Takachiho is known as the land of Japanese mythology. There are lots of shrines and places that are related to the mythology. And also Takachiho Gorge is one of the “Must-See” spots in southern Kyushu area.
I visited there in mid March, 2012. I would like to share my experience with you. I hope this will be helpful for your trip to Takachino.
My itinerary and summary of access to Takachiho
View Trip to Takachiho in a larger map
Hotels in Takachiho, Japan
Hotels in Kumamoto, Japan
Hotels in Miyazaki, Japan
You cannot access to Takachiho by any train services. There are several bus routes available. You can access to Takachiho from three cities in Kyushu, Kumamoto, Nobeoka and Hakata. The rail passes, such as JR Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass cover to access to those three cities only. You have to pay extra for these bus services to Takachiho.
But if you use Sun-Q Pass, it is covered. Sun-Q Pass is the bus pass which covers most bus services in Kyushu. Please see the link below to find the detailed information:
In my trip, I got on Airport shuttle bus from Kumamoto station to Kumamoto airport. I could catch the express bus to Takachiho at Kumamoto station. But I had to meet my mother at the airport. So I took the bus to airport. And then I got on the express bus to Takachiho. On next day, I got on the commute bus from Takachiho to Nobeoka. My itinerary was the following:
March 17, 2012
08:00 Depart from Kumamoto station bus stop by Airport shuttle bus
08:53 Arrive at Kumamoto airport.
10:04 Depart from Kumamoto airport by Express bus to Nobeoka via Takachiho
12:09 Arrive at Takachiho bus center
I visited Takachiho shrine, Takachiho Gorge, Amanoiwato shrine and Amanoyasukawara.
I watched Kagura in the evening.
March 18, 2012
08:15 Depart from Takachiho bus center by local bus to Nobeoka
09:45 Arrive at Nobeoka station
Takachiho Railway used to operate the passengers train service between Nobeoka and Takachiho. But the truck was damaged by the typhoon in 2005. It was not recovered due to a financial issue. I saw some old trucks along the roadside when I traveled there. But now the small sightseeing train service “Super Cart” runs between Takachiho and Takachiho bridge. Takachiho bridge was the highest railway bridge. You can enjoy the amazing scenery from this train. Unfortunately they have only Japanese website. But I put the link below for your convenience.
Super Cart (Amaterasu Railway) official site
From Kumamoto station and Kumamoto airport to Nobeoka station via Takachiho
There is a joint express bus service to Nobeoka via Takachiho by Kyushu Sanko bus and Miyazaki Kotsu bus. Since Kumamoto is very accessible by Kyushu Shinkansen from Hakata and Osaka, Kumamoto is most common gateway to get Takachiho.
Please see Sanko Bus official site to get a timetable and a faretable.
Kyushu Sanko Bus official site (English site)
They operate only two round tips a day. Once you miss the bus in the morning, you must wait for next bus until late afternoon. Reservation was not required when I took this bus service but it does now. If you do not make a reservation, you may take a bus if the bus has an unoccupied seat. However Takachiho has been getting popular in these days. Advanced reservation is highly recommended.
Please see the link below to find a reservation site.
Kyushu Bus Network Portal Site (@ Bus)
This coach does not equip a washroom. The bus stop at Takamori Chuo for 5 to 10 minutes in the middle of Kumamoto and Takachiho. You can take a break at this stop. If you take a bus from Kumamoto station, you do not have a chance to go to washroom for 1.5 hour.
Bus stops
View Kumamoto station bus stops in a larger map
If you take a bus at Kumamoto station, the bus depart from bus stop #3. Exit from Shirakawaguchi exit at Kumamoto station. When you exit the station, you will see JR Kyushu Kumamoto Hotel (light brown colored 10 stories building) on your right side. Bus stop #3 is located behind this building. If you want to buy a ticket before ride, you need to go to information center beside bus stop #1. You may see Hotel New Otani on your left side at the Shirakawaguchi exit. Information is located beside this hotel. Don’t expect the building. Information center is a small booth. Both bus stop #1 and #3 (information center) are located within 50m from the Shirakawaguchi exit. Don’t worry. You can’t miss it.
If you stay in Kumamoto, you may be able to take a bus at Kumamoto Kotsu Center. The downtown of Kumamoto is actually not located near the station. It is near Kumamoto castle. Kumamoto Kotsu Center is located in the middle of downtown Kumamoto. Your hotel may be closer to Kumamoto kotsu center than Kumamoto station. If you take a bus here, the bus stops at bay #6. Please see the map on the right and make sure locations.
