Miyazaki 1 Day Itinerary (Aoshima, Udo-jingu Shrine, Obi)

A southern island overflowing with nature surrounded by a blue ocean and filled with subtropical plant life. The entire island is considered to be a holy land with a shrine situated there. There is also a free botanical garden so that you can fully enjoy a nature walk. ＊Taking the local Miyazaki Kotsu bus from Aoshima to Udo-jingu is convenient. Get on the 10:31 bus leaving Aoshima (Please check the latest information there on the bus schedule. Also try not to be late because there aren’t many buses running and check your destination).

An impressive red shrine standing in a cave on a cliff facing the blue ocean that has become a popular spot symbolizing Miyazaki. ＊Taking the local Miyazaki Kotsu bus from Udo-jingu to Obi is convenient. Get on the 12:37 bus leaving Udo-jingu. (Please check the latest information there on the bus schedule. Also try not to be late because there aren’t many buses running and check your destination).

Head for Obi, the castle town that thrived during the latter half of the 16th century where you can see an ancient townscape with sights such as merchant shops and samurai residences. Have lunch here after arriving. There are plenty of shops such as restaurants along Honmachi Shonin-dori where you can enjoy Miyazaki cuisine. In addition to Obi dishes including obiten and atsuyaki tamago, you can enjoy the popular aburi katsuo don (broiled bonito bowl) at Gallery Kodama. After lunch, visit Shouka Shiryokan Museum and the Old Takahashi Genjiro House.

Walk by the residences of the samurai that have kept the feeling of the old castle town. Go along Ote-mon Street which leads straight to Obi Castle and see the koi-filled canal and the samurai residence with the highest status in the town, Yoshokan. On Bukeyashiki Street where the houses for high-ranking samurai are located, you can observe the scenery from long ago.

These are the ruins of Obi Castle, the residence for the Ito branch of the Obi clan which ruled for 280 years over 14 generations. See the restored Ote-mon gate, the ruling lord’s residence, Matsuo-no-Maru, and the Obi Castle History Museum. On the former site of the inner citadel, there are old towering cedar trees and a carpet of moss. This is also one of the highlights of the area.