December 1, 2001 Day 10: Takachiho Bus Tour
Located in the center of town, the Takachiho Bus Center is a transportation hub for routes both local and long distance. There are a number of guided tours to the surrounding attractions available from the bus center office, and do not require advance reservations. I chose the “A course”, a full-day bus tour that included lunch and dinner.
Near Takachiho is the site of one of the best known legends of Japanese mythology. In the story, Amaterasu, the Shinto sun goddess, became so outraged by her brother’s cruel pranks that she hid herself in a cave, refusing to come out and depriving the world of her life-giving light. All of the other gods and goddesses gathered to lure her out. They tried everything they could think of to no avail until one goddess performed an outrageously ribald dance that caused the other gods to roar with laughter. Amaterasu left the cave to see what all the fun was about, and in doing so she returned her light to the world.
About ten kilometers outside of central Takachiho, Amano Iwato Shrine was built near the. The shrine’s main buildings are located on the opposite side of the Iwato River from a crevice where Amaterasu is said to have been born. Although the crevice cannot be approached, there is an observation deck behind the shrine’s main building from where you can gaze across the river to see Amaterasu’s birthplace. To access the observation deck, you need to inquire at the shrine entrance, and a priest will give you a guided tour in Japanese.