Area Characteristics
Around Miyazaki Airport, you will see examples of the prefectural tree known as the Canary Island date palm. As soon as you arrive, you will pick up on that South Seas mood. Enjoyed for its warm climate even in the winter, Miyazaki Prefecture is often chosen as training camps for baseball and soccer teams. Also, there are various ways to enjoy your time here including the cuisine found in Miyazaki City, the Takachiho and Kirishima Mountains which has a connection with the mythology of the area viewed from Miyakonojo City, and Nichinan City where the sea beautifully spreads out. As well, there are also places ranging from resorts where you can enjoy the warm weather to spiritual spots which will take you into a world of mystery that has existed since mythical times.
Major Sites
You will want to visit famous tourist sites such as the largest power spots in Miyazaki Prefecture, Takachiho Gorge and Takachiho Shrine. Other sites include Sunmesse Nichinan Theme Park which received permission from a senior council on the Easter Islands to construct replicas of the Moai statues, Udo-jingū Shrine, Aoshima Shrine, the Cruz Sea where people go to make wishes, Teruha Suspension Bridge which has been registered as a UNESCO Ecopark and the area of Obi which was recognized as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Food
Miyazaki is known for its summer citrus fruits and its brand of Taiyo-no-Tamago (Egg of the Sun) mangoes, but there are also various other famous products as well. For example, Miyazaki-gyu beef won the Wagyu Olympics for a historic 2 years in a row. Chicken Nanban is a famous example of Miyazaki soul food that makes up the regional cuisine. For souvenirs, cheese manju buns, filling Nanjakorya stuffed rice cakes and Kirishima sweet potato shochu are popular.
Transportation
It’s usual to fly to Miyazaki from Tokyo, and the trip to Miyazaki Airport from Haneda takes about 2 hours. It’s ideal to navigate through the area by rental car, and from the airport, it takes about 30 minutes to reach downtown Miyazaki City, 1 hour to reach Nichinan and 2 hours for Takachiho.
Accommodations
There are accommodations around Miyazaki Station in the center of Miyazaki City, the onsen area of Nichinan, Takachiho, and other areas. A variety of accommodations is available ranging from resort hotels to onsen ryokan.