Home/Miyazaki/Nobeoka/Takachiho Amaterasu Railway

Takachiho Amaterasu Railway

Little knownBarely documented in English. This is the kind of place the site exists for.

Researched and written by Hinato

railwayabandoned railsuper cartTakachihonovelty

Photo: ブルーノ / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · original

Miyazaki has plenty of scenery; Takachiho Amaterasu Railway is the kind that's worth planning a whole day around.

The Takachiho Railway line was permanently closed after a typhoon in 2005 destroyed sections of track. Rather than restore service, a local company converted a 5.1km segment into a tourist attraction — visitors ride modified train cars (グランド・スーパーカート, 'super cart') that look like miniature locomotives, powered by electric motors, along the abandoned rails through forest and over bridges.

The ride travels at slow speed (15km/h), allowing views of the surrounding valley and the sensation of piloting your own train.

Visiting essentials

Best season

Year-round; autumn for foliage along the track; combine with Takachiho Gorge for full Takachiho day

How long to allow

1 hour including ride and boarding time; combine with gorge for half-day Takachiho itinerary

Hours

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Closed: Check current schedule online or by phone (0982-72-3216). Advance booking recommended.

Entry fee

¥2,200 per person (30-minute round-trip ride)

Finding your way there

Getting there in detail

Takachiho Amaterasu Railway station (高千穂あまてらす鉄道), Takachiho. Rides: ¥2,200/person (30-min round-trip). Advance booking recommended (online or phone ).

Beyond the guidebook

**Super cart ride:** Each cart holds 2 people (driver + passenger). The 'driver' controls speed with a lever (max speed limited to 15km/h) and honks the horn. The track runs through forest canopy and crosses bridges with valley views below. The experience is more novelty than scenic, but unique — you're driving on tracks that once carried regular trains. **Combination with Takachiho Gorge:** The railway station is a drive from Takachiho Gorge. Ideal itinerary: Gorge + rowboat (morning, 2 hours) → Railway ride (afternoon, 1 hour). Both are Takachiho's main attractions and easily combined in one day. **Photography:** The most photogenic moment is when your cart crosses the Iwato River Bridge — a steel truss bridge 100 meters long, 50 meters above the river. Passenger should handle camera as driver must focus on controls.

View on Google Maps