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Hokkaido Tohoku Hokuriku
Shinetsu Kanto Tokai Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa Islands SAPPORO TOKYO NAGOYA OSAKA FUKUOKA FURANO KUSHIRO AOMORI SENDAI FUKUSHIMA NIKKO HAKONE SADO TAKAYAMA KANAZAWA ISE KYOTO NARA HIROSHIMA NAGASAKI KAGOSHIMA NAHA

Hokkaido

Hokkaido

Sub-zero temperatures and the greatest of outdoor environments, complemented by sizzling soul food and warm-hearted welcomes. Japan's great white north offers wild, white winters and bountiful summers—a haven for dedicated foodies, nature lovers and outdoor adventure fans seeking an adrenaline rush

Tohoku

Aomori
Akita
Iwate
Yamagata
Miyagi
Fukushima

Sleek apple-red and electric-green shinkansen whisk you up to a haven of fresh powder snow, fresh fruit and fearsome folk legends Fearsome festivals, fresh powder and vast fruit orchards—the rugged northern territory of Tohoku offers a fresh perspective on travel in Japan

Hokuriku Shinetsu

Niigata
Toyama
Ishikawa
Fukui
Nagano

Mountains and sea meet in one of Japan's wildest regions, and the result is sheer beauty. Once largely inaccessible, Hokuriku is now reachable by shinkansen from Tokyo in a matter of hours An easily accessible slice of rural Japan offering unrivaled mountainscapes and coastlines, endless outdoor adventure and amazing ocean fare

Kanto

Tokyo
Kanagawa
Chiba
Saitama
Ibaraki
Tochigi
Gunma

Characterized by the constant buzz of the world's most populous metropolitan area, the Kanto region is surprisingly green with an array of escapes that include mountainous getaways and subtropical islands Experience diversity at its fullest, from the neon of Tokyo to the ski slopes of Gunma, exotic wildlife of the Ogasawara Islands and cultural heritage of Kamakura

Tokai

Yamanashi
Shizuoka
Gifu
Aichi
Mie

Served by the shinkansen line that connects Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the Tokai region provides plenty of interesting diversions and easy excursions Tokai means "eastern sea," and this region stretches east from Tokyo to Kyoto and includes blockbuster attractions such as Mt. Fuji and Takayama

Kansai

Kyoto
Osaka
Shiga
Hyogo
Nara
Wakayama

From raucous nights out to outdoor thrills to peaceful reverie, trying to categorize the Kansai region is a futile task The Kansai region is one of extreme contrasts—the neon lights of Osaka and glittering Kobe nightscape, the peaceful realms of Shiga, Wakayama and Nara, and the cultured refinement of Kyoto

Chugoku

Tottori
Shimane
Okayama
Hiroshima
Yamaguchi

Less-traveled and delightfully inaccessible at times, the Chugoku region is a reminder that the journey is sometimes more important than the destination Welcome to Japan's warm and friendly western frontier, where the weather is warmer and the pace of life is slower

Shikoku

Tokushima
Kagawa
Ehime
Kochi

Providing the stage for literary classics, fevered dancing and natural wonders Island-hopping, cycling, soul-warming spiritual strolling and red-hot dancing—the island of Shikoku gets you up and moving

Kyushu

Fukuoka
Saga
Nagasaki
Oita
Kumamoto
Miyazaki
Kagoshima

Easily reached by land, sea and air, the dynamic Kyushu prefectures are bubbling with energy, culture and activity The southern island of Kyushu is home to volcanoes ranging from sleepy to smoky, succulent seafood, steaming hot springs and the country's hottest entrepreneurial town

Okinawa

Okinawa

Ruins and recreated castles of the Ryukyu kings nestle amid magnificent beaches in Okinawa, a diver's paradise teeming with an amazing array of coral and undersea life Fly to Okinawa and discover a distinct island culture born of subtropical sun, white sand, coral, mangrove jungles and the age of the Ryukyu Kings

Things To Do

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KYUSHU Miyazaki Volcanic hikes, spectacular beaches and Japan’s most gorgeous waterfall

OVERVIEW

Miyazaki's gorges and waterfalls were made for adventure, and you can hike around active volcanic craters and learn to surf here as well, when you're not at a festival or exploring a shrine associated with the myth of Japan's founding

More than a treasured haven for outdoor sports enthusiasts, this prefecture in southeastern Kyushu is also renowned for its gorgeous coastal drives and incredible seaside shrines. Add to that the lively annual festivals that celebrate Miyazaki's significant place in Japanese mythology. The prefecture boasts many shrines involved with the myth of the birth of Japan, such as Miyazaki Shrine, sacred to Emperor Jinmu, supposedly the first emperor of Japan. Amanoiwato Shrine and Takachiho Shrine are known for the Takachiho Yokagura. At the Yokagura, from November to February, thirty-three nocturnal Shinto music performances and dances are performed as thanksgiving for the fall's harvest and prayers are offered for the next year's abundant crop. The Nichinan Coast, facing the Pacific Ocean, offers places of natural beauty such as Aoshima and Cape Toi. Seagaia, located along Hitotsuba coast in the city of Miyazaki, is a comprehensive resort complex complete with a hotel, convention center, golf courses and spaces for other activities.

How to Get There

The quickest and most convenient way to reach Miyazaki is by plane. If you're already in Kyushu, catch a highway bus from Fukuoka, or a bus or local express train from Kagoshima.

Both Haneda and Narita airports in Tokyo have flights going to Miyazaki that take just under two hours. Daily flights also go to Miyazaki from Osaka, roughly an hour away. International flights link Miyazaki with Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan.

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Don't Miss

Incredible ocean sunrises at a seaside island shrine in Aoshima

Rugged coastlines along the drive to Nichinan

Hiking around active volcanic craters along the Ebino Plateau

The sheer beauty of Takachiho Gorge by day and kagura dances at Takachiho Shrine by night

Miyazaki Tourist Information Site

Spring

Spring brings new warmth to the ocean’s waters, one of Japan's earliest cherry blossom seasons and the official opening of popular Aoshima Beach Park.
Summer

The rainy season produces spectacular waterfalls, more beaches open for ocean lovers, and fireworks festivals are held up and down the coastline.
Autumn

Kaleidoscopic leaves carpet the landscape, waves becoming more user friendly and yoga festivals abound.
Winter

Marathon season, Takachiho Gorge lights up at night, mythical dances are performed, and grown men dive naked in the sea.