Takachiho, Miyazaki

Takachiho 高千穂町
Town
Flag Chapter
Location of Takachiho in Miyazaki Prefecture
Takachiho Location in Japan
Coordinates: 32°43′N 131°18′E / 32.717°N 131.300°E / 32.717; 131.300Coordinates: 32°43′N 131°18′E / 32.717°N 131.300°E / 32.717; 131.300
Country	Japan
Region	Kyushu
Prefecture	Miyazaki Prefecture
District	Nishiusuki
Government
• Mayor	Shingo Uchikura (内倉信吾)
Area
• Total	237.54 km2 (91.71 sq mi)
Population  (October 1, 2019)
• Total	11,959
• Density	50/km2 (130/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	13 Ōaza Mitai, Takachiho-chō, Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki-ken 882-1192
Website	www.town-takachiho.jp
Symbols
Bird	Meadow bunting
Flower	Wisteria
Tree	Ogatama-no-ki

Takachiho (高千穂町, Takachiho-chō) is a town in Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. As of October 1, 2019, the town has an estimated population of 11,959 and a density of 50.3 persons per km². The total area is 237.54 km².

Geography[]

Takachiho is in the northernmost part of Miyazaki Prefecture, bordering Kumamoto Prefecture on its north and northwest sides and Ōita Prefecture on its north and northeast sides. The Gokase River flows from the west to the southeast part of town.

The heart of the town is at its center, around the now-defunct Takachiho Station and the business office of Takachiho Kotsu, the town's public transportation company. Takachiho Gorge, in the southern part of town, is fairly famous as a tourist attraction.

Takachiho is about 120 km northwest of the prefectural capital of Miyazaki and about 80 km southeast of the city of Kumamoto. Due to no public transportation facilities, nor any national highways to Miyazaki, it takes about three hours to get there.

Neighboring municipalities[]

• Miyazaki Prefecture
  • Nishiusuki District: Gokase, Hinokage
  • Higashiusuki District: Morotsuka
• Kumamoto Prefecture
  • Aso District: Takamori
  • Kamimashiki District: Yamato
• Ōita Prefecture
  • Taketa
  • Bungo-ōno

History[]

During World War Two, the 2nd Raiding Brigade trained in the town and were sometimes known as the Takachiho paratroopers.^[1]

Mythology[]

According to Japanese mythology, Takachiho is the land where Ninigi descended from the heavens, sent by Amaterasu, the sun goddess. It contains the Ama-no-Iwato shrine which is, according to myth, the location of the cave where Amaterasu hid until Ame-no-Uzume lured her out.

Education[]

Prefectural high schools[]

• Takachiho High School

Junior high schools[]

• Takachiho Junior High School
• Tabaru Junior High School
• Iwato Junior High School
• Kamino Junior High School

Elementary schools[]

• Takachiho Elementary School
• Oshikata Elementary School
• Tabaru Elementary School
• Iwato Elementary School
• Kamino Elementary School

Transportation[]

Air[]

The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport.

Rail[]

• Takachiho Railway
  • Takachiho Line (inactive)
    • Ama-no-iwato Station - Takachiho Station

Road[]

• National highways
  • Japan National Route 218
    • Takachiho Roadside Station
  • Japan National Route 325

Scenic and historic places[]

Takachiho is the heart of the Himuka Myth Road, which extends throughout Miyazaki.

• Takachiho Gorge (in Japanese)
  • Manai Waterfall
• Kunimigaoka
• Ama-no-iwato Jinja Shinto Shrine
• Shonenji Temple
• Takachiho Onsen
• Takachiho Shrine

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Takachiho, Miyazaki.

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Takachiho-cho Tourism Association (in English)
• Takachiho travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Geographic data related to Takachiho, Miyazaki at OpenStreetMap