Nichinan/ Hyuga[Miyazaki]

A. Throw in a seaside shrine, replica Moai statues, an old historic castle and some great surfing, and Nichinan has plenty to offer for the whole family.

Q. How can we get to Nichinan?

A. Located in the southern part of Miyazaki Prefecture, Nichinan is accessible via car or train.

By car, drive south along the main Route 220 from Miyazaki City . The drive takes about an hour. By train from Miyazaki Station, take the Nichinan Line toward Shibushi.

Q. Which is the most spectacular seaside shrine in Miyazaki?

A. Udo-jingu Shrine is perhaps Miyazaki's most spectacular seaside shrine. One of only a very few shrines built inside a cave in Japan, this shrine has amazing views of the water below.

Q. I heard about Moai statues in the area. Could you please explain more about them?

A. Sunmesse Nichinan , about a five minutes-drive north of Miyazaki, is a small theme park with seven huge replica Moai statues. Touching different statues brings different kinds of luck.

Q.What is the historical background of Obi Town? 

A. Obi Town is an old castle town that used to be home to some of Japan's most powerful figures when Miyazaki was a big player in Japan.

The old town would not look out of place in any samurai period drama, and is particularly atmospheric at night.

Q. Is there a place where we can frolic with monkeys?

A. Kojima Island, south of Nichinan City, is home to thousands of wild Japanese monkeys. Known as Monkey Island, Kojima is accessible by boat for about 1,000 yen.

Q. What is Hyuga like?

A. Quiet and undisturbed area, Hyuga lets you see the rocky cliffs, crashing waves, and historical sites without the crowds. It is recommended for surfers too

The area of Hyuga is a hotbed of surf culture, with many domestic and international surf competitions held there each year.

Q.Is it usually easy to move around Hyuga?

A. Accessing some of Hyuga's sightseeing spots without a car can be difficult. If you come by train, you can hire a taxi by the day from Hyuga-shi station. You can organize it easily at the tourist office out front of the station.

Q. What is Cape Hyuga like?

A. Cape Hyuga is part of the Nippo Kaigan Quasi-National Park, a special area recognized for its untamed volcanic coastal formations and abundance of unique flora.

Q. Please tell me about the area called Mimitsu.

A. Mimitsu , which sits just before the bridge crossing the Mimi River on Route 10, has been designated as a special district of preservation. It was a thriving port town before the introduction of railways, and it's believed that the legendary first emperor of Japan, Emperor Jimmu, set off here for Nara on his way to unite the clans of Japan.

bountiful 豊富な

outlawed 非合法化された

tumultuous 騒々しい