We start this morning on Road 23 through Hyuga to Cape Hyuga. Weather and panorama are great.
After Cape Hyuga, we follow Road 10 to Nabeoka, then Road 218 to Takachiho. The road is superb, for both scenery and asphalt. At Takachiho, we pass the town to go straight to the gorge. The surroundings are very picturesque. We stopped at a little park next to a pond and a water mill, intending to rent a rowing boat to for the four of us.
Unfortunately, we are told that Camille is too young to go. So Dad and Marie go alone, while Mum and Camille walk along the stream. Camille feeds the ducks next to the rental shop. Then Dad picks up Mum to go again all the way through the gorge.
We then go back to the town, to check in at the Ryokan Kaminoya. Two guys in happy coats are standing in front of the entrance, waiting for us. The place is really great. Diner is served in the room at 6:30, after a very welcomed and relaxing stop at the ofuro.
At 7:30, the owner picks us up with his minivan to bring us to Takachiho Shrine for the Yokagura. Yokagura is a repertoire of 33 ancient dances that have been passed down form generation to generation. From mid-November to mid-February, the full Yukagura is performed about 20 times in homes throughout Takachiho and lasts all night; we got a one-hour version. Staging the descendants of the Sun and setting the mythological origin of Japan at Takachiho, it is a thanksgiving prayer to the gods for a good harvest.
From km 27 to km 124, 97km