If you take a bus at Kumamoto airport, the bus stop is located near arrival exit.
In Takachiho, all bus stop at Takachiho bus center.
If you catch a bus at Nobeoka, the bus center is just located in front of the station. It is quite easy because Nobeoka station has only one exit. You cannot miss it.
From Nobeoka station to Takachiho
Nobeoka is the nearest station from Takachiho. But Nobeoka is not very accessible from other places unless you get Nobeoka from Miyazaki or Oita. It is 4 hours away from Hakata by limited express Sonic and Nichirin. But Kumamoto is only 40 minutes away from Hakata by Kyushu Shinkansen.
If you get on a bus at Nobeoka station bus center, there are some more trips by a local commute bus on top of express bus services between Nobeoka and Kumamoto. It runs once an hour almost all day.
The fare is 1,790 yen between Nobeoka and Takachiho. It is exactly same fare as an express bus service. Since this is the local commute bus, reservation is not required.
Visit Miyazaki Bus Pass
If you take this local bus, I recommend you to purchase one day unlimited ride pass.
It is sold at 1,500 yen and it is cheaper than one way regular fare. But this pass does not cover the express bus service. Please be careful when you take a bus. This pass covers other local bus services in Miyazaki. If you intend to visit some places in Miyazaki, this pass is very good choice.
From Hakata station and Tenjin bus terminal to Takachiho
I have never took this bus service. This express bus service is operated by both Miyazaki Kotsu and Nishitetsu Bus co. It takes 3 hours 30 minutes. There are four round trips a day. This is operated by a highway motor coach that equip a washroom, Wi-Fi, a power outlet and blanket. You must make a reservation to take this bus. Please see the link below to find a reservation site.
Kyushu Bus Network Portal Site (@ Bus)
Sun Q Pass
As I mentioned above too, Sun Q Pass offers unlimited ride on most of express and local bus in Kyushu. You can get almost anywhere in Kyushu by this pass. Hakata to/from Takachiho and Kumamoto to/from Takachiho bus services are covered by this pass. You may consider to use this pass.
Tips in Takachiho
I stayed at Hotel Grateful Takachiho. This hotel is nothing special. But this is one of a few western style hotels in Takachiho. It was clean and neat.
Hotels in Hotel Grateful Takachiho
When you go to Takachiho Gorge, you need to go down the hill for 1.5 km from Takachiho shrine. It is a paved road and takes about 20 minutes. But you need to go up the hill on the way back. I went there with my mother. She almost gave up. But we went down. Hopefully we could get a cab down there. So if you don’t want to go up the hill on foot, take a taxi from the town and ask driver to pick you up later. I strongly recommend you to go this point. This was a breathtaking view. You can enjoy the view from the trail or on the rental boat. There are some souvenir shops and restaurants. This spot is spoiled. 🙂
Takachiho Gorge and Takachiho shrine are located in town of Takachiho. But other spots, like Amanoiwato shrine, are a bit away from town of Takachiho. I took a taxi from Takachiho Gorge to Amanoiwato shrine. The fare was 2200 yen.
If you stay overnight in Takachiho, you cannot miss Kagura (神楽). It is Shinto native dance. Original Kagura is performed all through the night. But short version Kagura is performed at Takachiho shrine every night. It takes jst one hour from 20:00 and admission is 500 yen per person. This is very interesting and one of popular attraction in Takachiho. But if you see this without any knowledge about Shinto and Japanese Mythology, it might be boring. All performances look same.
If you are not interesting in Kagura, you don’t need to stay in Takachiho and transfer to Kumamoto or Miyazaki. Nobeoka is the closet city from Takachiho. But Nobeoka is one of those small cities in Kyushu. If you don’t want to go to Kumamoto, take a train to Miyazaki from Nobeoka. Miyazaki is one hour away from Nobeoka by limited express Nichirin. This express train is covered by Japan Rail Pass fully. I got on this train after I arrived at Nobeoka. And I visited Udo Jingu shrine and got on the popular train Umisachi-Yamasachi. I would like to write about access to Udo Jingu shrine in next post.
Comments
Hello Takeshi-san..
I’ll visit Japan on 15th September for 13 days.
