I made my first trip to far-south Kyushu literally on my first visit to Japan, in 2014. Well, kind of–I stopped in Kagoshima for lunch on my way to Yakushima island. Does that count?
No, it doesn’t, at least not from where I sit today. Nor does my first “intentional” trip to both Kagoshima and nearby Miyazaki in 2019. It was extensive trip, at least in the context of Kyushu islands; my readings of each prefecture, however, were cursory at best.
The good news? I’ve returned to both places many times, and now have much deeper insights into them. The better news? I’m here to break down the Miyazaki vs Kagoshima debate so that you don’t have to.
Why Travelers Get Tripped Up in Southern Kyushu
Kyushu in general is a huge island whose size travelers underestimate. As a result, by the time they even end up needing to decide between Miyazaki or Kagoshima, most assume that they can easily visit both, sometimes within a single day. When they arrive and reality sets in, most either choose one by default, or even call of their trips entirely. I’ve encountered more than one person who (at least before hiring me to plan their trip) was ready simply to remain in Fukuoka!
If you can make peace with how long it takes to explore Kyushu (i.e. a minimum of two weeks for even a somewhat comprehensive trip around the island), then you shouldn’t have any problems. To break this down even further, you should plan to budget a minimum of two days each in each of these prefectures, and ideally more. If you want to visit both, then, you’ll need at least four full days to play with.
Ways to Compare Miyazaki with Kagoshima
Getting there and around
Both of these prefectures are relatively isolated—the only realistic way to reach them from Tokyo is by plane. Miyazaki’s airport is closer to its city center (though far from Nobeoka and Nichinan); Kagoshima gets points for being served by the Shinkansen. Getting around both prefectures requires a car, unless you plan only to remain in each city’s respect center.
Things to do
Miyazaki and Kagoshima are surprisingly interesting as destinations for many travelers. In Miyazaki, it’s all about the shrines, from Minato Shrine and its blue torii gate all the way down to the more traditional Udo Shrine. Kagoshima, meanwhile, boasts much more dramatic nature, from Sakurajima volcano (which is close to the city) to Yakushima, Yoron and Amami Oshima islands (which are not).
Hotels and restaurants
I’ll be very frank: There’s no hotel (or other accommodation) in Miyazaki prefecture that even comes close to the amazing views of the Shiroyama Hotel in Kagoshima, even if the hotel itself is a bit dated. Food-wise, Kagoshima also probably wins, with dozens of amazing eateries within the covered Tenmonkan shopping arcade.
Surrounding landscape
I mentioned earlier that Kagoshima had much more dramatic nature than Miyazaki, but this doesn’t mean that the winner of this category in the Kagoshima vs Miyazaki is unequivocal. For example, if you drive all the way south along Miyazaki’s coastline, you’ll reach Cape Toi—which, in addition to being scenic, is home to a population of wild horses. With this being said, and even keeping Takachiho Gorge in mind, I do still think Kagoshima prevails.
Day trips and excursions
From Kagoshima, you can head west to the Satsuma Peninsula or south across the water to Sakurajima volcano without having to move hotels, to say nothing of places slightly further afield, such as Kirishima Onsen or the Mizonokuchi Cave featured in the main image of this article. From Miyazaki, meanwhile, there’s so much to see within the prefecture that feels excursive from the city center that I wouldn’t say there are a lot of proper “day trips.”
Other Places to Visit in Kyushu
Kyushu has been in the travel news a lot lately, but I feel like many people still lack a sense of just how amazing it is. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Beyond the two I’ve mentioned in this article, major cities worth visiting include Fukuoka (street food), Nagasaki (history and harbor views) and Kumamoto (castles and Kumamoto).
- Natural attractions range form the Mt. Aso Geopark in central Kyushu, to the hot springs of Beppu Onsen in the east, to offshore islands like Tsushima and the Goto Islands.
- Other amazing road trip destinations include the Kunisaki Peninsula (from Beppu or Oita City), or Shimbara and Mt. Unzen (from Nagasaki).
Whether to decide between Kagoshima or Miyazaki or to plan out your broader trip to Kyushu, consider hiring me to assist with your Japan travels.
Other FAQ About Kagoshima and Miyazaki
Is Miyazaki or Kagoshima better for travelers?
I find that Kagoshima generally makes for a better base than Nagasaki due to better hotels and a greater number of city center attractions. With this being said, the sights that you can see driving along the coast of Miyazaki are unmatched both in Kagoshima and throughout Japan as a whole.
Should I visit Kagoshima or Miyazaki?
If you have time (a minimum of two days per prefecture), then I recommend visiting both Miyazaki and Kagoshima. Each offers a unique range of attractions and experiences—and frankly, they couldn’t be more different from one another. Discovering them is truly worth devoting a few days of your trip!
How do I get from Miyazaki to Kagoshima?
Although you can ride a limited express train between Kagoshima-Chuo Station and Miyazaki Station, a rental car is a much more efficient way to travel between these two prefectures. This will allow you to directly connect disparate destinations like the Satsuma Peninsula (in Kagoshima) and Cape Toi (in Miyazaki).
The Bottom Line
The Miyazaki vs Kagoshima is sometimes superfluous. After all, if you’re going to travel this far south and west, you’d might as well give “terminal” Kyushu the time it deserves, and visit both places. This could entail basing yourself somewhere in both prefectures (in Kagoshima City; but likely in Nobeoka or Nichinan, rather than Miyazaki City) and splitting 3-5 days between. Or, if you’re comfortable driving (and frankly you really should be, if you want to do this part of Japan justice) you can base yourself in Kagoshima and take a road trip into Miyazaki, or vice-versa. Need personalized help planning it all out? Consider hiring me to plan your Japan trip!
