Visit Takachiho Gorge & Kamishikimi Shrine on a private or small group tour from Kumamoto
Activity level
'majestic gorge & mystical shrine'
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine's magical atmosphere, towering cedars, moss covered stone lanterns and mysterious stone archway have given it a deserved reputation as a power spot. Takachiho is home to one of Japan's most beautiful and legendary gorges formed from eruptions from the Aso volcano tens of thousands of years ago.
Takachiho Gorge & Kamishikimi Shrine tour
This tour takes you to
- Minami Aso viewpoint
- Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine
- Takachiho Gorge
- Kunimigaoka viewpoint - a beautiful off the beaten track location
- Amaterasu Railway (can be included on a private tour)
09:00 to 17:00
1 to 6 people
English
From 15,000 PP
Takachiho Gorge & Kamishikimi Shrine Small Group Tour information
- 1 to 6 people
- Tour duration 8 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
- Starts from Higo Ozu station, Kumamoto
Takachiho Gorge & Kamishikimi Shrine Tour Highlights
- Guided visit to Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine
- Take a relaxing guided walk along Takachiho Gorge
- Free time to go boating and enjoy the gorge at your pace
- For lunch try Takachiho’s famous noodle dish; Nagashi Somen or other local specialities
- No need to rush, plenty of time to enjoy both locations
- Great spots for photographers
- Small group tour
- Transport by Toyota Alphard
- Highly rated, friendly, informative English speaking guide
- Make it a private tour and take a ride on the Amaterasu railway too
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu 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.
Tour duration: 09:00 to 17:30 (8 hours)
No. of guests: Minimum 1 person, maximum 6.
Activity level: Moderate, the tour involves walking up and down hill on steps to Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine.
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.
*Takachiho Gorge Option:
Time is allowed for rowing on the gorge* but rowing boat rental and lunch are not included as standard. The price of rowing is 5100 Yen per boat, but reduced to 4100 Yen from Tuesday to Thursday. A maximum of 3 people can ride in one boat. Life jackets are provided. (Rowing is not included as standard as not everyone wants to do it and after heavy rain the river level can rise quickly which means rowing can be cancelled at short notice. If you don’t want to row that’s fine, you will just have extra free time in the gorge)
Weather: The tour can go ahead in most weather conditions however, it may be cancelled in the case of storms, heavy rain or snow.
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 Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine Tour Itinerary:
Timings are approximate and the schedule and itinerary order may change according to the weather and time constraints
09:00 Meet up with your guide in front of Higo Ozu Station (you can take the 08:15 train from Kumamoto City to Higo Ozu)
09:30 Stop off at a local roadside station and Minami Aso viewpoint called Asobonosato Kugino. There you can grab a coffee and 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 Enjoy a relaxing guided walk along the 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.
12:00 Option to go boating on the gorge – The boat fee is 4100 Yen per boat (Tues to Thurs) and 5100 Yen per boat other days. The boating is for 30 minutes, up to 3 adults can ride in one boat or 2 adults and 2 pre-schoolers. Midday is the best time to row as you can often see rainbows in the waterfall that cascades into the gorge
From your boat you can view the amazing rock features, 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.) If you would prefer not to row you will have extra free time to enjoy the gorge.
12:40 Lunch & freetime
For lunch there are several restaurants to choose from including a charming and unique restaurant specialising in Nagashi Soumen, a popular Japanese summer dish which originated in Takachiho. The fast flowing noodles are a challenge for your chopstick skills and a lot of fun 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: 20 We head to back to the Aso area
15:10 Guided visit to Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine once one of Aso’s best kept secrets, a now well known and wonderfully atmospheric spot, the shrine’s fame has been spreading fast due to it’s use in a popular animated film ‘Hotarubi no Mori e’, a great treat for both anime fans and keen photographers and a lovely walk.
16:20 Head back to the station
17:10 Arrive Higo Ozu station
Trains back to Kumamoto City run approximately every 15 to 20 minutes.
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
Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Tour Pricing
1 person – 36,000 Yen
2 people – 19,000 Yen per person
3 peopl3 – 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
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 Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine
Click here for the Explore Kuammoto blog about Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine
Travel in style
Transport by comfortable and spacious 7 seater Toyota Alphard
Book a Takachiho Gorge & Kamishikimi Shrine 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 Gorge & Kamishikimi Shrine tour running for the date you want, check the number of places available and then contact us to make a booking.
Tour Calendar
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| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |||
| 1Unavailable all day | |||||||||
| 2Unavailable all day | 3Unavailable all day | 4Unavailable all day | 5Around Aso Tour all day 4 places available
Contact for details
| 6Unavailable all day | 7One Piece statue tour 8 statues all day Full
| 8Unavailable all day | |||
9Takachiho & Aso Tour all day Full
| 10Takachiho & Aso Tour all day2 places available
Contact for details
| 11Unavailable all day | 12Unavailable all day | 13One Piece statue tour 8 statues all dayFull
| 14Unavailable all day | 15One Piece statue tour 8 statues all dayFull
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| 16Unavailable all day | 17One piece tour / Aso tour all day With English speaking driver Up to 3 people Contact for details Takachiho Tour all day  Full
| 18One piece tour / Aso tour all day With English speaking driver Up to 3 people Contact for details | 19Around Aso Tour all day2 places available
Contact for details
| 20One Piece statue tour 8 statues & Kamishikimi shrine all dayFull
| 21One piece tour / Aso tour all day With English speaking driver Up to 3 people Contact for details Unavailable all day | 22One piece tour / Aso tour all day With English speaking driver Up to 3 people Contact for details Unavailable all day | |||
| 23Private Takachiho & Kamishikimi shrine Tour all dayBooked
| 24One piece tour / Aso tour all day With English speaking driver Up to 3 people Contact for details Private Takachiho Tour all day Booked
| 25One piece tour / Aso tour all day With English speaking driver Up to 3 people Contact for details Unavailable all day | 26Private Takachiho & Aso Tour all dayBooked
| 27One Piece statue tour 8 statues all day3 places available
| 28Unavailable all day | 29Unavailable all day | |||
| 30Unavailable all day | 31One Piece statue tour 8 statues all dayFull
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Yellow means either a tour is scheduled or the date is unavailable, hover over the date to see
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 and Kamishikimi shrine are two of the top sightseeing spots in Kyushu, but both are difficult to reach by public transport, this tour takes you to both in one day. This is a small group tour which means, unlike a coach tour, there’s no need to rush, you can relax and enjoy both locations at your pace.
Time is planned in to the tour to go boating on the gorge. (This is an optional activity that needs pre-booking from 2 weeks in advance. Up to 3 people can share a boat. Your guide will be happy to row for you if you need help)
Both Takachiho Gorge and Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu shrine are locations that you can enjoy whatever the weather or season. In fact they are two of my favourite places to go on rainy and foggy days as they look so atmospheric.
Both Takachiho Gorge and Kamishikimi shrine have quite a lot of steps, we walk slowly and if you are generally healthy you won’t have a problem but please let me know if you have any mobility issues when booking and I will advise.
Another way to enjoy the gorge is by a scenic train ride on the Amaterasu open air train, a 30 minute activity that takes you over the gorge. This can be included as part of a private tour.
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