Takachiho Shrine

What to know

Takachiho Shrine (高千穂神社, Takachiho Jinja) lies just west of the town center, nestled in a grove of tall cedars. During the day, its simple, unpainted buildings blend naturally into the surrounding trees. The filtered light creates an atmosphere of calm, peaceful reverence.

The town of Takachiho is the setting for one of the most important and well-known legends in Japanese mythology. According to the story, Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, became so enraged by her brother's cruel pranks that she hid in a cave, depriving the world of her life-giving light.

All the other gods and goddesses gathered to lure her out. They tried everything they could think of, but nothing worked until one goddess performed an outrageously ribald dance that made the other gods roar with laughter. Curious, Amaterasu left the cave to see what the commotion was about, and in doing so, she returned her light to the world.

Today, this legend is reenacted as Yokagura (night dances) in a series of 33 episodes depicting the divine quarrel and other deeds of the gods. On selected winter weekends from mid-November to mid-February, people gather to watch all-night performances of these episodes at various locations.

A greatly shortened version of Takachiho Yokagura is performed for tourists every night throughout the year at Takachiho Shrine. The one-hour show consists of just a few scenes from the story, performed by masked dancers accompanied by traditional instruments. It takes place at the Yokagura performance hall, just steps from the shrine's main building.

Takachiho Shrine is located at the western end of the town center, about a 10-15 minute walk from the bus center. Some hotels in the area offer a free shuttle bus to and from the evening Yokagura performances for their guests. Otherwise, a taxi is the most convenient way to reach the shrine.