Takachiho Gorge
高千穂峡
A gorge in northern Miyazaki lined with column-like cliffs born of Mount Aso's volcanic activity. Hire a rowing boat to look up at Manai Falls from close by.
A gorge made by a volcano
Takachiho Gorge is a gorge on the Gokase River, which flows through the town of Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture. Long ago, eruptions of Mount Aso sent out pyroclastic flows (fast avalanches of scorching volcanic ash and rock). These cooled and hardened, and over a very long time the river carved its way through them.
The cliff walls clearly show columnar jointing, known in Japanese as chujo setsuri: cracks that look like bundles of pillars, formed as lava and similar material cools and sets. The cliffs average about 80 m high, reach around 100 m at their tallest, and run for about 7 km. In 1934 the gorge was designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument.
Manai Falls and the rowing boats
The gorge's most famous view is Manai Falls (Manai no Taki), which pours from the cliff face into the river. It is about 17 m high and is listed among Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls. In myth, it began when water was brought to this land at the time of Tenson Korin, the story in Japanese mythology in which a god descends from heaven to earth.
From a hired rowing boat you can gaze up at the falls and the cliffs from the emerald-green water. Each boat holds three people (up to four if the group includes a preschool child). Bookings are taken online only, through the official website, and not by phone. Some boats are sold on the day, but numbers are limited.
Walking the riverside path
A walking path of about 1 km follows the river, letting you look down on the falls and the gorge. Along the way are spots tied to local legends, such as Sennin no Byobu-iwa (the "Hermit's Folding Screen", a cliff of columnar rock) and Kihachi no Chikara-ishi, a boulder said to have been thrown by an oni (ogre) named Kihachi.
Three bridges, one of stone, one of steel and one of concrete, span the gorge one above the other, an unusual sight that lets you see all three from a single spot. The fresh green of spring and the autumn leaves are especially recommended, and in early summer you can see fireflies. Entry is free.
Getting there
The gorge is about 8 minutes by car from Takachiho Bus Center in the centre of town. The bus from JR Nobeoka Station to Takachiho Bus Center takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. By car it is about 1 hour 25 minutes from Kumamoto Airport and about 2 hours 15 minutes from Miyazaki Airport.
There are several paid car parks nearby. Takachiho Shrine is also close, and many people visit both together.
Tips
- If you want to take a boat, book online early: reservations open two weeks before the day. The official website announces whether boats are running at around 8 am each morning, so check before you set off if rain or high water is a worry.
- While you wait for your boat, you can pass the time at the restaurants along the gorge or the freshwater fish aquarium.
Sources
Updated 28 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
