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Amaterasu Railway

Takachiho Railway, the favorite of tourists, was unfortunately closed in 2005. Now, using those railways, a grand diesel engine super cart is run for tourists. It goes through two tunnels from Takachiho Station to Takachiho Bridge and comes back on its 5.1km round trip at 20km/h for roughly 30minutes.

• Miyazaki
• Trains & Subway

So! In!cred!i!bly! beautiful!
When the weather is nice, every photo turns out great. The scenery along the way is lovely, and when you pass through the tunnel, there’s even a little LED light show on the ceiling.
The classic stop in the middle of the high railway bridge goes without saying. Looking down over the gorge is spectacular, and the staff even blow bubbles so everyone can take photos. It feels totally dreamy!
Since it’s designed to let passengers enjoy the views better, it’s completely open-air with no roof. The direct sun can be a bit hot, so be sure to bring sun protection. But honestly, if you’re lucky enough to see this amazing scenery in good weather, a little sun along the way is totally worth it.

Manai Falls

Takachiho Gorge, designated as a National Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument, is a stunning landscape formed by the erosion of pyroclastic flows from Mount Aso's eruption. The result is a unique gorge with striking columnar cliffs, known as columnar jointing.

• Miyazaki
• Nature Spots

Such a beautiful, dreamlike waterfall. The terrain and scenery, together with the lush greenery in summer, are gorgeous and so soothing.
Watching the little boats glide slowly below also feels peaceful. I didn’t go down for a boat ride myself, but just taking in the view was really relaxing.

Takachiho Gorge

Takachiho Gorge is a narrow v-shaped chasm made over thousands of years by the Gokase River’s erosion of Mt. Aso’s volcanic rock. This spectacular place is surrounded by cliffs that average 80 meters in height (reaching up to 100 meters) and extend along for 7 kilometers. Takachiho Gorge has been designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.

• Miyazaki
• Nature Spots

Visited in early summer, and from the entrance all the way to the gorge, everything was lush and green. Super soothing.
The walking path was easy too, so it was a really comfortable way to get close to nature.
The columnar volcanic rock formations had a unique kind of beauty, and we were lucky to get great weather.
It was a little hot, but seeing the scenery in the sunlight with my own eyes was even more beautiful than in the photos.

Sakitsu Church

Sakitsu is a peaceful fishing village now, but this “hidden Christians’ village” survived the era of persecutions. Sakitsu Church is at the center of the village with a Gothic-style tower standing tall.

• Kumamoto
• Museums

A gorgeous Gothic-style church stands among the simple homes of this rustic fishing village.
The architectural details are delicate and beautiful, and it bears witness to the area's history of faith.
It was built with a mix of reinforced concrete and wood because of limited funds at the time, which actually became one of its unique highlights.

Amakusa’s Sakitsu Village (Component of a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site)

Amakusa’s Sakitsu Village is located on Shimoshima Island in the Amakusa Islands. This village reflects the continued faith of Hidden Christians during Japan’s ban on Christianity and is registered as one of the components of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region.” Sakitsu is a fishing village that developed after the Sengoku period and served as a base for missionary work when Christianity first arrived in Japan.

• Kumamoto
• Tourist Attractions

Taking a slow walk along the road into this quiet little fishing village felt simple, grounded, and really soothing.
The water was so clear, reflecting the fishing boats and small hills. Beside the homes were fruit trees heavy with fruit and beautifully cared-for plants.
There weren’t crowds of noisy tourists, just traces of residents living their everyday lives with care.
Together with its moving history of faith, this is a meaningful hidden gem that I really loved.
I came here on a tour, so I didn’t have to worry about transportation at all. Awesome!