Takachiho Gorge Tour

•  Time to go boating on Takachiho Gorge
•  Guided walk along Takachiho Gorge
•  Catch some chilled, flowing noodles for lunch or try another local dish
•  Visit the Kunimigaoka viewpoint, one of Takachiho’s best kept secrets
•  Learn some of Japan’s ancient & fascinating myths
•  Visit one of Japan’s most sacred caves
• Small group tour with dedicated transport
• Highly rated, friendly, informative English speaking guide. 

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.

Tour duration: 09:00 to 17:30 (8.5 hours)

No. of guests: Minimum 1 person, maximum 6.

*Groups of up to 9 people can be catered for but there will be an extra charge for the rental vehicle

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 rowing boat rental and lunch are not included as standard. The price of rowing is 3000 Yen per boat plus 1000 Yen per person. A maximum of 3 people can ride in one boat. Life jackets are provided. (We do not include rowing 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 rowing is not possible we will usually fit in an extra stop into your tour such as the Kunimigaoka viewpoint, offering 360 views of the Sobo mountains and Aso scenery or Takachiho shrine.

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 farmer’s market 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 local produce.

10:50 We arrive in Takachiho and make our way to the boating area before it gets too busy. Boats cost 4000 Yen per boat on weekdays and 5000 Yen per person on weekdays 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, feed the ducks 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.

11:30 You can then enjoy a relaxing 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.

12:30 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.

Nagashi soumen noodles

Takachiho Gorge Tour  Pricing                                                                                          

1 person –          30,000 Yen                                         

2 to 3 people –  15,000 Yen per person                     

4 to 6 people –  14,000 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 30,000 yen, if 2 more people join then your price is 15,000 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.                                         

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.