Steeped in ancient Japanese creation mythology, Takachiho gorge is touted as one of the most mystical places in Japan.
View of the waterfall at Takachiho from a row boat in the gorge.
The view of the beautiful waterfall from the other side of the cascade.
The family had a great day out at Takachiho, where we rowed, we hiked and we gorged ourselves silly with the beef and other local delicacies.
The 17-metre high Manai-no-taki Falls, with the clouds of water spray, is the highlight of many a picturesque photograph of the gorge. Here you can see the bridge above straddling the gorge.
Takachiho is supposedly the place where the Japanese Shinto Sun-goddess Amaterasu hid in a cave from her mischievous brother – plunging the world into darkness – until the other gods and goddesses came to coax her to return.
Close-up view of the Manai-no-taki. The wife relived her college rowing days by hogging all the rowing, accompanied by much yelling by the cox-cum-photographer to avoid the cascading sprays of water.
The view from afar from up on high standing on the bridge above the gorge. Up to three people are allowed on each boat – I would highly recommend it if you have an hour and a half to spare.
The more well-known story is that Takachiho was where the god Ninigi no Mikoto (grandson of Amaterasu) landed when he descended from heaven to establish the lineage of Japanese emperors.
Commercial break? Nothing like a hot can of Georgia coffee to beat the cold after all the excitement in the row boat. Disclaimer: Justin drinks coffee like once a year so he’s no regular coffee junkie.
This honour, however, is contested by Mount Takachiho-no-mine in the Kirishima National Park, further south in Kyushu.
Something cheerful at the entrance of the car park at Takachiho Gorge.
It’s easy to see why the location is associated with such lofty happenings.
The gorge was formed by the Gokase river eroding its way through the volcanic rock, sculpting the steep banks on either side of the serene river that now winds through it.
Rowing a boat on the water and looking up the sheer straight and smooth stone cliffs on either side reminds one of the awesome powers of nature that shaped this gorge.
We first visited Takachiho more than a decade back and a snapshot of the gorge from a bridge straddling it still hangs in the corridor at home.
This time round, we had more time and hired a boat to row in the gorge itself. coming up close with the waterfall that empties into it.
Nothing much to do with the gorge apart from the replica of the bridge, but something pleasant to thank visitors.
You can also hike along the side of the gorge to the cave where Amaterasu allegedly took refuge from her brother’s incessant pranks.
Absolutely delicious marbled Takachiho beef that you can cook yourself on a hotplate.
There are also temples in Takachiho town and in the evening on Saturdays, traditional Yokagura dances are performed to reenact the story associated with the place.
Although it may not look it, this local salt-grilled fish is the most tasty fish we had in Japan. And it takes 15 minutes waiting time for it to be served.
We had a taste of Takachiho beef, as well as the local salt-grilled freshwater fish.
“在古老神秘日本，哪个地点是最充满神奇气氛的呢？那一定是位于九州宫崎县的高千惠峡谷。这是传说中神明降临的地方，自然景色让人叹为观止。” – 科技点心（微薄）
It was an excellent day trip for the family, well-worth the drive through the winding mountain roads to get to the gorge.
* All photos in this post were taken with a Nikon D800 DSLR and AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens.
