Day 8
Takachiho Gorge, Amaterasu Railway, Amanoyasukawara, Skeluccha Viewing Deck and Cape Hyuga Observation Deck.
31.03.2025
We woke up to 1 degree outside. There was a thin layer of frost on the ground next to our house!
Every day, we think about how wise it was to pack warm jackets on our trip to Japan. Otherwise, we would have spent time searching for clothes in shops, wasting precious hours.
Takachiho Gorge
Our first destination of that day was Takachiho Gorge. I will be honest, this is the place I saw a year ago in a booklet about Japan and knew that this would be our next destination in Japan. The drive was one hour, and we left our house at 7:45 AM to arrive before 9 AM, just because the boat ticket office opened at 8:30 AM. We were the last car to park (no more parking spaces available) and went to check if tickets were available.
We should have booked online—otherwise, you have to wait 3–4 hours to get on the boat. Moreover, only three people were allowed per boat. If you have preschoolers, you can be four. In our case, we would have needed two boats… Here you can read all the information and book a boat.
Anyway, we decided to just go for a walk, and it turned out to be the best option in our situation. It was freezing outside, and I couldn’t imagine how people were rowing in such weather. There was a waterfall, and people were trying not to go under it and get wet.
I think the best time to visit this magnificant place is summer—or at least when it’s warm outside. When it’s hot, I believe it must be a perfect experience. But not with 8 degrees outside!
The walk was amazing. We really enjoyed the stroll, and since we arrived early, it wasn’t busy at all—a joyful time. It wasn’t raining, and I was happy about that.
Amaterasu Railway
Next, we went to Amaterasu Railway. It’s an open-air train with no roof, and you sit facing each other, unlike in a usual train. It operates from 9:40 AM to 3:40 PM.
We managed to buy tickets on-site. The departure was in 40 minutes, so we visited the small train museum nearby.
The ride was really nice. We passed under cherry trees, saw spectacular views of Takachiho, and the most exciting part was crossing Japan’s highest train bridge, where we could see the gorge from above. The bridge is no longer in use for regular trains, but it remains open for this tourist train to pass through. We stopped in the middle and were allowed to stand and take photos.
There were two drivers, one on each side of the train, and they started blowing bubbles to make the experience even more fun.
Amanoyasukawara
Our next stop was Amanoyasukawara—a mystical cave believed to be the place where the sun goddess, Amaterasu, hid in a famous Japanese Shinto legend. Thousands of stacked stones were left by visitors as offerings or prayers.
The sun came out, and the walk was so serene and enjoyable that I could have stayed there all day. The bridge over the river, the stairs, the winding paths—it was all beautiful.
On our walk to the cave, we stopped by a small cafe Amaterasu no Kakure Terrace to buy ice cream for the kids.
We stepped off the main path and walked along the stone beach, where the river divided into two streams. I loved that you could find a quiet spot away from the crowds. Sometimes, many people passed by; other times, it was completely peaceful.
For lunch, we ate at SAKUYA 弐の丸 restaurant. They served Takachiho beef sirloin set, and it was amazing!
Skeluccha Viewing Deck and Cape Hyuga Observation Deck
Our next stops were Skeluccha Viewing Deck and Cape Hyuga Observation Deck—breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. During sunset, everything looked spectacular. The landscape reminded me a bit of Mauritius, probably because of the tall palm trees growing in this region.
Tonight, we were staying in a small wooden cottage. The bathroom and toilet were in a separate cabin—two shared bathrooms and toilets for two families. I think in summer, this would be a perfect getaway. But in our case, it was too cold to sit on the terrace, so we just grabbed dinner from 7-Eleven, ate inside, and went to bed.
Day 9
From Kyushu to Shikoku
01.04.2025
It was raining in the morning, and it was cold… I was a bit upset because I had found a big playground for the girls and was planning to stop by for a while. We did stop just to have a look, and the place looked really great. When it’s warm outside, there must be so many kids playing there. The ocean view also adds charm to the location.
The ferry from Kyushu to Shikoku
Anyway, we had to move forward to the port to take the ferry from Kyushu to Shikoku.
