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Takachiho Amaterasu Railway

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

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.

Essential Information

Opening Hours

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

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

Entrance Fee

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

Best Season

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

Visit Duration

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

Getting There

Access Information

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 ).

Insider Guide

Premium

**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.

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