Takachiho

What?
Takachiho (高千穂) is a beautiful town in Miyazaki prefecture (宮崎県). It is also mythical, as it is said that it was the place where Amaterasu the sun goddess hid herself from the frantic behavior of her nephew and so shrouding the world in darkness. Apart from the mythical, Takachiho is also famed for its natural beauty, specifically the Takachiho Gorge (高千穂峡). The Takachiho Olle course is part of the Kyushu Olle, a bunch of trekking trails in Kyushu modeled on the nature walking trails on the Korean island of Jeju. (Update 2024/2/4: the Kyushu Olle Takachiho course has been discontinued since 2021/4/1, so if you are interested please use the gps data at the end of the post.)
Where?
Takachiho is not so easily reached. I took the bus from Kumamoto Station, but you can also take it from the other side of Kyushu, namely Nobeoka. There used to be a train line but it has been discontinued due to flooding. The Amanoiwate Shrine can be reached by foot, but as I only had one day in Takachiho I took the taxi to and back from the shrine. The Olle course starts at the Takachiho Shrine which can easily be reached on foot from the bus station.
URL
Japan Guide Outline Takachiho Tourism Kyushu Olle

Arriving the evening before by bus in Takachiho, I arrived just in time to witness the Takachiho Yokagura in the Takachiho shrine. Even with no knowledge of the story or Japanese, it is a hypnotizing performance. That Izanami came up to hug me also was quite a pleasant surprise.

The foul weather of previous days made way for a clear sunny sky, but unfortunately still had an influence on my trip to Takachiho. Due to high waters the boats at the gorge were inaccessible when I wanted to visit in the early morning. So I changed my plans and first visited the Amanoiwate Shrine. The shrine is kept beautifully, but it is Amano Yasukawara beyond that steals the show. Thousands of stacked stones bathing in the sunlight truly make this a religious place. Early in the morning, there were no other tourists to spoil this transcendental moment.

The Amanoiwate Shrine in the early morning.

Transcendent Amano Yasukawara.

Walking towards Takachiho Gorge.

Takachiho Gorge

Returning to the real world with a honey ice cream, I hoped the boats at the gorge were operational as I started the Takachiho Olle Walking Trail. Unfortunately the boats were still at bay, and even more unfortunate was the unclear water at the gorge.
However I would recommend to everyone the astonishing Olle Walking Trail.
Passing through any kind of terrain, this trail has really everything an amateur hiker can look for: passing the prominent Takachiho Gorge, walking through fields of tea, views on rice paddies and terraces, remote shrines, high camping ground vistas and gorge views from the bottom. Truly breathtaking.
You have to have at least a basic condition and good walking shoes though, as there is a lot of climbing and rough terrain.

Takachiho Olle

Takachiho Olle - tea plantations.

As I had a little time left I also took a ride on the supercart; a rebuild mini tuck that rides on the tracks of the dysfunctional Takachiho Railways. Not being very special, it was fun though and could be quite interesting for train lovers. Not for people with fear of altitudes though, because the cart stops on a bridge at the highest point from the ground!

Leaving Takachiho very satisfied I took the bus headed for Oita where I would stay the night and take the tour bus for Kunisaki peninsula the next day.