Miyazaki · Things to do
Things to Do in Miyazaki: 15 Places with Hours, Prices and Access
15 things to do · checked October 22, 2026
15 things to do in Miyazaki, from Miyazaki city outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 22, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Aoshima Island and Aoshima Shrine青島・青島神社
Island shrine · Aoshima
A small island about 860 m around with Aoshima Shrine at its centre. The island's subtropical plant community, including about 4,300 mature biro palms, has been a national Special Natural Monument since 1952.
- Access
- Miyakoh buses for Aoshima (routes 910, 911, 920, 921, 930, 931 and 953) leave from stop West 1 at Miyazaki Station.
2Devil's Washboard (Oni no Sentakuita)鬼の洗濯板
Rock formation (natural monument) · Aoshima
Ridged rock shelves of sandstone and mudstone worn unevenly by the waves, surrounding Aoshima and running along the Nichinan coast. At low tide the shelf shows across a width of about 20 to 100 m. A national Natural Monument since 1934.
Best seen at low tide, when the shelf shows across 20 to 100 m.
- Access
- Around Aoshima Island; Miyakoh buses for Aoshima leave from stop West 1 at Miyazaki Station.
3AOSHIMA BEACH PARKAOSHIMA BEACH PARK
Beach park with food stalls · Aoshima
A beach park in Aoshima with food and drink vendors, open all year since 2022 and holding pop-up events from time to time.
- Access
- In Aoshima; Miyakoh buses for Aoshima leave from stop West 1 at Miyazaki Station. Contact point: Aoshima Beach Center, 2-233 Aoshima.
- Hours
- 10:00–17:00 (varies by season)
4Miyazaki Jingu宮崎神宮
Shinto shrine · Jingu
The shrine of Emperor Jimmu, with grounds of about 25 hectares. Its annual festival is on 26 October, and the Jimmu-sama procession festival is held in late October.
- Access
- About 10 minutes on foot from JR Miyazaki-Jingu Station. From Miyazaki Station, a bus via Department Store-mae to Miyazaki Jingu, then 5 minutes on foot (Miyakoh route 1 leaves from stop West 2); about 10 minutes by taxi.
- Hours
- Shinmon gate 5:30–17:30; charm and prayer office 8:00–17:00
5Heiwadai Park平和台公園
Prefectural park · Shimokitakata
A prefectural park in Miyazaki city with the Peace Tower, which the prefecture keeps as historical heritage that also recalls the war years. The prefecture opens the inside of the tower on announced days.
- Access
- Miyakoh route 8-2 for Heiwadai from stop West 2 at Miyazaki Station, or route 8 (via Kencho-mae) from stop East 1.
6Miyazaki Prefectural Office Main Building宮崎県庁本館
Historic government building · Tachibana-dori
The prefectural office's main building from 1932, a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property since 2017. Visitors may look around it freely apart from the working offices, and free guided tours run on the first Sunday of each month (third Sunday in January) at 10:00 and 11:00, without booking.
- Access
- 2-10-1 Tachibana-dori Higashi. Miyakoh route 8 from stop East 1 at Miyazaki Station runs via Kencho-mae.
- Price
- Free
7Miyazaki Science Center宮崎科学技術館
Science museum and planetarium · Miyazaki Station east
The city's science museum, with what the city describes as one of the world's largest planetarium domes. The city plans a full renewal of the exhibits and planetarium with a closure of about two years, aiming to reopen in fiscal 2029; the start of the closure has not been announced.
- Access
- On the east side of JR Miyazaki Station (1-2-2 Miyazaki-eki-higashi).
- Hours
- 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00)
- Closed on
- Mondays (open on holidays), the day after a holiday (except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays), 29 December–3 January
8Phoenix Natural Zoo宮崎市フェニックス自然動物園
Zoo with small amusement park · Shioji
The city zoo of Miyazaki, in Shioji, with Asian elephants, chimpanzees and a Flying Flamingo Show, plus a small amusement park and a lazy river pool.
- Access
- Buses for the zoo run from Miyako City and from Miyazaki Station. Car parking ¥400.
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Wednesdays (open if a public holiday), 31 December
- Price
- Adults (high school and over) ¥840; junior high ¥420; elementary ¥310; preschool free
9Udo Jingu鵜戸神宮
Cave shrine · Nichinan coast
A shrine whose vermilion main hall stands inside a rock cave facing the Hyuga-nada sea at Cape Udo. The hall was rebuilt in 1711 by the fifth Obi lord and restored in 1889, 1968 and 1996; it is a prefectural cultural property.
- Access
- Miyaura, Nichinan (3232 Miyaura), the same district as Sun Messe Nichinan; Miyakoh bus 965 for Obi from stop West 1 at Miyazaki Station runs this way (about 1 hour 20 minutes to Sun Messe Nichinan).
