Takachiho, Miyazaki

Takachiho
高千穂町
Town

Flag

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 237.32 km2 (91.63 sq mi)
Population (February 1, 2008)
 • Total 14,262
 • Density 60.1/km2 (156/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Ogatama-no-ki
 • Flower Wisteria
 • Bird Meadow bunting
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City Hall Address 13 Ōaza Mitai, Takachiho-chō, Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki-ken
882-1192
Website www.town-takachiho.jp

Takachiho (高千穂町 Takachiho-chō) is a town located in Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.

Geography

Takachiho is located in the northernmost part of Miyazaki Prefecture, bordering Kumamoto Prefecture on its north and northwest sides and Oita 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 public transportation company. Takachiho Gorge, located 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. Because there are no public transportation facilities, nor are there any national highways to the capital of Miyazaki, it takes about three hours to get there. And because it takes about half that time to get to the city of Kumamoto, ties between Takachiho and Kumamoto are getting deeper year by year. Ties to Kumamoto are not a recent development, as transportation facilities to the base of Mount Aso have existed since long ago.

Neighboring municipalities

The cave at Ama-no-Iwato Shrine

History

View of Takachiho

Mythology

According to Japanese mythology, Takachiho is the land where Ninigi descended from the heavens, sent by Amaterasu, the sun goddess. It also 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

Junior high schools

Elementary schools

Transportation

Air

The nearest airport is Kumamoto Airport.

Rail

Road

Scenic and historic places

Takachiho-kyo(Gorge) and Manai waterfall

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

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Takachiho, Miyazaki.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, April 21, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.