Takachiho Gorge is located in Takachiho Town, a place famous as a home to many myths. This gorge, formed by the eruption of Mount Aso, extends for roughly 7 kilometers, ranging in depth between approximately 80 to 100 meters. One of the leading views in Japan, the area is nationally designated as a special place of scenic beauty and a natural monument.
Visitors can enjoy views of beautiful columnar canyons and waterfalls from along the boardwalk. Manai Falls, with a drop of 17 meters, is particularly designated as one of the top 100 waterfalls in Japan, and symbolizes Takachiho Gorge.
Visitors can view the Manai Waterfall and columnar canyons up close from rental boats. The waterfall seen from a boat is quite impressive, so the boats are a popular attraction, and reservations are recommended. The fresh greenery and autumn leaves here are breathtaking, so there are always many visitors year round. Come enjoy the amazing views from the boardwalk and boats.

This historic shrine served as the setting for the myth of Amanoiwato, recorded in the oldest extant history book in Japan. The myth describes how Amaterasu-Omikami, the sun goddess, became angered at the rambunctious behavior of her younger brother Susanoo, and hid in a cave behind a stone door called Amanoiwato. That very stone door, the Amanoiwato, is enshrined as the god of this shrine, making this one of the best known power spots in Japan. 

Located just 10 minutes on foot from Amanoiwato Shrine, Amanoyasukawara is a massive cave that served as the setting for a famous Japanese myth. The myth holds that when Amaterasu-Omikami, the sun goddess, hid behind the stone door (the Amanoiwato) of the cave, the world became wrapped in darkness and numerous disasters struck. It is said that the riverbank here is where the other gods gathered to discuss how to bring back the light. It is said that if you pile some stones and make a wish, then the wish will come true, so the cave is filled with countless stacks of stone, making it a spiritual power spot.

The Gokase Winery brews their wine using 100% grapes carefully grown by local farmers in Gokase. Nurtured by the drastic temperature differences and delicious local water, the grapes offer a good balance between sweetness and acidity, resulting in particularly fruity wines. One of those wines, a white wine called Niagara, is particularly popular for it’s vibrant aroma reminiscent of osmanthus and grapefruit. Why not pick up a bottle as a souvenir while you’re there?

The Takachiho no YoKagura is a sacred dance carried out between November and February in the villages of the Takachiho region, comprised of 33 different performances based on Japanese mythology. However, the Kagura stage at Takachiho Shrine features the Takachiho Kagura performances year round, featuring four representative performances from among the complete Takachiho no YoKagura starting every night at 8:00 PM.

At an altitude of roughly 513 meters, the Kunimigaoka Viewing Platform offers the best views in the Takachiho Basin. Visitors can see Mount Aso to the west (the five peaks of Aso), the Sobo Mountain range to the north, and the Takachiho Basin to the east. This spot actually earned a star for the fantastic views that it offers in the world famous travel guidebook, the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
Here you can see a sea of clouds in the early morning if the conditions are right between late September and early December. The ideal conditions are a chilly, windless morning on a clear day. The sunrise viewed from Kunimigaoka is also beautiful, and worth getting up early for. 
Legend has it that the grandson of Emperor Jinmu, Takeiwatatsu-no-mikoto, viewed the country (“kunimi”) from this spot, and there are several stone statues commemorating this.

Takachiho Shrine is famous as the home of the god of marriage.
The grounds here feature Chichibu-sugi, a roughly 800 year old pine tree, as well as the massive Meoto Sugi, where two Japanese cedar trees have grown together to form a single trunk. It is said that if you walk around the circumference of Meoto Sugi three times while holding hands with your partner, then you will gain happiness, and enjoy blessings for finding a good marriage partner, marital bliss, and prosperity in producing offspring.
Every year, the Yokagura event is held from mid November through early February in each village of Takachiho, where a total of 33 different types of sacred Kagura dances are performed as an offering throughout the night. As part of that, the Takachiho Kagura event is held daily at Takachiho Shrine featuring four of the most important of those Kagura dances. Traditional Japanese Kagura performances can be seen outside the Yokagura season as well, so this shrine is popular with tourists from all over the world (fee and advanced reservations required).

This highly popular attraction leverages the infrastructure of the former Takachiho Railway which no longer operates. Open-topped “super carts” travel the roughly five kilometer distance from Takachiho to the Takachiho Iron Bridge, led by an engine running on biodiesel made from sources such as pork bone broth, making it environmentally friendly. A portion of the cart floors is made from reinforced glass, allowing passengers to see the rails as they travel.
But the best part of the ride is the Takachiho Iron Bridge, Japan’s highest railway bridge at 105 meters. The bridge offers wide open views of huge valleys and the Takachiho mountains, and you can really get a sense of your altitude at 105 meters if you look through the reinforced glass floor. Meanwhile, the tunnels along the route are illuminated inside.
With advance reservations, you can try your hand at being the conductor of a train formerly used on the Takachiho Railway. There is also an impressive diorama recreating the entire Takachiho line located within the Takachiho Railway Memorial Museum which opened on the site in 2023.

This roadside station is located close to Seiun Bridge, one of the highest bridges in Japan. Visitors can enjoy shopping at the facility, decorated with traditional bamboo crafts, including specialty processed foods from Hinokage Town made with chestnuts and the Yuzu citrus fruit.
Meanwhile, the restaurant offers such dishes as Chicken Nanban, featuring deep fried chicken in a tartar and vinegar sauce, and Inoshishi (wild boar) rice bowl, a specialty of this roadside station. There is also soft ice cream and a variety of snacks available, making this the perfect spot for a break.
The observation deck offers a great view of Seiun Bridge, so it’s the ideal spot to rest and let go of your fatigue from driving.

This natural hot spring and inn occupies the renovated former Hinokage Station building on the now defunct Takachiho Railway. Visitors enter from the train platform to find the hot spring on the 2nd floor, including a large bath, outdoor bath, super-jet bath, and sauna. If you try the outdoor bath, you will be greeted by spectacular views including the pure flowing waters of Gokase River, and the surrounding mountains and valleys. The first floor also features a shop selling local goods and a restaurant which is famous for its Chicken Nanban and Special Chanpon. Diners can also try local wild boar, venison, and Ayu sweetfish depending on the season.
But the best part of this inn is the rooms occupying train cars which still retain the original conductor’s chair and control panel. The inn has refurbished old train cars from the former Takachiho Railway to use as the guest rooms, something not found elsewhere, and it is worth staying here if you like railways.