
4.5shrine
Mythological cave shrine where the sun goddess hid, with a prayer-stone-filled gathering cave.
Amano Yasukawara
4.6landmark
Cave filled with stacked stones where gods conferred.
Takachiho Amaterasu Railway
4.4entertainment
Open-air rail carts crossing Japan's highest railway bridge, 105m above a gorge with soap bubbles.
Aratate Shrine
4.4shrine
Aratate Shrine venerates Ame no Uzume and Sarutahiko no Mikoto, deities who according to legend were married and lived on these shrine grounds.
Kushifuru Shrine
4.5shrine
Kushifuru Shrine stands on the mountaintop where mythology holds that Ninigi no Mikoto, grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, descended from the heavens carrying a mirror, a jewel, and a sword.
Takachiho Night Kagura
4.5entertainment
Nightly masked dances re-enacting Shinto creation myths, excerpted from all-night winter kagura rituals.