Big Ben in Japan (Benjamin Moore) / CC BY-SA 2.0

A shrine complex dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, built facing the sacred cave (Ama-no-Iwato) where mythology says she hid after a conflict with her brother Susanoo, plunging the world into darkness. The main Nishihongu (west shrine) sits across the Iwato River from the cave itself; free staff-led viewings of the cave overlook run roughly every 30 minutes.

Best season

Year-round

Crowd level

Popular

Rating

4.6· 5,845 reviews

Opening hours

Daily Open 24 hours

Usual hours — confirm with the official site for holidays + seasonal closures.

Nearest station

No train to Takachiho — nearest JR station is Nobeoka; bus from Nobeoka Station to Takachiho Bus Center (~70-90 min)

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