Visit Takachiho Gorge on a private or small group tour from Kumamoto
Takachiho Gorge Tour
Takachiho Gorge is a must see Kyushu location, but it is not easy to get to. This small group tour is a great solution, taking you on a scenic route through the Aso caldera to Takachiho Gorge.
Arriving in the morning you can enjoy the gorge at its quietest and most scenic time of day. Take a guided walk, have free time and the chance to go boating and enjoy some local dishes for lunch. In the afternoon we head to a beautiful mountain viewpoint, and visit a mythologically sacred shrine and cave.
09:00 to 17:30
1 to 6 people
English
From 15,000 PP
Takachiho Gorge Small group Tour information
- 1 to 6 people
- Tour duration 8.5 hours
- Language - English
- Price from 15,000 Yen per person
- Discount for children
- Activity level - Moderate
- Option to go rowing on the gorge
- Includes free time
- Choice of places for lunch
- Pick up from Higo Ozu station, Kumamoto
Activity level
Customise your tour and include a ride on the Amaterasu railway if you book a private tour - great for families!
Takachiho Gorge Tour - go with the flow and try catching some noodles for lunch
- Time is included in the itinerary if you’d like to go boating on Takachiho Gorge
- Guided walk along Takachiho Gorge
- Free time in the gorge
- Catch some chilled, flowing noodles for lunch or try another local dish at one of the gorge restaurants
- Visit the Kunimigaoka mountain viewpoint, one of Takachiho’s best kept secrets
- Enjoy some of Japan’s ancient & fascinating myths
- Visit Amano Yasukawarado; one of Japan’s most sacred caves
- Small group tour so a relaxed pace and no need to rush
- Dedicated transport by Toyota Alphard
- Highly rated, friendly, informative English speaking guide.
- Book a private tour if you’d like the option to customise your tour or ride on the Amaterasu railway
Takachiho Gorge Tour Details
Meeting Point: The tour begins and ends from Higo Ozu Station, a 35 to 40 minute train ride from Kumamoto City. However, it may also be possible to arrange a pick up from your hotel if you are staying in the Minami Aso area. Please contact us with your hotel details to find out more. Starting at Higo Ozu station means we don’t lose valuable time navigating Kumamoto city’s rush hour traffic.
Tour duration: 09:00 to 17:30 (8.5 hours)
No. of guests: Minimum 1 person, maximum 6.
Activity level: Moderate, the tour involves some walking up and down hill and on steps on the gorge walk and to the cave. Please let us know if this would be physically difficult and we will try and accommodate you.
Tour Inclusions:
English guide fee, dedicated transport, parking fees,
Tour Exclusions:
Lunch is not included in the tour price. But please notify us of any special dietary preferences when booking so we can advise you where to eat.
Time is allowed for rowing* but if you’d like to go rowing you need to pre-book a row boat yourself 14 days before the tour, information on how to do this will be given when you book a tour. The price of rowing changes depending on the day; either 4100 Yen per boat or 5100 Yen per boat. A maximum of 3 people can ride in one boat. Life jackets are provided. If not everyone in your group wants to go on a boat that’s fine, also if you are a solo traveler it may be possible to share a boat with someone else and split the cost.
*If rowing is not possible on the day we will usually fit in a special extra stop into your tour itinerary
Weather: The tour can go ahead in most weather however, if the forecast is for storms, heavy rain or snow we will either offer you the chance to cancel or to change to a different tour itinerary.
Drop off: The drop off is at Higo Ozu station around 17:30. Trains back to Kumamoto City run approximately every 20 minutes. A drop off in the Minami Aso area may also be possible with advance booking. Please contact us with your hotel details to find out more
Takachiho Gorge Tour Itinerary:
Timings are approximate and the schedule and itinerary order may change according to the weather and time constraints.
*It is possible to customise the tour schedule if you request a private tour or are the only participants, there may be extra charges for this. Contact us to find out more.
08:51 Meet up with your guide in front of Higo Ozu Station (you can take the 08:12 train from Kumamoto City to Higo Ozu)
09:00 Departing from Higo Ozu Station we journey through the remote Minami Aso region breaking the journey with a stop off at a local rodside station and viewpoint called Asobonosato Kugino. There you can take in the beautiful views of the southern Aso caldera and take a look at some of the region’s local specialities. In spring and autumn there are seasonal flower fields to enjoy.
10:50 We arrive in Takachiho and enjoy a relaxing guided walk through Takachiho gorge. Your guide will tell you about the features of the gorge and some of the ancient myths associated with it. The walk has some steps but the pace is slow with plenty of time for photographs. Take in the views and enjoy some of the many ancient Shinto myths connected to the Takachiho area.
11:45 Time for boating! Boats need pre-booking 14 days in advance; a boat costs 4100 Yen per boat from Tuesday to Thursday and 5100 Yen per person on other days and national holidays. The boating is for 30 minutes, up to 3 adults can ride in one boat or 2 adults and 2 pre-schoolers. On sunny mornings you can often see a rainbow in the waterfall that cascades into the gorge
From your boat you can view the amazing rock features, turquoise waters of the Gokase river and get as close (as you like!) to the beautiful Manai waterfall, an experience not to be missed. (The river is very calm, life jackets are provided and only very basic rowing skills are needed. The boat staff are always happy to show you how to row, I’m also happy to join as a rower if you’d like) If you would prefer not to row you will have extra free time to enjoy the gorge or go and get an early lunch.
