Miyazaki

A consistently warm climate makes Miyazaki Prefecture a perfect year-round getaway. The prefecture also has its prefectural take on Japanese food, as well as locally grown mango. 

Drive down the Nichinan coastline for great sun, sea and surfing plus a few ancient shrines for good measure, or travel inland to the misty mountains of Takachiho to hear legends of the birth of Japan. Rent a car if you can, and don’t forget your appetite. 

Aoshima

Known as the Sunshine Capital of Japan, the prefectural capital of Miyazaki City is packed with (slightly retro) resort facilities facing out onto some of the best surfing conditions in the country. 

Along the coast between Miyazaki and Nichinan are endless scenic vistas. Stop at palm-covered Aoshima island to visit Aoshima Jinja, a picturesque shrine that attracts couples looking for marriage blessings.

Udo Jingu

Udo Jingu is a colorful shrine set on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The shrine is dedicated to the legendary first Emperor Jimmu of Japan. Look out for the breast-shaped rocks which are supposed to have fed Jimmu at his birth. For a bit of luck in your love life, buy a few undama stones and try to throw them at a target in the rocks below the shrine.

Takachiho

Hidden away in the mountains inland, Takachiho is a region where ancient Japanese mythology comes alive. Legend has it that this is where the gods descended and made land on the top of Takachiho-yama—Japan’s beginnings. You can visit Takachiho Shrine to watch the traditional kagura dances during which masked locals perform Japan’s unruly gods’ stories.

Takachiho-kyo is a breathtaking V-shaped gorge lined with sheer cliffs formed by a double volcanic eruption at volatile Mount Aso. You can view the chasm and the spectacular Manai waterfall from either above, along the walking trail, or below in a traditional rowboat.

Plan your trip to Miyazaki with the links below!