Itinerary · Japan
How Many Days in Miyazaki? A 3-Day Nichinan Coast Route
Miyazaki in 3 days: Miyazaki Jingu, Nishitachi, Aoshima, the Devil's Washboard, Udo Jingu, Obi castle town and the Oyodo River, with bus and JR tips.
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The big picture: one full day on the Nichinan Coast
The Miyazaki guide suggests 2 to 3 days, including the Nichinan Coast. This route follows the guide's own plan: Day 1 is Miyazaki Jingu and Nishitachi, Day 2 links Aoshima, the Devil's Washboard, Udo Jingu and Obi castle town, and Day 3 adds a bicycle ride along the Oyodo River in the city. Short on time? Do only Days 1 and 2.
Pick a base from the guide's three areas. Around Miyazaki Station is best for a first visit and easy transport: the airport bus ends here and JR Nichinan Line trains start here. Nishitachi (Nishi-Tachibana-dori), with more than 1,000 places to eat and drink, suits dinners and nights out, and Aoshima suits sea views, the beach and sunrise.
Day 1: airport, Miyazaki Station, Miyazaki Jingu, Nishitachi
Route buses toward Miyazaki Station leave from stop 1 at Miyazaki Bougainvillea Airport: about 25-30 minutes, JPY 530 for adults (children JPY 270), paid with a transit IC card or cash. There are no reservations, so you stand if the bus is full, and the rapid Airport Liner stops at only a few stops on the way. JR trains (Miyazaki Airport Line) also leave from Miyazaki Airport Station; check JR Kyushu for timetables and fares.
From Miyazaki Station take JR to Miyazaki-Jingu Station, then walk 10 minutes to Miyazaki Jingu. It enshrines Emperor Jimmu, Japan's first emperor in legend, and the current buildings date from 1907, built with Sano cedar, a prized local wood. Entry is free; gates open at 6:00 and close at 17:30 (October-April) or 18:30 (May-September), so check the closing time first if you land in the late afternoon.
For dinner, head to Nishitachi for charcoal-grilled jidori chicken with its smoky aroma, or chicken nanban, a dish born in Miyazaki. Many places are easy to walk into on your own.
Day 2 morning: Aoshima Shrine and the Devil's Washboard
In the morning, take the JR Nichinan Line from Miyazaki Station to Aoshima Station. About a 10-minute walk away is Aoshima, a small island about 1.5 km around, covered in subtropical plants such as Chinese fan palms (biro) over 300 years old. In the middle stands Aoshima Shrine, linked to the Umisachi and Yamasachi myth. Worship is free from 6:00 until sunset; only the Hyuga Mythology Museum on the grounds charges entry.
The Devil's Washboard, a National Natural Monument, runs for about 8 km along the coast south of Aoshima. Hard sandstone and soft mudstone laid down under the sea about 7 million years ago were lifted up and worn by waves into this shape. At low tide the rocks are widely exposed and you can walk on them, but wet or mossy spots are slippery, so wear good shoes. Sunrise is especially beautiful, so if you stay in Aoshima, go out early.
Day 2 afternoon: Udo Jingu, Obi castle town, back to Miyazaki
From Aoshima, take a route bus to Udo Jingu, a shrine whose main hall stands inside a sea cave open to the ocean; the area is a national Place of Scenic Beauty. Throw clay 'undama' luck balls at the hollow on Turtle Rock below (men with the left hand, women with the right) to make a wish. Open 6:00-18:00, about a 10-minute walk from the Udo Jingu bus stop. Some buses from the airport to Obi go through the Horikiri Tunnel and do not stop at Udo Jingu, so check the marks on the timetable.
A notice of 7 September 2026 says heavy rain collapsed the road to parking lots 1 and 2, and the main hall is about a 20-minute walk from the tourist parking lot. No reopening date has been set, so check the latest notices before you go.
Next is Obi, the castle town of the Ito clan of the Obi domain for about 280 years from 1588. Samurai-house gates and stone walls remain, and it was named an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1977. Around the Otemon gate, restored in 1978, are six historic facilities including Matsuo-no-Maru: JPY 300 each for adults, or JPY 800 for all six. Hours are 9:30-17:00 (last entry 16:30), closed 29-31 December, so arrive before 16:30. Then walk 15 minutes to JR Obi Station and return to Miyazaki. Check official timetables for buses and trains.