12:40 Time for lunch and some free time. For lunch there are several restaurants to choose from in the gorge offering local specialities such as Miyazaki beef, grilled yamame fish and chicken nanban. There’s also a charming and unique restaurant specialising in Nagashi Soumen, a popular Japanese summer dish which originated in Takachiho and involves catching noodles that flow down a bamboo pipe. The fast flowing noodles are a challenge for your chopstick skills and a lot of fun to eat. There’s also a cafe, a couple of ice cream places and souvenir shops, plus a small aquarium and some fish to feed. There are also places to sit and eat outside if you want to bring something to eat.
13:45 After lunch, we take a 15 minute drive up to a peaceful and relaxing mountain viewpoint called Kunimigaoka which has the best views looking down at Takachiho town, the Sobo mountains and all the way to Aso – if visibility is bad that day we will pay a visit to Takachiho Shrine instead – The solemnly peaceful shrine with a history dating back over 1,900 years. The shrine is set in a wonderful grove of towering Japanese Cedar trees, the oldest said to be around 1000 years old. The most famous of the trees are the ‘Meoto Sugi’ said to be a male and a female tree growing side by side and married to each other. A popular ritual for couples or families is to walk around the trees clockwise three times, to ensure good fortune and happiness.
14:30 We then take a 15 minute drive out of Takachiho Town through some beautiful countryside to the tiny village of Iwato. This is the famed location for two caves associated with Japan’s most important Shinto kami; the sun goddess Amaterasu. to get to the cave we walk through the grounds of Amano Iwato Shrine which venerates one of these caves; it’s one of the most important sites in Japanese mythology, I will tell you the fascinating and funny legend of how the sun goddess became Japan’s most important goddess before we head to Amano Yasukawado cave
This sacred cavern is a mysterious place as over the years the custom has begun for visitors to carry stones to the site and arrange them in small piles as prayers that their wishes may be answered. Feel free to practise your stone balancing skillsand add to the immense array of stone piles in the cave.
15:30 Heading back we usually have some free time for an icecream or drink break near the shrine before heading back to Higo Ozu Station around 16:00.
17:30 Arrive back at Higo Ozu Station
Trains back to Kumamoto City run approximately every 20 minutes, you will usually be in time for the 17:31 or 17:44 departure.
If you are visiting in early to mid April and the sakura is in bloom we can also take the scenic route past the 1000 sakura in Takamori
Takachiho Gorge Tour Pricing
1 person – 36,000 Yen
2 people – 19,000 Yen per person
3 people – 18,000 Yen per person
4 people –17,000 Yen per person
5 people – 16,000 Yen per person
6 people – 15,000 Yen per person
These prices refer to the total number of people on a tour. So if you book a tour for 1 person and no-one else joins then your price is 36,000 yen, if 2 more people join then your price is 19,000 Yen per person etc.
Private & customised tours are available – contact us with your requests and no. of people
Family discounts available. (Please contact us with your children’s ages to find out more)
All tours are paid for in cash on the day, no deposit is required.
Cancellation policy
Free up to 7 days before, 50% up to 24 hours before the tour and 100% on the day of the tour.
About Takachiho
Kumamoto is the nearest city to Takachiho which is just over the border in Miyazaki Prefecture, the romantic Takachiho Gorge winds its way through the sleepy mountain town of Takachiho. The gorge was formed from the pyroclastic flow of the Aso volcanos, when sudden cooling led to the formation of dramatic columnar rocks and sheer cliffs that rise above the river between 80 to 100 m high. At the base the blue green Gokase river runs, and sightseers row at a leisurely pace past the stunning Manai waterfall that falls over the gorge edge. The gorge is renowned as one of the most uniquely, beautiful scenic spots in Kyushu and was designated a National Scenic and Natural Monument in 1934. Takachiho also has a deep connection with the mythology of Japan, it is connected with the legend of Amaterasu the sun goddess and said to be the birthplace of the first Emperor of Japan.
Travel in style
Transport by comfortable and spacious 7 seater Toyota Alphard
Book a Takachiho tour
If the date on the calendar is white it can be booked for any tour of your choice. Just click on the icon and fill in the contact form with your request.
If there is already a Takachiho tour running for the date you want, check the number of places available and then contact us to make a booking.
If the date you want is unavailable, it may be possible to put you in touch with a freelance English speaking guide, contact us with your details to find out more.
Why take this tour?
Takachiho Gorge is difficult to get to by public transport, this tour maximises your time so you can relax and enjoy your day.
Large group tours tend to march people in and out of the gorge in thirty minutes, because this is a Semi-private small group tour, there’s no need to rush. You can enjoy the gorge at your pace.
These days many tours start from Fukuoka which means a very long drive, starting from Higo Ozu means less time sitting in a car and more time enjoying your day.
Free time is planned into the itinerary so you can go boating or have extra time to enjoy the gorge.
There is a choice of restaurants to eat at in the gorge, your guide will be happy to show you what’s available.
We will visit Takachiho gorge at the most beautiful time of day so if the sun is shining you can get the most beautiful views.
Takachiho is not only famous for its gorge it has many interesting legends which I’m always happy to share!
This tour also takes you to one of Japan’s most sacred places; Amano Yasukawara Cave at Amano Iwato shrine and a beautiful off the beaten track location in Takachiho that gets you away from the crowds
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