The first time I visited Miyazaki—which was long before I created a Miyazaki travel guide—I didn’t do do it justice. And frankly, this was because I didn’t do my homework: The city (and Miyazaki prefecture more broadly) was an afterthought; I simply wanted to see Takachiho Gorge.
Which is ironic: The gorge (as gorge-ous as it is) is actually closer to Kumamoto than it is to Miyazaki, both geographically and in spirit.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ve constructed this Miyazaki itinerary to be both deliberate and intentional, to help ensure that you don’t make the same mistakes that I did.
Where to Stay in Miyazaki
Unlike in neighboring Kagoshima, I’m sorry to say that Miyazaki hotels really do leave a lot to be desired. Most of the options on offer are some of the simplest and oldest examples of the Japanese business hotel (a “format” I quite like, if we’re being fair) you’ll find anywhere in Japan. As a result, unless staying at Dormy Inn Miyazaki or JR Kyushu Hotel Miyazaki seems appealing to you, I can see why you might not want to base yourself here at all.
And not just in Miyazaki City, either. The options up the coast in Nobeoka (I’m thinking of Hotel Route-Inn Nobeoka Ekimae) and down the coast in Nichinan, including Mango Hotel Nichinan, are not much better. As a result I always suggest the possibility, as unsexy as some might find this, of simply visiting Miyazaki’s top attractions as a day trip (and, ideally, a road trip) from neighboring prefectures like Kumamoto, Oita or the aforementioned Kagoshima.
What to Do in Japan’s Miyazaki Prefecture
Set your GPS for Nobeoka’s Minato Shrine
Minato Shrine is neither famous nor named in a particularly unique way. “Minato” simply means “port” or “harbor,” and is a word ascribed to hundreds (if not thousands) of place in Japan. Still, there are two reasons I recommend starting here. First, because it’s about as far north as you can go in Miyazaki-ken, i.e. Nobeoka city. Secondly, the torii gates are blue, something I’ve never seen anywhere else.
(And for Udo Shrine near Nichinan, too)
Next up on your Miyazaki itinerary is a place that’s probably the second-most famous place in the prefecture, i.e. Udo Shrine. Although larger and technically more impressive than Minato Shrine, I probably prefer the latter. However, on the way from Miyazaki City to the shrine (which is nearer to Nichinan city), you can stop en route at Aoshima island and the shrine of the same name.
Drive all the way to Cape Toi
Presuming you have your own car (and, if I haven’t been clear about this already, you absolutely should), another of my favorite things to do in Miyazaki is to continue heading south—and not just to the Ishinami Coast the Koigaura “surfer’s point,” though both are beautiful. No, I suggest going all the way south to Cape Toi, which is not only beautiful, but home to a population of wild horses.
Sample local delicacies
As I discussed in previous iterations of my Miyazaki travel guide, the prefecture is home to a much more wide-ranging culinary heritage than you’d expect for someplace so relatively obscure. This includes not only specific local variety of wa-gyu, but the completely interesting hiyajiru, a creamy take on miso soup that is basically only found here.
Don’t forget Takachiho Gorge
Last but not least is Takachiho Gorge. I feel weird saying this because it’s probably Miyazaki’s most famous single attraction, but in another way, it makes total sense that it feels vestigial: The gorge is closer to Kumamoto (and in particular the Mt. Aso area) than it is to anywhere in Miyazaki-ken itself. Of course, if you have a car (and again, you should) this is basically immaterial.
How Long Do I Need in Miyazaki?
As is the case with many prefectures in Kyushu, the size and array of attractions in Miyazaki City is misleading. Honestly, you could “do” the city (I mean, to the extent Miyazaki-shi even needs doing) in a day or less. The issue is that Miyazaki is much bigger than it looks on the map. You need an entire day (so, a day when you wake up somewhere in or near Miyazaki and go to bed in the same place) just to take a road trip along the Miyazaki coast.
This, of course, does not even account for the prefecture’s most famous attraction (i.e. Takachiho Gorge), never mind the fact that it’s much closer to Kumamoto City than it is to Miyazaki City. The bottom line, to be sure, is that the topic of how many days in Miyazaki is complex one, with no easy answer. Yours will be particular to you, which is one of many reasons you might consider hiring me to plan your trip.
Other FAQ About Visiting Miyazaki
Is Miyazaki worth visiting?
Miyazaki is absolutely worth visiting, particularly if you can commit to going outside of Miyazaki City. Spend a day road tripping down the coast, from Nobeoka down to Nichinan, and all the way to Cape Toi, with its horses. Then, take another day to drive deep inland to Takachiho Gorge.
What’s the best way to get around in Miyazaki prefecture?
Although you can get to and from Miyazaki by plane or train, you really do need to rent a car in order to make the most of your time in Miyazaki prefecture. This is particularly the case for discovering destinations along the prefecture’s coast, and of course for reaching Takachiho Gorge.
What is Miyazaki known for?
To the extent that Miyazaki is known at all, its most famous attraction is Takachiho Gorge (which, as I’ve stated many times now, is closer to Kumamoto than it is to most of Miyazaki). The prefecture is also famous for its wa-gyu beef, and for beautiful coastal idylls like the Udo and Minato shrines, and the Cape Toi horse habitat.
The Bottom Line
I hope Miyazaki travel guide has been both informative and inspiring. Informative, because there’s a lot you need to know about Miyazaki-ken in order to properly execute your trip there. And inspiring because the prefecture is so much more than Takachiho Gorge, as wonderful as that place may be. In particular, I hope I’ve motivated you to explore Miyazaki’s spectacular coastline (ideally, as part of a road trip in your own rental vehicle); the area between Nobeoka and Nichinan, and ideally all the way to Cape Toi, is for me where Miyazaki really comes alive and becomes the most itself. Need personalized help integrating Miyazaki into your Japan trip? Commission a custom Japan itinerary today!
