Miyazaki · Town
Takachiho
高千穂町たかちほちょうTakachiho-chōWhere the gods came down to earth
Takachiho is a mountain town in the north-west of Miyazaki Prefecture, famous for the Takachiho gorge on the Gokase River and as one of the places where Japanese mythology locates the descent of the gods to earth. Its shrines, the cave of Amano Iwato and its night-long kagura dances make it a centre of Shinto myth and folk performance.
Overview
Takachiho lies in a highland basin of the Kyushu Mountains, close to the borders of Kumamoto and Oita, where the Gokase River and its tributaries have cut deep, narrow gorges into thick deposits left by eruptions of Aso. The most famous section, Takachiho-kyō, is a chasm of columnar-jointed cliffs of welded volcanic tuff up to about 100 metres high, with the Manai waterfall dropping into the river where rowing boats pass beneath.
The town is steeped in myth. The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki describe how the heavenly grandson Ninigi descended to "Takachiho in Hyūga", and local tradition places here the cave in which the sun goddess Amaterasu hid, plunging the world into darkness, until the other gods lured her out with dance and laughter. Amano Iwato Shrine faces that cave across a river, and the riverside grotto of Amano Yasukawara is said to be where the gods met to plan her return.
That dance is re-enacted in the Takachiho yokagura, a cycle of 33 masked dances performed through the night in village houses in winter, and in shortened form for visitors each evening at Takachiho Shrine. Around the town, terraced rice fields and tea fields climb the slopes, and the Takachiho-gō and Shiibayama area is recognised as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.
Landmarks
- 高千穂峡Takachiho-kyō
Chasm of columnar-jointed cliffs on the Gokase River with the Manai waterfall; a riverside path follows the rim and rowing boats can be hired below.
Takachiho Shrine
高千穂神社Takachiho jinjaMain shrine of the district in a cedar grove, with a kagura hall where evening performances are held for visitors.
Amano Iwato Shrine
天岩戸神社Amano Iwato jinjaShrine venerating the cave where Amaterasu hid, which is viewed from the western sanctuary across the Iwato River.
Amano Yasukawara
天安河原Amano YasukawaraLarge riverside cave where the gods are said to have gathered; visitors have piled countless small stone cairns inside.
Kunimigaoka
国見ヶ丘KunimigaokaHilltop viewpoint over the Takachiho basin, known for seas of cloud on autumn mornings and views towards Aso.
Takachiho Amaterasu Railway
高千穂あまてらす鉄道Takachiho Amaterasu tetsudōOpen cart running on a section of the closed railway line, including the high bridge over the Gokase valley.
Districts
Mitai (town centre)
三田井MitaiThe compact centre with the bus terminal, Takachiho Shrine, inns and restaurants, close to the gorge.
Iwato
岩戸IwatoValley district with Amano Iwato Shrine and Amano Yasukawara, a few kilometres east of the centre.
Tochimata terraces
栃又棚田Tochimata tanadaTerraced rice fields on the slopes of the basin, part of the region's recognised agricultural heritage.
History
Takachiho was a remote mountain district of Hyūga Province, linked more easily to Aso and Bungo than to the Hyūga coast. From the medieval period the Mitai clan ruled the area from Takachiho, until their fall at the end of the 16th century; in the Edo period the district belonged to Nobeoka domain. Its shrines and kagura developed in close contact with the shrine and Shugendō traditions of Aso.
In modern times Takachiho's identity as the "land of the myths" was reinforced by state Shinto and by tourism. A railway from Nobeoka reached the town in 1972, but after heavy damage by a typhoon in 2005 the line was closed; part of the track is now used by a tourist rail cart. Tourism, beef cattle, tea and forestry support the town today.
712 / 720
The Kojiki and Nihon Shoki name Takachiho in Hyūga as the place of Ninigi's descent.
Middle Ages
The Mitai clan rules the Takachiho district.
Edo period
Takachiho forms part of Nobeoka domain.
1934
Gokase River gorge designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument.