Day 3: cycling along the Oyodo River, or Horikiri Pass
Keep the last day light. Rent a bicycle at the Miyazaki City Tourist Information Center inside Miyazaki Station (JPY 500, JPY 1,000 deposit, ID required, 10:00-17:00) and ride the dedicated bicycle path along the Oyodo River, with almost no cars.
The same center stores luggage (small JPY 500, large JPY 1,000; 9:30-17:00), and its hands-free service sends bags to your hotel for JPY 1,000 per bag (accepted 9:30-11:00). Check official information for bus and train times to the airport.
For one more sea view, try Horikiri Pass, a Nichinan Coast viewpoint with rows of Canary Island date palms (phoenix) and blue sea; from the top you can see the Devil's Washboard rocks in the waves. Take a bus toward Nichinan and get off at Horikiri-toge.
For a 2-day version, follow the guide's Days 1 and 2 only. Day 2 covers a lot of ground from Aoshima to Obi, so line up bus and train times in advance.
Getting around and budget: day passes and the guide's prices
On route buses, board at the middle door and pay when you get off. Tap a transit IC card, or take a numbered ticket if paying cash. No change is given, so use the coin changer at the front while the bus is stopped (new 500-yen coins and 5,000/10,000-yen notes cannot be changed).
A one-day route bus pass is JPY 2,500 for adults (children JPY 1,250), and foreign visitors can use the VISIT MIYAZAKI BUS PASS (JPY 2,500) to ride route buses to Aoshima, Udo and Obi for a day. Show your passport and return ticket (or itinerary); it is sold at the airport bus information desk, the tourist information center in Miyazaki Station and other outlets. It is not valid on highway or limited express buses or the Miyazaki-Takachiho line. For comparison, the regular Miyazaki Station-Obi round trip is JPY 4,480.
The UMISACHI YAMASACHI sightseeing train also runs on the JR Nichinan Line: one round trip a day, and all reclining seats need a reservation. Check JR Kyushu for operating days and times.
- Low budget: airport bus JPY 530, bicycle rental JPY 500 (JPY 1,000 deposit), Miyazaki Jingu and Aoshima Shrine free to visit
- Mid budget: a one-day bus pass or VISIT MIYAZAKI BUS PASS (JPY 2,500) plus the Obi combined ticket (JPY 800)
- Higher budget: JR KYUSHU RAIL PASS Southern Kyushu (3 days, JPY 12,000 for adults); check JR Kyushu for eligibility and online prices
- Hotel and food costs vary by date; check booking sites
When to go, and a pre-trip checklist
The guide picks March-May and October-November as good months for walking. Japan Meteorological Agency normals for Miyazaki station (1991–2020) give average highs of 17°C in March, 21°C in April, 25°C in May, 25°C in October and 20°C in November.
June is the wettest month, at about 516 mm on average. July-September also get a lot of rain (about 276-371 mm a month), and July-August are hot, with average highs of 31-32°C. December-February are drier, at about 73-96 mm a month, with average lows of 3-5°C.
Miyazaki Jingu holds a big autumn festival and yabusame (horseback archery) every year; check official information for the dates.
- Check official Japanese government information on entry procedures before you travel
- Udo Jingu: as of the 7 September 2026 notice, the road to parking lots 1 and 2 is blocked; check the latest notices
- The Devil's Washboard is most exposed at low tide; bring shoes with good grip
- Check the Japan Meteorological Agency forecast before you go
Plan your Miyazaki trip
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FAQ
How many days do I need in Miyazaki?
The guide suggests 2 to 3 days, including the Nichinan Coast. Two days cover the city and the Nichinan Coast; a third day adds cycling along the Oyodo River or Horikiri Pass.
How do I get from the airport to Miyazaki Station?
Route buses toward Miyazaki Station leave from stop 1 and take about 25-30 minutes for JPY 530 (adults). JR trains on the Miyazaki Airport Line also run; check JR Kyushu for timetables and fares.
Can I visit Udo Jingu right now?
According to a notice of 7 September 2026, a road collapse blocks access to parking lots 1 and 2, and the main hall is about a 20-minute walk from the tourist parking lot. No reopening date has been set, so check the official notices before you go.
When is the best time to visit?
The guide picks March-May and October-November. Japan Meteorological Agency normals give average highs of 21°C in April, 25°C in October and 20°C in November.
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ⓘ Photo credits
- JR East Yamanote Line E235 series train · Rsa / CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shiroyama Observatory · そらみみ / CC BY-SA 3.0
- Suizenji Jojuen Garden · Suicasmo / CC BY-SA 4.0