We had booked the boat rental a week ahead on their website which cost 5100 yen Saturday Sunday and Monday and 4100 yen rest of the week for 30 minutes . Do note that this website needs a katakana name . Use the google search to translate your name and copy paste . Do note that the rental company will not cancel your fares even if it rains and the boats tend to sell out quickly . The boating was such a wonderful experience rowing near the waterfalls . A must do in Takachiho gorge . Do not worry if you cannot row - there are rescue boats and we bumped into other boats a lot . The parking area had limited parking and cost 500 yen .

We rented a row boat. The view of the Manai Fall from the boat was magnificent and beautiful! We saw it very close, so we could feel the splash of the water vividly. We could easily reserve a boat since we visited there in late October, which was not the highest season for autumn leaves.

The gorge is as beautiful as it is in the photos. But unfortunately there are huge waits to rent boats (2-3 hours) so it’s better to reserve in advance. Also the trail is closed for maintenance so if you don’t rent a boat, the whole thing is like a 15-20 minute visit. Not much else going on in Takachiho. Only worth it if you’re already in the area.

Beautiful gorge with autumn foliage. There was promenade with a pond and water wheel which was pleasant for a stroll. There were shops providing meals, desserts and souvenirs at the promenade. But be prepared for the hordes of tourists who come by in tourist buses. Will recommend parking at the higher levels where the bridges are and walk slowly down to the gorge and promenade.

We had an easy drive from Kumamoto to Takachiho. We only booked two days and should have allowed a couple of extra days as there is so much to enjoy at a gentle pace. It had rained heavily before our arrival but that did not stop us from walking the beautiful paths around the gorge. There were no row boats on hire on the day as flood water was still powering through the gorge. To see how the lava solidified more than 1,000 years ago is a geological wonder. A little further down this road is the Amano Iwato Shrine which is really a full day visit. If you are a lover of haiku, be sure to see the memorial stone dedicated to Matuso Basho. This was an unexpected treasure to find. One of his haiku is etched in the rock. There are plenty of restaurants in Takachiho but you may need a local to guide you because unless you can read Japanese you will easily miss them.

This is one of the main natural points of interest on Kyushu Island. From all the reviews there is a lot of confusion how to get there and where to go. It is actually quite simple. If you come by car you follow the signs and come by a parking that is probably full. Just drive on for about 1,5 km and on your left there is another parking that is probably also well filled but if you wait a bit you can park there. From this parking a stairway leads down to the gorge and finally to where the rowing boats are rented out. So unless you have someone to move the car for you it doesn’t really matter which parking you choose, you have to go up and down the path to and fro anyway. The path is easy to walk, does have a lot of steps and the distance for me was about 1600 footsteps (one way). From the further parking you get to see more. At the end of the footpath is a restaurant. If you want a boat you need to reserve it. They take 2-3 persons and you have to row yourself. It can become quite crowded on the water, this also applies to the footpath.

Our family of five drove more than 3 hours to enjoy this attraction. The gorge is an awesome sight, the rocks and water flow is a sight to behold. The air is very fresh. We visited in early summer. Not much crowd. There is a good option for a boat ride which was not open to us as we arrived late.

Visiting Takachiho Gorge was one of my dreams. We went there in July 2024, on a Wednesday, hoping for less visitors. But even for a weekday, the place was very crowded, because of its popularity. The parking lots around the gorge were full, so we parked our car a little further, at a visitor center. From there we climbed down for a 15 minute hike. The path was well maintained, almost half of it were concrete stairs, then paved all the way to the gorge. The view was breathtaking, with the water rushing through the narrow gorge, basalt cliffs forming amazing formations, waterfalls at every step... From the bridge crossing the gorge we saw many boats in the water, rowing past the falls. When we reached the boat ramp though, we found out that all the boat tickets for the day were sold out, so we missed the chance to row through the gorge. Right next to the boat ramp was a beautiful waterfall, and above that a rest area that had some restaurants, cafe, an aquarium and a nice park to stroll. The gorge is about two hours drive from Kumamoto, but public transportation is difficult. It's an amazing experience, well worth going. If you go in the summer, take water with you. The Japanese summer is oppressing! Even for a 15 minute hike, we drank a lot of water. There were vending machines on top of the stairs, as well in the rest area on the bottom. Please call ahead to reserve tickets for the boat ride.