The drive took 2 hours. This time, we took a road with no resting spots, which felt a bit odd. But I found a huge playground with a toilet and vending machines. The girls had a few rides down the slides and didn’t want to leave.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time. The ferry was scheduled to depart at 1 PM, and we had to arrive at least 30 minutes before.
The Ticket Drama
Buying the ferry tickets was an adventure in itself. It could have gone very wrong for us, but luckily, we managed to buy them online.
As a rule, I usually read Google reviews, and many people mentioned that they had bought their tickets the night before. Some even claimed they just arrived at the port and purchased them on-site.
So, on March 31st in the evening, after checking into our cabin, I decided to look up ferry tickets online. (You need to translate the entire website using an online translator—otherwise, there’s no chance. No English version!) I selected our departure port—there were only two options: Kyushu or Shikoku—and saw no tickets available for any time slot. From 7 AM to 11 PM—nothing!
I rubbed my eyes. Was this a joke? But no, nothing had changed. I checked April 2nd, and there were plenty of tickets available. That’s when we started realizing that this could completely ruin our plans because the ferry was the only way to get from Kyushu to Shikoku.
We called our relative in Japan for help, but he was driving and said he’d check later. Meanwhile, Alex decided to refresh the page—and suddenly, evening time slots appeared! Plenty of them. I told him to wait and see if morning or afternoon slots would also open up. And you know what? They actually did!
We started booking tickets for our car. We had to enter the car’s specifications, including the plate number in Japanese kanji, which is usually placed next to the numbers. Without my Japanese knowledge, this wouldn’t have been easy! 😅
Additionally, the driver’s name had to be written in Katakana. We used Google Translate and just copied it. (Whoever invented Google Translate- thank you so much!)
We wanted to pay by card, but the system didn’t accept foreign cards. 😅 However, the money was pending on our account, and the confirmation email gave us no instructions on what to do—it looked as if we had already paid.
Adventures in the Port
We arrived 40 minutes early and were shown where to park and wait. The ferry was fully booked, and we felt so relieved that we had secured our tickets online.
But when the staff started checking tickets, we realized we hadn’t actually paid yet! 🫣
Alex ran with one of the staff members to the ticket office to show our reservation and pay for it. He made it back just one second before we had to board the ferry.
Sometimes, unbelievable things happen to us—just in time! How? I have no idea.
So, if you ever buy ferry tickets online, make sure to visit the ticket office at the port to get a printed ticket and pay if you used an international credit card. That way, you’ll have peace of mind! 😅
The Ferry Ride & Arrival in Shikoku
The ferry ride took one hour. There wasn’t much to buy on board, so the kids were a bit hungry. In the end, I bought KitKats and onigiri—at least something!
Also, a tip: In many places in Japan, they only accept cash! Make sure to withdraw enough before arriving at the ferry port.
After the ferry, the road was lined with cherry trees in full bloom. There was even a short section where the road played music while driving! I never knew such things even existed.
On our way, I spotted a playground with slides.
We decided to stop and let the girls play after the long drive.
And you know what?! It was the best playground ever—even for adults! 😅 I couldn’t resist and went down two slides myself. The cherry trees were in full bloom, and we were surrounded by falling sakura petals—it felt like a dream. The park was almost empty, except for one Japanese family having lunch under the cherry blossoms.
Exploring Ozu – The “Little Kyoto of Iyo”
Our next stop was Ozu, often called the “Little Kyoto of Iyo” because of its preserved old town, castle, and traditional atmosphere.
We arrived at Ozu Castle just in time—it closes at 5 PM, and we got there at 4 PM, so we had enough time to enjoy it. Inside, we saw how samurais used to live, which was fascinating.
Then, we checked into our hotel—one of the most expensive place we stayed in Japan. But it was worth every yen. The service, the house, and the entire experience left us amazed.
In the evening, we went to have dinner in a very nice restaurant recommended by our hotel. Ozurobata Aburaya with authentic choice of dishes.
Breakfast was included but served at a different location, just a 3-minute walk from where we stayed. It was a traditional Japanese-style breakfast—a perfect way to start the next day.
Happy little things 