Takachiho: Worthy a Visit

Takachiho, in the center of Kyushu, is known for its gorge.  Even as a sucker for gorges, I hesitated when we were planning. The place is hard to get to, not on any train line; the gorge is not particularly deep; there is barely one kilometer of path; $20 for 30-minutes of rowboat screams tourist trap. Then John came across a 10km walk that looked good to do.So we decided to give Takachiho a look.

As we suspected, the gorge is over-hyped. However, neither of us had realized that all the rocks that form the gorge are basalt columns until we stood right in front of them. The real surprise was how much we enjoyed the walking course. It turned out to be an "Olle" modeled after those on Jeju Island, Korea, and much loved by Korean tourists. The course was very well marked, by ribbons! It took us to a super atmospheric mountain shrine. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the agricultural activities in the area: tea, mushroom, rice, beekeeping. It was not a course we could have cobbled together ourselves, which is our modus operandi.

One last view of Sakarajima volcano as we pull out of Kagoshima on an early train.


After skirting Kirishima we cruise along the coast to Miyazaki where we will catch the bus to Takachiho. Love riding in the narrow gauge trains with a view out the front.







We arrive late afternoon in Takachiho. Our B&B is just minutes away from both the gorge and the shrine so we head off.


Basalt columns line/form the gorge.


A waterfall adds to the scene. And you can rent a rowboat to get closer.


We could not get enough of those balsalt columns.


And then up, up, up to the Takachiho Shrine, said to be 2000 years old. It's in a grove of old fir trees.






Final stop of the evening is at Cosmos, officially a discount drug store but more like a grocery store with great prices; and we improve our Japanese language skills when we learn that Cosmos is a disukaunto doraggu


This next morning we are out early (first pic below is the view from our room) to walk the Takachicho Olle Course. Follow the blue and red ribbons says the lady at the Visitor Information Center. First we go back to the shrine now in early morning light






And down to the gorge following the blue+red ribbons.








Found a new setting on my camera; watercolor.




Boaters near/under the waterfall.




Sun-Ling takes a panorama.


We walk up out of the gorge and walk through bamboo and fir tree groves.


Looks like trap for feral pigs. We've seen evidence of rooting along the trail.


Campground....


...with a view back to Takachiho.


Mushroom farming in the shadows of the fir trees.


The several kms along an irrigation channel.


Big Bamboo.




Rice terraces of course....


...with electric fence to keep the pigs out.






Then up the tree and stone lantern lined trail up, up to Mukoyama Shrine. Wow!






And down through more giant trees to the Maruono Area tea plantations.




Beehive.


Finally, back in town, we catch a glimpse of the elusive Japanese Postman.


GPS route for the day.


Oh, a Runnnd when walking near the gorge beware of flash flooding.