A forested haven with deep gorges and countless mountain shrines, how could Takachiho not be a home for the gods? Legend has it that the sun goddess Amaterasu once hid her light from the world in a cave here, and that nearby Kirishima is where demigod Ninigi no Mikoto descended from heaven to earth. Takachiho has long been associated with the mythic beginnings of Japan.
High up in Miyazaki Prefecture's moist green highlands, Takachiho is popular in summer for its steep cool gorge, clear rivers, waterfalls and lush forests. But now, winter is the season to catch Takachiho's kagura.
This mythical performance, dating back to before the ninth century, is one of the oldest such versions of the over 2,000 kagura that are known to exist throughout Japan.