Miyazaki is a prefectural capital city on the south east coast of Kyushu. It is a pleasant seaside town popular with people on vacation and many beauteous attractions. It is one of the most sunshine hours of any city in Japan and visitors come to here for the relaxed atmosphere. It is also famous for its beautiful wide blue sky which ranks one of the top ten all over the world. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Haneda, Tokyo International Airport to Miyazaki by flight. There are many tourist attractive sites in Miyazaki. Among them, I would like to introduce the three places I like best.

Udo Shrine, a lucky place for visitor
It is located on the Nichinan Coast, is about 40 kilometers in the south of the Miyazaki city. It takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes from Miyazaki station by bus to there. Interestingly, there is no closing dates and entrance fee is free. Walking from the car parking to the shrine takes around 15 minutes but worth the effort. It is dedicated to Yamasachihiko, the father of Emperor Jimmu, the mythical first emperor of Japan.

The shrine is famous for its unique construction. The brightly painted shrine is set in the cave of the Cliffside facing the Pacific Ocean and so we can enjoy a spectacular view. Legend goes that a breast-shaped rocks in the cave nourished Emperor Jimmu, the rock is still believed as the symbol of easy delivery and good childcare. The shrine is also said to bring good luck to couples and newlyweds. Until the beginning of the Taisho era, newlyweds from around the Miyazaki City area, there was the tradition of “Udo-san mairi”. After finishing their shrine visit, the bride would get on a horse decorated with bells and then be taken home. At present this event can be seen in Miyazaki City and Nichinan City.

There is a terrace overlooking the ocean outside the cave which is popular site to see the first sunrise of the New Year. Splashes from the ocean sea waves hitting the shore was spectacular and the views are simply breath-taking.

Among the rocks below is a target marked by rope into where people try to throw with small lucky balls (five pebbles for 100 yen). It is believed that men must throw them with the left hand and women must throw them with the right hand and if the ball is put into the hole, it is said that you will have a good luck. Indeed, this will bring the all visitors unforgettable happiness. On the way down, you will see various small shops and vendors, some selling ice cream made of a local Miyazaki citrus fruit, which you’ll appreciate on a hot summer day.

Sun Messe Nichinan , a beautiful shoreline
Another attractive place, which is not so far from Udo Shrine, just drive about 25 minutes, is called Sun Messe Nichinan and it is in Miyazaki Prefecture. It is located on a hill and getting out of the car, you can see so beautiful shoreline and I am sure you will gaze it with open wide-mouth! You can see the moai (monolithic human figures) statues in the distance in this photo. Moai of Sun Messe Nichinan is a symbol of friendship between Japan and Easter Island. The size and shape of moai here are exactly the same as those of Easter Island. Seven moai have different benefits: from the left, work, health, love, recreation, marriage, money and study respectively. It's not a mid-century modern "tiki" type of place, but it is very cool to be in Japan and feel like you're someplace else. The statues seem to gaze peacefully into the sky and it was such a miraculous sight!

But Sun Messe Nichinan’s attraction is not moai only. Wonderful panorama of the Pacific Ocean, beautiful flowers and butterflies are also the attraction of the park.

About 10 ponys and goats will also greet you at Moai cape farm and Fureai farm. From sunrise to sunset scenery of all four seasons will fascinate you. There are also restaurants, souvenir shops, observation points and more. Entrance fee is 700 yen and it is only open in business hours (9:30 am – 5 pm) and closed at every first and third Wednesday.

Takachiho, legends of Japanese Mythology
Another recommendation place is the Takachiho which is located about 120 kilometers northwest of the prefectural capital of Miyazaki and about 80 kilometers southeast of the city of Kumamoto. It takes about three hours by car to get there form Miyazaki. It is the site of one of the best known legends of Japanese mythology. Amaterasu, the Shinto Sun Goddess, disturbed by her brother’s cruel pranks, hid herself in a cave (Amano Yasukawara), prompting the other gods and goddesses to try and lure her out. It is 10 kilometers from central Takachiho and the bus operates between the Takachiho bus center and the Takachiho gorge (5 minutes, 150 yen). After a few minutes on this path, you will see neat little piles of stones stacked along the river by previous visitors to mark their pilgrimage to this power spot.

The natural beauty of the cave and river lined by countless stack of stones make Amano Yasukawara a place not to miss.

The Takachiho gorge is a V-shaped gorge, created by the Gokase river that flows from the west to the southeast of the town. It was formed over 100,000 years ago after volcanic eruptions in the Aso area. Partway along the gorge is the 17 meter high Minainotaki waterfall cascading down to the river below and it is truly impressive to see the waterfall against a backdrop of dense green foliage and the surrounding grey cliffs.

The gorge has a 600 meter long walking trail and the natural environment here is one of the most beautiful in the country.

There are also two kinds of enjoyment that you can participate. The first is rent the boat and rowing down the river. The second is done by walking the paved path that runs along the edge of the gorge. Sheer rock cliffs reach heavenward, flat as glass in some areas and ribbed like a folding fan in others. It’s really huge and the landscape is very unique and interesting!

Another interesting point is seeing the clouds. The sea of clouds covers Takachiho Basin on perfectly clear days in the fall and on cold mornings with no wind. The best time to see the clouds is before and after the sunrise and you get to enjoy the view until early winter.
Takachiho’s other attractions include a number of onsen (hot spring), a small fresh water aquarium, tourist shops selling ice-cream and trinkets.

If you are staying in Takachiho overnight in one of its many hotels, try to watch one of the nighty performances of Yokagura at Takachiho Shrine. It is performed by traditional instruments for tourists every night throughout the year. It is a repertoire of 33 ancient dances and the dances are performed to please the gods, thanks them for a good harvest and to pray for the following year’s harvest.
There are also traditional Japanese restaurants in which you can enjoy delicious Japanese style’s foods.

I am sure you will never regret for amazing memorial times by visiting the above attractive sites in Miyazaki.