My itinerary be like:
16 Sept arrived in Kansai Airport
17 Sept visit USJ
18 Sept move from Osaka to Nobeoka (I’ll visit Miyajima Island before going to Nobeoka)
19 Sept Takachiho Gorge (from 18-21 Sept I’ve booked hotels in Nobeoka)
20 Sept explore Beppu or Miyazaki
21 Sept move to sleep over in my friend’s house in Beppu
22 Sept explore Beppu/Fukuoka and depart to Tottori
23-24 Sept explore Tottori (I’ve booked hotels in Tottori)
24-25 Sept explore Kobe (booked hotels in Kobe)
25-28 Sept move to Osaka
28 Sept Osaka to Kansai Airport
Actually at first I will buy Sanyo San’in Northern Kyushu Pass, but this pass only covering my trip until Oita Station while I really want visit Takachiho Gorge.
So, I think I’ll combine those pass with another pass, but I don’t know which pass I can combine with it. I have another idea to buy JRPASS so I can save my budget for trip Osaka-Miyazaki-Tottori-Kobe in 7 days (from 18-24 Sept). For my plan in Kobe-Osaka from 25-28 sept I think I can buy Kansai pass or one day pass.
Do you have any recommendations pass for my trip? And what do you think about my itinerary?
Thank you..
Hi Icha san,
As you think, the best option is using 7 days JR pass and shrink your trip to 7 days from Osaka to Kobe.
If you use Sanyo San’in Northern Kyushu Pass, the extra fare for Oita to Nobeoka is more than 4000 yen which is a base fare and limited express reserved seat fee. This is one way fare so you have to pay double. And also you need to pay Tottori to Kobe. But you can use Kansai wide area pass for Tottori-Kobe-Osaka-KIX.
http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai_wide/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
hi takeshi san
can i buy a same day return express bus ticket (Kumamoto–>Takachiho—>Kumamoto) in the Kumamoto bus station (around 9am? when ticket office opens) so that i can be assure of a confirmed seat back from TBC around 4:30 pm after sight seeing in Takachiho
if i miss the return leg of the express bus, are there other non-express bus passing/stopping the Takachiho bus center to kumamoto where i still can buy a ticket on the bus to be back in kumamoto hotel even it is much later into the night
many thanks and you have a great blog…very informative
Hi Vincent san,
You can purchase round trip ticket which is a bit cheaper than 2 x one way ticeket.
There is no other buses, even local bus from Takachiho to Kumamoto. If you miss it, you will be stuck at Takachiho. So don’t miss it.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I printed out the Kyushu railway company timetable, but cannot find the route for Nobeoka to Miyazaki. This route is covered by the Kyushu South train pass right? Could you provide me the link to the timetable?
Could you also provide me the link to the timetable using the Miyazaki bus pass?
Hi Aj,
You need to get a timetable by hyperdia. There is no copy of whole timetable.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I will come to Fukuoka on 14 Nov morning,my plan is as follow
14 Nov, Fukuoka -Kawachi-Fujien – Fukuoka
15 Nov , Fukuoka – Takachiko
pls adv the train for above itin and bus schedule from Fukuoka – Takachiko, since I cant find it in this web http://jik.nishitetsu.jp
(As u mention in some above reply
– do you think better I stay in kumamoto iso fukuoka on 15 nov?
– is it cheaper for me if I buy SUNQ pass, since I will come back from kumamoto to fukuoka on 18 Nov?
thank u,
Hi Yuliani
You will find the info about timetable and fare in the link below:
http://jik.nishitetsu.jp/busroute?f=busroute&jkn_slope=0&f_list=0003,331425&t_list=0000,L00002&rightnow_flg=2&sdate=2017/09/17&stime_h=07&stime_m=40
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
arigatou Takeshi-San….
No worries, Yuliani san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I will be staying in Kagoshima and then moving to Oita. What is the best way to get to Takachiho from Oita? I am afraid we will not have time to visit it from Kagoshima. Please advise on train/bus times from Oita. We want to return to Oita on the same day.
I may stay one night in Miyazaki and then try to access Takachiho from there.
We took out Kumamoto from our plans as you cannot see the castle right now due to the earthquake.
Hi Darrell,
You cannot access to Takachiho from Oita. Miyazaki or Nobeoka is located on the way to Oita from Kagoshima as you know. If you can stay in Miyazaki, it’s better. Even if you have a trip from Oita, you need to access to Nobeoka anyway.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, I a planning a trip to go to Takachiho Gorge from Fukuoka somewhere in late Oct or early Nov. Where can I buy the ticket and which bus should I take?
Hi stelphi,
You can find the info about the bus from Fukuoka to Takachiho in the link below:
http://www.nishitetsu.jp/en/highway_bus/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
From Takachiho Bus centre to miyazaki station (JR) is there direct bus ?
Thanks
Hi Herman,
Please see the link below:
http://www.miyakoh.co.jp/bus/express/takachiho.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thanks for fast response Takeshi
Would you recommend us to buy one way tickets or buy the one day pass ticket ?
