Half day Highlight- Takachiho Gorge
Experience the best of Takachiho Gorge on this half-day driving tour through Japan’s legendary “Land of Myths.” Discover breathtaking canyon views, stroll along scenic walking trails with towering cliffs, enjoy a peaceful boat ride along the mountain stream, and visit ancient shrines and monuments connected to Japanese mythology for an unforgettable blend of nature and culture.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
your chosen location
- I’ll pick you up at your chosen location — Fukuoka Airport, Hakata Station, or anywhere else within Kyushu.
Promenade Walking
A walking trail along the Gokase River, where you can admire the beautiful V-shaped gorge carved by erosion, with cliffs rising 80–100 meters on both sides. Especially in the morning, sunlight streaming into the gorge reflects on the crystal-clear river, creating rainbows in the fresh, ion-rich air—a refreshing walk surrounded by nature.
Bort ride
From the boat, you can look up at the powerful Manai Falls, which drop 17 meters—an awe-inspiring sight. Unlike viewing from the promenade, this offers a unique perspective of Takachiho Gorge’s grandeur. Be careful, though—if you mishandle the boat, you may end up soaked by the waterfall, adding a thrilling touch to the experience.
Lunch time
We’ll either eat at a café that serves Japanese-style bread, or buy your choice of bento such as sushi from a deli.
If you choose the deli option, we’ll have the meal in the car, so please understand that it’s not very spacious for eating.
Ending Point
Your designated accommodation for the day. If you contact me in advance, I can help you find a place to stay that suits your itinerary and preferences after confirming your requests.
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
-Guide fee.
-Transportation via Honda Fit (Jazz)
-Gasoline fee
-Parking fee
-Toll fee
-Meals and drinks during lunch or breaks
-Boat ride fee
-Offerings at shrines
Tour Important Information
-You will be walking certain distances on promenades and sloping approach paths, so please choose comfortable shoes.
-Since it will be a long drive, we will take regular breaks.
-If you are concerned about motion sickness, please prepare motion sickness medication in advance.
-The boat ride requires an advance reservation exactly two weeks prior to the desired date, based on Japan Standard Time.
Since the online booking tends to be extremely crowded, I will handle the credit card payment on your behalf on the contract date.
As for the boat fee, you can either pay me in Japanese yen on the day of the tour or have the tour fee adjusted in advance to include it.
-In the event of rain, if the ride is operating as usual, cancellations (with refund) or rescheduling will not be accepted.
-On rainy days, raincoats (top only) are sold at the reception for 200 yen. Please note that this purchase must be paid in cash.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Tac K.
I was borne and raised in Fukuoka. I'm retired last year, and now slowly enjoying life. Before retireing, I work for IT related services for over 4 decades. My job roles were programmer, System Engineer, IT department Manager and IT project manager, additionally Internal Auditor. But, I feel it's a long time ago. I'm not a sporty person. I prefer reading books(Manga & novels) and listening music. Especially, I like Taiyou Matsumoto's commic & Tatsurou Yamashita's pop music. I also like outdoor activities like camping, jogging and chairing. Especially, enjoyning chairing. (Taking a folding chair and walk to the beach, which is 15 minutes away, and just relax.) I want to communicate with many people through the Japan as it is.
Reviews
Emily M.
“Fantastic Guide!”
We had an incredible experience with Tac as our guide in Kyushu. I wanted to do a really custom itinerary that I couldn’t find online, and after reaching out to several guides who said it wasn’t possible to do in a day, Tac was the only one who made it happen. Without me even asking, he created multiple route options based on my ideas, which made the itinerary even better. He went out of his way to meet us outside his usual area, was on time, thoughtful, and had everything printed and organized. He kept us perfectly on schedule so we could make it to our onsen in time for dinner, while still fitting everything in. What really stood out was how much he cared—he even secured hard-to-get boat tickets for us ahead of time, which would’ve been difficult for me to do from abroad. Thanks to his effort, we had one of the best days of our trip. I’d highly recommend Tac to anyone visiting Fukuoka or the Kyushu region.
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Tac K.
Thank you so much for your review. I also had a truly enjoyable day. What made me happiest was the moment when, on our way from Takachiho to Aso, I started worrying that the clouds might ruin the beautiful panoramic view at Daikanbo — but as we got closer, the sky cleared up, and you were able to enjoy the beautiful 360-degree panorama under bright sunshine. As you mentioned, it was a long-distance drive on the first day of a three-day weekend, and I was a little nervous because any heavy traffic could have easily thrown off our schedule. But in the end, I was happy to see both of you enjoying Takachiho, including the boat ride, and we arrived at Kurokawa Onsen with time to spare — I felt such a sense of relief at that moment. Throughout the tour, I was truly touched by how calm, thoughtful, and kind both of you were, and I returned home feeling truly fulfilled and grateful for the day we spent together. It was a pleasure spending the day with you, and I truly appreciate the wonderful time we shared.
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Claude K.
“*Custom Tour* - Totally Satisfied!”
Tac was a very conscientious guide and host. I requested a custom tour to attend a Japan Series SoftBank Hawks game at the PayPay Dome. Being from the USA, I was unable to personally purchase tickets and they sold pretty quickly. I negotiated with Tac to purchase tickets as well has have him guide me for the game. He was always very prompt with his communications. He not only acquired tickets for the both of us, he took the initiative to attend the pregame practice session! On my request he built a schedule that included the Oh Sadaharu Baseball Museum at the adjacent E-ZO Boss facility. He even helped me buy some over-the-counter sleep aids to help my jet lag. As for the game, he made sure I was comfortable throughout the game. Because it was a baseball game, he prepared a Player Stats and seating guide package for me! After the game, he guided me to the right train station in the dark after 10 pm. Even if I started out hiring a ticket broker and guide, I ended up attending the game with a friend. On the general side, he gave thoughtful commentary and answered my questions with clarity and confidence. His command of English is very good. Tac is very willing to please and does so! I will hire him again the next time I visit Fukuoka.
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Tac K.
Thank you for your heartfelt message. The time we spent together was truly enjoyable for me. Through Claude, I was able to sense the vastness of America—a blend of sincerity, strength, and kindness—that I have not yet had the chance to visit myself. Looking back, there were several moments where I wish I could have done more as a guide, but I feel that this experience will help me become an even better one. I would be delighted to accompany you again next time. Thank you once again.
$322/ per group
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