Amanoyasukawara

Amanoyasukawara is a major “power spot” not only in Miyazaki and Kyushu but also throughout Japan. It is a large cave associated with the “Amano-Iwato” myth described in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. Nearby, Amano-Iwato Shrine has both a West Main Shrine and an East Main Shrine; both enshrine Amaterasu Omikami. Tradition says that when Amaterasu hid herself in the rock cave, eight million deities descended here—Amanoyasukawara is said to be the place connected to that gathering. Visiting together with Amano-Iwato Shrine is recommended. Access: by public transportation, from JR Hakata Station take the “Gokaze-go” highway bus (reservation required), 4 services/day, about 3.5 hours; from JR Kumamoto Station take special express buses “Aso-go / Takachiho-go” (reservation required), 2 services/day, about 3 hours; from JR Nobeoka Station take a local bus, about 1.5 hours. By air, it’s about 1.5 hours by car from Aso Kumamoto Airport and about 2 hours 15 minutes from Miyazaki Bougainvillea Airport. By car, it takes roughly 2 hours from Kyushu Expressway “Kumamoto IC” or from “Mashiki Kumamoto Airport IC,” “Matsubase IC,” or “Mifune IC.” From Amanoyasukawara to Amano-Iwato Shrine is about a 10-minute walk.