How to travel between Takachiho and Tokyo
By air via Kumamoto
JAL and ANA operate numerous flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Kumamoto Airport. Flight duration is two hours. The regular one way fare is about 37,000 yen one way, but discount tickets are usually available for between 12,000 and 21,000 yen.
Buses, operated by Kyushu Sanko Bus and Miyazaki Kotsu (Miyakoh), run between Kumamoto Airport and the Takachiho Bus Center (2 hours, 2100 yen one way, 7 buses per day).
By air via Miyazaki
JAL, ANA and Skynet Asia Airways operate numerous flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Miyazaki Airport. Flight duration is 110 minutes.
The regular one way fare of JAL and ANA is around 37,000 yen, with discount tickets usually available for between 14,000 and 23,000 yen. Fares by Skynet Asia Airways, a discount airline, are typically around 20 percent below those of JAL and ANA.
From Miyazaki Airport, take the JR "Nichirin" limited express to Nobeoka Station (70 minutes, about 3000 yen, one train per hour) and transfer to a bus for the Takachiho Bus Center (90 minutes, 1710 yen, 13 buses per day). There used to be train service between Nobeoka and Takachiho, but it was discontinued in 2005.
By train via Kumamoto
Take the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Fukuoka's Hakata Station (5 hours by nozomi or 6 hours by hikari with a transfer at Shin-Osaka). At Hakata Station, transfer to the "Relay Tsubasa" or "Ariake" limited express to Kumamoto Station (75 minutes).
The one way trip from Tokyo to Kumamoto costs around 23,000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, if taking hikari trains along the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on nozomi trains.
Once at Kumamoto Station, take a bus to the Takachiho Bus Center (3 hours, 2300 yen one way, 3 buses per day). Buses are operated by Kyushu Sanko Bus and Miyazaki Kotsu (Miyakoh).
By train via Nobeoka
Take the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kokura Station (5 hours by nozomi or 6 hours by hikari with a transfer at Shin-Osaka). At Kokura Station, transfer to the "Sonic" limited express to Beppu Station (70 minutes) and then a "Nichirin" limited express to Nobeoka Station (2 hours).
The one way trip from Tokyo to Nobeoka costs around 24,000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, if taking hikari trains along the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on nozomi trains.
Once at Nobeoka Station, take a bus to the Takachiho Bus Center (90 minutes, 1710 yen, 13 buses per day). There used to be train service between Nobeoka and Takachiho, but it was discontinued in 2005.
Orientation:
Takachiho's attractions are centralized in town and close enough to walk between. The exception is Amano Iwato Shrine, which is about ten kilometers outside of the town center and accessible by bus, taxi or rental car.
