Takachiho

The tour guide was great, and the scenery was beautiful. Although we weren't able to go up to the crater due to the recent helicopter accident, the entire Kumamoto region was covered in white snow, making for great photos. The shops were also nice to browse! However, Kumamoto plush toys are a bit pricey here!

The driver drove smoothly and was friendly. He also suggested a suitable itinerary based on our preferences. We were fortunate enough to see snow, and the kids were very happy. Overall, I would highly recommend him.

I highly recommend adding the boating package. If two girls aren't particularly fit or have no boating experience, it might just be a 30-minute float, but it's still very beautiful! My companion rowed seriously and felt a real workout in her back that night, though it was sore the next day. But we were still so glad we bought the package. If we could choose again, we'd choose a tour departing from Kumamoto; the train journeys in Fukuoka were just too long. We didn't take the Sagano Scenic Railway; we walked to the shrine during that time. Walking down the Ten'an River was quite breathtaking. The tour guide casually said, "You guys can go for it." It was a bit of a shame that not all of us in the group went all the way to the bottom. The whole trip was a bit rushed, but we ate well. We'll definitely come back to Takachiho Gorge next time; it's truly beautiful, but we'll need to allow more time.

Before setting off, I was a little worried after seeing negative reviews on the tour guide website, but after experiencing it with friends, I think it was quite good. Our guide, Mr. Yang, was very nice; he was the only one in the group who stood out from the others, making him easy to spot. He was very attentive, and the conversations were interesting. No one was late for any of the group meetings, and the overall process was smooth. Takachiho Gorge is just as beautiful as it looks in the photos and is definitely worth a visit. However, since it's in the mountains, people with mobility issues might want to consider it.