Rugby World UK – August 2019

A

The Adventurer
Takachiho Gorge is a narrow
chasm cut through the rock
by the Gokase River. The nearly sheer
cliffs lining the gorge are made of
slow-forming volcanic basalt columns
from the lava flow of Mount Aso and
they resemble the scales of a dragon
as the stone has twisted as it formed.
You can hire a boat to row down the
river so you can see the Manai Falls
and the cliffs up close. There is also
a 1km-long walking path along the
gorge that offers fantastic scenery.
While the Takachiho Railway stopped
running in 2008, there is a ‘Super Cart’

that takes tourists

on a 30-minute

trip along the

tracks, from

which you can

see terraced rice

fields, enjoy the

light displays in the tunnel and take in the

magnificent view from the Takachiho

Bridge, which is 105 metres high.

P

The Party Animal

Takachiho-no-Yokagura is a

33-part theatrical Shinto dance

dedicated to Ujigami-sama (a local god)

from November to February. Throughout

the year, you can watch a performance

from 8-9pm at the Takachiho Shrine

Kagura-den Hall that includes the dances

of Tajikarao, Uzume and Totori – all based

on Iwato mythology – as well as Goshintai,

the dance of a married couple.

For more travel information...

takachiho-kanko.info/en/

Get there

The town is

90 minutes by bus from

JR Nobeoka station, which is

two hours from Oita or one hour

from Miyazaki. Get off at the

Takachiho Bus Centre stop.

Or it’s three hours by bus

from Kumamoto

Food flow

Nagashi-somen

Dance ritual

Takachiho-no-Yokagura