10Sun Messe Nichinanサンメッセ日南
Coastal park with moai statues · Nichinan coast
A park on the Nichinan coast with a Moai Plaza of moai statues. It opens through New Year, Golden Week, Obon and public holidays.
- Access
- Miyakoh bus 965 for Obi from stop West 1 at Miyazaki Station, about 1 hour 20 minutes, to the Sun Messe Nichinan stop. About 40 minutes by car from central Miyazaki or Miyazaki Airport.
- Hours
- 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
- Closed on
- Wednesdays; other closures on the park calendar
- Price
- Adults ¥1,000; junior and senior high ¥700; age 4 and over ¥500
11Obi Castle Town飫肥城下町
Castle ruins and historic town · Obi, Nichinan
The former castle town of the Obi domain, with six paid facilities on one common ticket, among them the Obi Castle History Museum, Yoshokan, Matsuo-no-maru and the Komura Jutaro Memorial Museum.
- Access
- About 15 minutes on foot from JR Obi Station (Nichinan Line). About 40 minutes by car from Miyazaki Airport; the Obi Castle sightseeing car park is free for cars.
- Price
- Common ticket for all six facilities: adults ¥800; high school and university ¥600; elementary and junior high ¥350. Single facility: ¥300 / ¥200 / ¥100
12Saitobaru Burial Mounds and Archaeological Museum西都原古墳群・西都原考古博物館
Ancient burial mounds and museum · Saito
The prefectural archaeology museum on the Saitobaru burial mound site, with free entry to the permanent exhibition. The museum reopened on 1 August 2026 after repairs.
- Access
- Bus from Miyazaki Station for Saito Bus Center, about 70 minutes (Miyakoh route 200 from stop West 2), then about 10 minutes by taxi. About 40 minutes by car from central Miyazaki via Route 219.
- Hours
- 9:30–17:30 (exhibition rooms until 17:00)
- Closed on
- Mondays (the next day if a holiday), the day after a holiday (unless a weekend or holiday), 28 December–4 January
- Price
- Free (permanent exhibition)
13Sekinoo Falls関之尾滝
Waterfall and potholes · Miyakonojo
A waterfall 40 m wide with an 18 m drop. Above it, a field of river-bed potholes, a natural monument, stretches about 600 m upstream and up to 80 m wide.
- Access
- About 20 minutes by car from Miyakonojo IC on the Miyazaki Expressway. About 250 parking spaces in the park. The city lists JR Miyakonojo or Nishi-Miyakonojo stations and Takasaki Kanko buses for public transport.
14Umagase (Cape Hyuga)馬ヶ背
Cliff viewpoint · Hyuga
A viewpoint at the tip of Cape Hyuga, named for its shape like a horse's back. There are two decks: the glass-floored Skeruccha! deck at the cliff, opened in 2022, and the Cape Hyuga deck about 2 minutes' walk on.
- Access
- About 15 minutes by car from Hyugashi Station, about 14 minutes from Hyuga IC. Free parking for 70 cars. Address: 1-1 Hososhima, Hyuga.
- Hours
- Teahouse 8:40–17:20 (October–March), 9:10–17:50 (April–September)
15Takachiho Gorge高千穂峡
Gorge and waterfall · Takachiho
A narrow gorge where Manai Falls drops 17 m into the river. Rental rowing boats are booked online only, from two weeks to two days ahead (9:00); a limited number of same-day tickets are sold at the boat desk in the morning and can sell out early.
- Access
- Highway buses for Kumamoto, Nagasaki and Takachiho leave from highway-bus stop C at Miyazaki Station. The Takachiho tourist association office is 30 seconds' walk from the Takachiho bus centre.
Good to know
Start with Aoshima. The island, about 860 m around, has Aoshima Shrine at its centre, and the ridged rock shelves of the Devil's Washboard surround it; the shelf shows across 20 to 100 m at low tide. Miyakoh buses for Aoshima leave from stop West 1 at Miyazaki Station. In the city itself, Miyazaki Jingu, Heiwadai Park, the 1932 prefectural office building and the Science Center are a short bus or train ride away.
Further down the coast, Udo Jingu stands in a rock cave facing the sea at Cape Udo, Sun Messe Nichinan has its Moai Plaza in the same Miyaura district, and Obi is a former castle town with six paid facilities on one ticket. Miyakoh bus 965 for Obi runs this way; Sun Messe is about 1 hour 20 minutes from Miyazaki Station. Saitobaru, Sekinoo Falls, Cape Hyuga and Takachiho Gorge are the longer day trips on this list.