Thanks once again.
Hi Herman,
One day pass does not cover the express bus services. One way ticket is only choice.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
I am planning a day trip in Takachiho, and depart from Nobeoka. Just wonder if the timetable that you’ve mentioned in the article is still valid, as I couldn’t find it on google map. Also, it would be more economy if I purchase the 1,800 yen bus day pass for a day trip?
Thanks so much in advance!
Hi Bowie san,
At this point, this schedule is not valid because there are several closed section due to earthquake in last year. The following schedule in the link below is in Japanese. Please find “延岡バスセンター” (Nobeoka) and “高千穂ﾊﾞｽｾﾝﾀｰ” (Takachiho) in the timetable.
http://www.miyakoh.co.jp/bus/express/download/n-kumamoto-jikoku-20170111.pdf
This bus service is not covered by day pass. You have to pay single fare 1790 yen one way.
But if you search bus schedule and find other than the bus in the timetable above, it’s regular bus. The bus in the link above is express bus and it’s not covered by day pass. But if you take regular bus, you can use day pass. Express is 15 to 30 minutes faster than regular bus and more comfortable seat.
By the way, day pass is sold at 1000 yen for overseas tourist.
http://www.miyakoh.co.jp/bus/visit_miyazaki_bus_pass/pdf/eng_pass.pdf
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
I’m looking for the complete pamphlet coming around with the Miyazaki one day pass. It would be great to have it before our arrival in September.
Thanks
Stefan
Hi Stefan,
I only know this link:
http://www.miyakoh.co.jp/bus/visit_miyazaki_bus_pass/english.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-San,
You took the bus from Kumamoto at 9:11 and arrived at taka chiho at 12:09.
I have a timetable says that a 特急バスbus also depart from kumamomo at 9:11 but arrive at taka chiho at 12:49, a 40min later.
Are they the same bus or the route and time have changed?
It could be much handy if the bus arrive at 12:09 so I can take the 13:37 bus to amanoiwato, visit the shrine and amamoyasukawara for an hr or so before taking the bus back to taka chiho at 14:28.
But if my timetable is correct, I can only get back to taka chiho BC at 16:25, I am not sure I have enough time to visit the gorge and watch the dance. Catch taxi may be the only option from taka chiho B.C to amanoiwato shrine , and bus to the gorge.
The last question: I stay in kumamoto Ekimae, should I catch the bus at jr kumamoto station, not the kotsu station?
Thanks Takeshi-San.
Hi Joe san,
The current schedule can be found in the link below. Arrival time at Takachiho is 12:35.
http://www.kyusanko.co.jp/sankobus/toshikan/takachiho/table/sptt_0111takachiho.pdf
The reason why bus runs slower is some road closure by earthquake in last year.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-San,
I don’t know how I have a copy of direct bus timetable between miyazaki station and taka chiho station as well as the shrine, the bus number is 538, one round trip each (8:40miyazaki-11:20takachiho and 15:05takachiho-18:02miyazaki).
That’s all the information I got.
Do you know is it still available and how much it cost?
Also I want to make sure that the ¥1800 day pass is cover the express and local bus in Miyazaki as well as the route between nobeoka and taka chiho, the ¥1000 day pass is for local bus only and exclude the above route; ¥1730 is for local bus and ¥1790 for ex press bus.
Is that right?
Cheers
Hi Joe san,
This bus runs everyday but this is an express bus. It’s not covered by bus pass. And also reservation is required to take this bus. Japanese info is only available.
http://www.miyakoh.co.jp/bus/express/takachiho.html
The pass covers only local bus between Nobeoka and Takachiho too. Express bus is not covered by any passes.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Tks for the informative info
Glad to knw abt the disruption now
No worries, JJ.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
In fact, I visited Kyushu a few years back, but I have to forgo takachiho gorge due to a packed itin. However, I wish to visit it again if possible!
but I might be coming from Nagasaki or Unzen onsen area, I m not sure would there be a better and more efficient method to come here?
Hi JJ,
You have to access to Kumamoto anyway. This is only gateway from western part of Kyushu. If you access to Takachiho from Nagasaki via Kumamoto, you will take a bus in the afternoon. In this case, you need to stay in Takachiho because arrival time in Takachoi is around 19:00. If you want to take a bus to Takachiho in the morning, you have to leave Nagasaki around 6:30 am. If you can make this train schedule, you can visit Takachiho and can proceed to Nobeoka.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
sniff sniff, yes…I expected that….I would do it in a way to arrive Takachiho in the morning instead