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Last update: 20 Oct 2026
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Miyazaki Summary
These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.
‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.
‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.
‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.
Suited for
Japan – Quick facts
| Power Grid: |
100 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A
Type A:
 Read about power adapters |
|---|---|
| Currency: |
Japanese Yen (JPY) £1 ≈ JP¥210 |
| Cashless info: |
Rating 4/5
Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities, with some shops still preferring cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations in rural areas.
Save with a travel credit card |
| eSIM providers: |
Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison |
| Tipping: | Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is the norm, and tipping is unnecessary in most places. |
|---|---|
| Public drinking: | Public drinking is legal and commonly accepted, particularly during festivals and events. |
| Public smoking: | Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas. Some restaurants may have smoking sections. |
| New Year (January) |
One of the most important holidays, expect crowded temples and high prices. Plan ahead. |
|---|---|
| Golden Week (April-May) |
The busiest travel time, expect high demand for accommodation and transport. |
| Obon (August) |
A time to honour ancestors, many businesses close, and transport can be crowded. |
| Emergency contact: | Emergency Number: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire & Ambulance) |
|---|---|
| Taxi apps: | Uber, JapanTaxi, DiDi |
| Other: | Japan is a country of respect, so understanding local customs and etiquette is important. Public transport is efficient, but can be crowded during peak hours. |
Best times to travel
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
for Miyazaki, Japan
Typhoon season July to October, highest risk August to September, can cancel flights and trains
Rainy season early June to mid July with heavy rain, sometimes flooding
Surfing is best July to October, with the highest swells in typhoon season
Don't miss
- 🚣♂️ Paddle a rowboat through scenic Takachiho Gorge
- 🛕 Visit Aoshima Shrine on its tiny subtropical island
- ⛩️ Toss a lucky stone at Udo Shrine’s seaside cave
- 🐎 Explore the dramatic cliffs and wild horses at Cape Toi
- ♨️ Relax in the healing hot springs of Yunomoto Onsen
- 🌄 Enjoy panoramic views from the summit of Mount Kirishima
You've been here?
Log in to manage your own bucket list! Why travel to Miyazaki?
Takachiho in the north has the narrow Takachiho Gorge, with tall basalt cliffs and a waterfall that rowboats usually pass through in season. Amano Iwato Shrine nearby is linked to the myth of the sun goddess Amaterasu hiding in a cave. Takachiho Kagura, a traditional dance, is performed in the town. The coast has its own sights. Aoshima is a small island reached by a short bridge, with a shrine on it and a wave-cut rock formation called the Devil's Washboard around it. Further south, Udo Shrine is inside a sea cave on the Nichinan Coast. In Miyazaki city, Miyazaki Jingu is dedicated to Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first emperor. Beaches near the city are popular with surfers and the prefecture is also known for golf. The highlands of Kirishima and Ebino Kogen have volcanic scenery and walking trails. Obi, a former castle town, has old streets and cedar woods. Plan three or four days to combine city, coast and mountains. The prefecture is long and the best sights are far apart, so a hire car helps. Miyazaki also works as an easy add-on to a trip through Kagoshima or Kumamoto.
🏙️Cities & Regions
-
1
Takachiho
A mountain town in northern Miyazaki Prefecture where a narrow river gorge and a set of shrines are tied to Japan's founding myths. Visitors can row beneath Manai Falls by day and watch sacred kagura dance at night.
🏯Places worth seeing
🎡Places for activities
-
1
Ocean Dome
🏞️Natural landmarks
🛍️Shopping
-
1
AEON MALL
🍽️Eat & Drink
-
1
Aji no Ogura Honten
Chicken nanban, fried chicken in sweet vinegar sauce, topped with a creamy tartar sauce, a version this restaurant was the first to serve. It is about a 15-minute walk from Miyazaki Station. It serves lunch and dinner. -
2
Miyazaki Beef Aburi Yakiniku Gyuzo
Aburi-style yakiniku, grilled beef, using Miyazaki beef, plus shabu-shabu, at an izakaya, a Japanese pub, in the downtown area. The owner selects the beef by hand. The restaurant serves dinner only. -
3
Okazaki Bokujyo Yakiniku Store
Yakiniku and steaks of Pine-gyu, a wagyu brand raised on mother's milk and feed with pineapple enzymes. The restaurant raises the cattle on its own ranch. It also lists many side dishes. -
4
Torimasa
Yakitori, grilled chicken skewers, at an izakaya, a Japanese pub, near the Miyazaki Prefectural Office. The owner trained at well-known Tokyo restaurants. It is a 5-minute drive from Miyazaki Station.
🎈Events
-
Miyazaki Fire Festival
-
Yabusame Horseback Archery
-
Matsuri Festival
-
Takachiho Kagura Dance
-
Aoshima Beach Fireworks
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Miyazaki Beef Festival
-
Phoenix Marathon
-
Tango no Sekku (Children’s Day)
-
Miyazaki Chrysanthemum Festival
-
Miyazaki Aqua Festival
Knowledge before you go
- Hire a car for Takachiho because there's no train.
- Aoshima's Devil's Washboard rock formation shows best at low tide, so check tide times before you visit.
- Takachiho Kagura dance is a highlight, so check current performance times before you plan an evening there.
- Hiyajiru, a cold miso soup served over rice, is a local dish worth trying on a hot day.