Dates and closures to plan around: Sun Messe Nichinan and Phoenix Natural Zoo both close on Wednesdays. Miyazaki Jingu's annual festival is on 26 October. Takachiho Gorge rowing boats are booked online from two weeks to two days ahead, and the Science Center plans a closure of about two years for renewal, with the start date not yet announced.
Miyazaki city, the Nichinan coast, or a longer day trip
How to get there from Miyazaki Station and what it costs to get in. Adult prices; children's prices are on each card above.
| Where | Getting there | Entry (adult) | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aoshima: Aoshima Shrine, Devil's Washboard, Beach Park | Miyakoh buses for Aoshima from stop West 1 | Not stated on the pages checked | Beach Park 10:00–17:00 (varies by season) |
| Miyazaki city: Miyazaki Jingu, Prefectural Office, Science Center | Miyazaki-Jingu Station + 10 min on foot · route 8 via Kencho-mae from East 1 · east side of Miyazaki Station | Prefectural Office free · Science Center fee not checked here | Jingu gate 5:30–17:30 · Science Center 9:00–16:30 |
| Phoenix Natural Zoo | Zoo buses from Miyako City or Miyazaki Station | ¥840 | 9:00–17:00, closed Wednesdays |
| Nichinan coast: Udo Jingu, Sun Messe Nichinan | Miyakoh bus 965 for Obi from West 1, about 1 h 20 min to Sun Messe | Sun Messe ¥1,000 | Sun Messe 9:30–17:00, closed Wednesdays |
| Obi Castle Town | JR Obi Station + about 15 min on foot | ¥800 common ticket (six facilities) | Not stated on the pages checked |
| Day trips: Saitobaru, Sekinoo Falls, Umagase, Takachiho Gorge | Bus about 70 min + taxi (Saitobaru) · car from Miyakonojo IC (Sekinoo) or Hyugashi Station (Umagase) · highway bus from stop C (Takachiho) | Saitobaru museum free | Saitobaru 9:30–17:30, closed Mondays |
By kind of trip
First trip, one day near the city
Aoshima Shrine and the Devil's Washboard are on the same Aoshima bus routes from stop West 1; Miyazaki Jingu is 10 minutes on foot from Miyazaki-Jingu Station.
Aoshima Island and Aoshima Shrine · Devil's Washboard (Oni no Sentakuita) · Miyazaki Jingu
With children
Phoenix Natural Zoo is free for preschool children, Sun Messe Nichinan charges ¥500 from age 4, and the Science Center has a large planetarium dome.
Phoenix Natural Zoo · Sun Messe Nichinan · Miyazaki Science Center · AOSHIMA BEACH PARK
Rainy day
These are indoors. Saitobaru's permanent exhibition is free; the prefectural office is free to look around apart from the working offices.
Miyazaki Science Center · Saitobaru Burial Mounds and Archaeological Museum · Miyazaki Prefectural Office Main Building
History and shrines
Udo Jingu's main hall was rebuilt in 1711; Obi's six facilities share one ¥800 ticket; the Saitobaru museum's permanent exhibition is free.
Udo Jingu · Obi Castle Town · Saitobaru Burial Mounds and Archaeological Museum · Miyazaki Jingu
A longer day out
Takachiho boats are booked online from two weeks to two days ahead. Umagase and Sekinoo Falls are easiest by car, with free parking at Umagase.
Questions
How do I get to Aoshima from Miyazaki Station?
Miyakoh buses for Aoshima (routes 910, 911, 920, 921, 930, 931 and 953) leave from stop West 1 at Miyazaki Station. Aoshima Shrine is at the centre of the island, and the Devil's Washboard rock shelves surround it.
When is the best time to see the Devil's Washboard?
At low tide. Miyazaki City says the shelf shows across a width of about 20 to 100 m at low tide. It is a national Natural Monument, designated in 1934.
How do I get to Udo Jingu and Sun Messe Nichinan without a car?
Miyakoh bus 965 for Obi leaves from stop West 1 at Miyazaki Station and reaches the Sun Messe Nichinan stop in about 1 hour 20 minutes. Udo Jingu is in the same Miyaura district of Nichinan. Sun Messe is closed on Wednesdays.
Do I need to book the Takachiho Gorge rowing boats?
Bookings are online only, from two weeks to two days before the day, at 9:00. Phone bookings and a waiting list are not accepted. A limited number of same-day tickets are sold at the boat desk in the morning; on 22 October 2026 they had sold out by 9:50.
What is open on a Monday?
The Saitobaru museum and the Science Center close on Mondays, but both open when the Monday is a public holiday. Sun Messe Nichinan and Phoenix Natural Zoo close on Wednesdays instead, so both are open on Mondays.