1972
The Takachiho railway line from Nobeoka reaches the town.
1978
Takachiho yokagura designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
2005
A typhoon severs the railway; the line is later closed.
2015
Takachiho-gō and Shiibayama recognised as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.
Culture
Kagura is the heart of Takachiho's culture. From November to February each of some twenty village communities hosts a night of yokagura in a private house turned into a temporary shrine, with 33 dances from dusk to the next day, food and drink shared with the audience. The dances retell the myths of the region, above all the opening of the rock cave by the strong god Tajikarao. Rice terraces, tea, forest and hunting traditions, including a festival in which a boar is offered to the gods, keep a mountain way of life visible.
Festivals
Takachiho yokagura
高千穂の夜神楽Takachiho no yokaguraNight-long kagura in village houses between November and February; a shortened performance of four key dances is held for visitors every evening at Takachiho Shrine.
Takachiho Kagura Festival
高千穂神楽まつりTakachiho kagura matsuriFestival at Takachiho Shrine in late November, when all 33 dances are performed in succession.
Shishikake Matsuri
猪掛祭Shishikake matsuriEarly winter rite at Takachiho Shrine in which a wild boar is offered, rooted in the hunting culture of the mountains.
Food
Takachiho beef
高千穂牛Takachiho-gyūWagyu from cattle raised in the mountain district, a branch of the Miyazaki beef tradition.
Kamairi-cha
釜炒り茶kamairi-chaPan-roasted green tea, rare in Japan, still made in the Takachiho area and prized for its toasty aroma.
Kappo-zake
かっぽ酒kappo-zakeSake or shōchū warmed in a length of green bamboo over the fire, a traditional drink of kagura nights.
Nagashi-sōmen
流しそうめんnagashi-sōmenThin noodles sent down a bamboo chute in cold water and caught with chopsticks, served by the gorge in the warm season.
Getting around
- Takachiho has no railway; the town bus terminal is served by buses from Nobeoka on the Nippō Main Line in about one and a half hours and from Kumamoto city via Aso in about three hours.
- Direct highway buses connect Takachiho with Fukuoka.
- The gorge, Takachiho Shrine and the centre are within walking distance; Amano Iwato and Kunimigaoka are reached by local bus, taxi or car.
Day trips
The vast Aso caldera and its active crater in Kumamoto Prefecture, about an hour and a half by road.
Grasslands and volcanoes across the border in Kumamoto and Oita.
Shiiba
椎葉村Shiiba-sonRemote mountain village south of Takachiho, home of the Hietsuki-bushi folk song and legends of Heike refugees.
Gokase
五ヶ瀬町Gokase-chōNeighbouring highland town on the upper Gokase River, with tea fields and a ski area often described as Japan's southernmost.
Other cities in the prefecture
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Takachiho?
By bus from Nobeoka station on the east coast, by bus from Kumamoto via Aso, or by highway bus from Fukuoka. Many visitors drive, which makes it easier to combine Takachiho with Aso.
Can I see kagura as a visitor?
Yes. A one-hour performance of four representative dances is held every evening at Takachiho Shrine. The full night-long yokagura in private houses in winter is sometimes open to respectful visitors; the tourist association can advise.
Is Takachiho the only place of the heavenly descent?
No. The chronicles name "Takachiho in Hyūga", and both this town and the peak Takachiho-no-mine in the Kirishima mountains claim to be the site. The question has been debated since the Edo period.
Can I row a boat in Takachiho Gorge?
Yes, rowing boats can be hired to pass beneath the Manai waterfall when river levels allow. They are very popular and may be suspended after heavy rain.
Related
Sources
- 1.令和2年国勢調査 調査の結果 (opens in a new tab) — 総務省統計局 (Statistics Bureau of Japan)
- 2.高千穂町ホームページ (opens in a new tab) — 高千穂町 (Takachiho Town)
- 3.宮崎県ホームページ (opens in a new tab) — 宮崎県 (Miyazaki Prefecture)
- 4.Miyazaki (opens in a new tab) — Japan National Tourism Organization