Takachiho Gorge — Manai Falls, a Legendary Canyon, and the Land of the Gods

The iconic image of Takachiho is a little rowboat floating beneath Manai Falls as it drops from about 17 metres, flanked by walls of angular basalt columns. You can rent a rowboat for around 30 minutes and paddle right up close under the spray. If you'd rather not paddle, you can view it for free from the bridge above.

An ancient shrine beneath towering old cedars, its highlight is the "Yokagura" — a sacred dance that retells the legend of the goddess Amaterasu, performed for visitors every evening, year-round. It presents 4 highlight acts drawn from the full 33-act cycle that villagers perform through the night from November to February. This is the main reason to stay overnight in Takachiho.

The shrine that venerates the legendary cave where the goddess Amaterasu hid herself until the world went dark. From the shrine it's about a 10-minute walk along a stream to the "Amano-Yasugawara" cave, where the gods gathered to plan how to lure her out. Beside the cave, visitors have stacked hundreds upon thousands of small stones as prayers.

A hilltop viewpoint where, on certain mornings at dawn, a thick sea of clouds fills the valley below like a white ocean. The phenomenon is clearest in the autumn-leaves season (Sep–Nov), on calm days with a big day-to-night temperature swing. It's not guaranteed every day, but if you catch it, it's a sight you'll remember for years.

Takachiho's old railway line was destroyed by a typhoon in 2005 and never reopened, but part of it has been brought back to life as a sightseeing cart — the "Grand Super Cart" — running over the old railway bridge about 105 metres above the canyon. Some carts have a glass floor so you can look straight down to the gorge below for a thrilling view.

If you skip the boat, walking the trail along the rim of the gorge gives you a full view and costs nothing. The short path leads over the stone bridge above the canyon, where you look down on Manai Falls, the basalt columns, and the emerald Gokase River from above. It's an easy 30-minute stroll, and the most popular photo spot is right on the bridge with the falls in view.