Advice/Suggestion travelling to Takachiho

Hi,

My friend and I planned to visit Takachiho next April. We'd be greatly appreciated if anyone could help us with the following questions:

1. We�fre not sure which path to take -
A) from Tokyo to Kumamoto (stay overnight). Then from Kumamoto to Takachiho by bus (stay overnight). Then bus to Nobeoka, then train to Miyazaki (stay overnight), then train to Hakata.

Or B) from Tokyo to Kumamoto – a day sight seeing, then back to Hakata. From Hakata, train to Miyazaki (stay overnight). Train then bus to Takachiho (stay overnight). Bus to Kumamoto for sight seeing, then train to Hakata.

2. Is there a tourist pass we could when travelling within Miyazaki?

3. Does anyone have a link to bus time table from Kumamoto to Takachiho? And Takachiho to Kumamoto? How much and will we need to reserve in advance?

4. Is it true that there are hourly buses that leaves from Nobeoka to Takachiho? Will this be a local bus or one where we need to reserve in advance? How much will it cost and does anyone have a link to the timetable? The one we found only showed 2 departing time.

Thank you.

Kumamoto-Takachiho-Nobeoka: http://www.kyusanko.co.jp/sankobus/toshikan/takachiho/

Nobeoka-Takachiho: http://www.miyakoh.co.jp/bus/rosen/0_jikoku/7-01_20151001.pdf

Thanks for the links Firas.