Day Trip to Mythical "Takachiho" from Fukuoka by PRIVATE MiniBUS

8:00 < PICK UP > Your Hotel or HAKATA Station, HAKATA Port in Fukuoka city. At the airport, a driver with a name board will meet you at the arrival gate and guide you to the bus parking lot. If you can apply, please let us know your [arrival flight number] in advance. *It takes about 3 hours from Fukuoka City to Takachiho Town, Miyazaki Prefecture via the expressway to Kumamoto (plus a break on the way).

09:30-09:45 < regal break > Shichijo Melon Dome Roadside Station, 306 Shichijomachi Okada, Kikuchi, Kumamoto. If it's in season, you can buy the local specialty melons at this roadside station. Road Station Shichijo Melon Dome is a road station on National Route 325 in Okada, Shichijo Town, Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture. It features a building with a melon motif, which is a special product. It opened as a specialty center on April 29, 1995.

11:15-12:15 < lunch > e.g.) "Kagura-yado", 1254-3 Oshikata, Takachiho, Nishiusuki, Miyazaki lunch place recommend: "Kagura-Yado is a famous place for lunch in Takachiho.

12:30-14:30 < free walk > TAKACHIHO Gorge. *15 minutes from < bus wating > Ohashi Parking Lot, 1248-4 Oshikata, Takachiho: Buses are not allowed to go to the boat terminal, so take a 15-minute walk along the promenade full of negative ions from the parking lot. Takachiho Gorge's rental boats can accommodate up to three people. The cost is ¥4100 or ¥5100 (approx. USD 30-40) per boat. *You can make your own reservation online. *You can also arrange for a local guide. ↓. Takachiho (高千穂) is a town in northern Miyazaki Prefecture that is steeped in Japanese mythology. It is the supposed site of legend where Amaterasu, the Shinto Sun Goddess, disturbed by her brother's cruel pranks, hid herself in a cave, prompting the other gods and goddesses to try and lure her out.

14:45-15:15 TAKACHIHO Shirine. Takachiho Shrine (高千穂神社, Takachiho Jinja), located just west of the town center, is nestled in a grove of tall cedars. During the day the shrine's nondescript, unpainted buildings blend in naturally with the surrounding trees. The light that filters through, brings with it an air of calm, peaceful reverence. The town of Takachiho is the site of one of the most important and well known legends of Japanese mythology. In the story, Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, became so outraged by her brother's cruel pranks that she hid herself in a cave, refusing to come out and depriving the world of her life-giving light. All of the other gods and goddesses gathered to lure her out. They tried everything they could think of to no avail until one goddess performed an outrageously ribald dance that caused the other gods to roar with laughter. Amaterasu left the cave to see what all the fun was about, and in doing so she returned her light to the world.

15:30-16:00 < Mystery > AMA-NO-YASUGAWARA, Takachiho. About 10 minutes on foot from Amanoiwato Shrine Nishihongu along the Iwato River, when Amaterasu Omikami hid in Iwato, it became dark and eight million gods were on this riverbank. A large cave that is said to have been gathered and deified. It is also known as "Gyobogaiwaya". Previously, there was only a company and it was the object of worship, but before I knew it, stones were piled up by the hands of prayers. Today, countless piled stones further enhance the mysterious and fantastic atmosphere of the Cheonan River.

17:45-18:00 < regal break > Shichijo Melon Dome Roadside Station, 306 Shichijomachi Okada, Kikuchi, Kumamoto

19:30 < DROP OFF > Your Hotel or HAKATA Station, HAKATA Port in Fukuoka city. The food stalls in Nakasu start appearing from around 6pm. It's only a short subway ride away from Hakata Station, so if you have the time, why not go there yourself?