How to travel to Miyazaki
Most visitors fly into Miyazaki Airport (KMI). Flights from Tokyo Haneda take about two hours, from Osaka Itami about an hour, from Fukuoka around 40 to 45 minutes and from Naha roughly 80 minutes. The airport has its own train station and Miyazaki Station is about 10 minutes away. A bus takes around 25 minutes. The shinkansen doesn't reach Miyazaki, so from Kagoshima-Chuo Station the limited express takes about 2 hours. From Hakata in Fukuoka it's quicker to take the highway bus, which takes roughly 3 hours 40 minutes with frequent departures. Direct trains from Beppu take about 3.5 hours. By car, Takachiho is about 2 hours 15 minutes from Miyazaki city, Kirishima Onsen about 1.5 hours and Aso about 3 hours. An overnight car ferry also links the prefecture with Kobe.
Access summary
- From Miyazaki Airport (KMI): Train or bus to city centre, about 15–30 min.
- From Fukuoka: Limited express/transfer trains or highway bus, usually around 4–5 h.
- From Osaka: Direct domestic flights about 1–1.5 h to Miyazaki Airport.
Check your route from anywhere
Where to stay in Miyazaki
Miyazaki city is the practical base, with business hotels close to the station and around Nishitachi, the city's largest entertainment district. This keeps you near restaurants and buses and is a good starting point for the airport, Aoshima and the coast. The coast northeast of the city has a large resort area with beach and golf. Aoshima has small inns and pensions near the beach, which suits a quiet night near the shrine. Takachiho has ryokan, guesthouses and minshuku near the gorge and shrines. Staying overnight lets you see evening kagura. In the highlands of Kirishima, onsen lodgings are around Ebino Kogen. Rooms fill up in summer, around holidays and during the golf and surf season. If you only have a day, base yourself in the city.
Hotel recommendations
*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.
How to get around Miyazaki
Miyazaki city is compact enough to cover without a car, with downtown about a 10-minute walk west of Miyazaki Station. Beyond the city, the coast is reached by train and bus while the mountains need a car.
Buses:
Local buses reach the shrine, museums and coast. Fares start at around JP¥140 (£0.66) and day passes are sold at the bus centres.
Trains:
The JR Nippo Line runs along the coast and the Nichinan Line goes south to Aoshima in about 30 minutes. Udo Shrine and the rest of the Nichinan Coast need a bus or a car. Services are infrequent, so check timetables.
Car:
Takachiho has no train. Driving from Miyazaki city takes about 2 hours 15 minutes and Kirishima Onsen is about 1.5 hours away. Buses reach Takachiho from other Kyushu cities but not often, so a hire car is the practical choice for the mountains. Cars can be hired at the airport and near the station.
Food in Miyazaki
Food in Miyazaki is built around chicken, beef and seafood from the coast. Miyazaki beef is a premium regional brand. Many restaurants serve set meals at lunch. Nishitachi in Miyazaki city is the main area for evening dining and drinking. Outside the city, restaurants are fewer and many close early. In mountain towns such as Takachiho, plan dinner ahead or eat at your lodging.
Chicken:
Charcoal grilled jidori, a local free range chicken, is served in izakaya and restaurants across the prefecture. Chicken nanban is fried chicken dressed with a sweet vinegar sauce and tartar sauce.
Mangoes:
Mangoes are the famous fruit and the best ones are sold as gifts in summer.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home
We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.
To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.
Daily expenses in Miyazaki are around 53% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend
The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.
Your exchange rate (GBP to JPY) is 20% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.
Travel costs
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.
Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.
Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.
Daily cost summary
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
Travel style categories explained:
Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.
Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.
Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation | |||
| 🏨 Accommodation per night, per person | |||
| 🍝 Food per day | |||
| 🚕 Transportation per day |
Food & Drink
| 🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person | |
|---|---|
| 🍛 Lunch Set, per person | |
| 🍟 Fast food combo | |
| 🍝 Preparing your own food, per day | |
| ☕ Cappuccino | |
| 🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l |
Transportation
| 🚌 Public transport ticket | |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi | |
| ⛽ Petrol, 1 l |
Other
| 🎞️ Cinema ticket | |
|---|---|
| 👩⚕️ Doctor's consult | |
| 🤧 Cold medication | |
| 💇 Basic haircut |
Safety information overview
General safety
Miyazaki is very safe with low crime in cities and tourist areas. The main risks are natural. Typhoons can hit between summer and autumn and cause heavy rain and cancellations. Strong currents affect some beaches while Kirishima has active volcanoes, so follow local advisories.
Health & Medical
Miyazaki city has hospitals and clinics and pharmacies are common in towns. Mountain areas such as Takachiho have fewer services, so carry regular medication. Summers are hot and humid and typhoon season can disrupt travel.
Accessibility
Accessibility is mixed. Miyazaki Airport and the main stations have lifts and the city centre is flat. Takachiho Gorge and shrine paths involve stairs and slopes. Udo Shrine has steps down to the cave. Public transport is limited outside the cities.
Tap water
Tap water in Miyazaki is safe to drink like the rest of Japan. Shops and vending machines sell bottled drinks in towns. In mountain areas and on remote coasts shops are few, so carry a bottle.
Packing recommendations for Miyazaki
Log in to add this place to a travel list and get a summary of all recommended items for your whole trip.
📷
Camera
👟
Comfortable walking shoes
🌞
Sun cream
hat, sun cream
🚰
Reusable water bottle
👕
Light, breathable clothing
for summer
🧥
Waterproof jacket
for the rainy season
🕶️
Sunglasses
hat, sun cream
🎒
Small rucksack
🪰
Insect repellent
🩱
Swimwear
👜
Anti-theft bag
🔋
Power bank
👒
Sun hat
hat, sun cream
📱
Translation app or phrasebook
📱
Travel eSIM
🔌
Universal travel adaptor
💳
Credit card with no foreign transaction fees
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