Itinerary · Japan
Nichinan Coast Day Trip from Miyazaki: Which Order?
One day on Miyazaki's Nichinan Coast: Aoshima, the Devil's Washboard at low tide, Horikiri Pass, Udo Jingu and Obi, with the order, buses, trains and shoes.
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The shape of the day: Aoshima, then Udo, then Obi
The Nichinan Coast fits into one day. In the morning take the JR Nichinan Line from Miyazaki Station to Aoshima Station for Aoshima Shrine and the Devil's Washboard, ride a route bus to Udo Jingu, explore Obi castle town, then return to Miyazaki from JR Obi Station. Check official timetables for buses and trains.
This post covers that one day in depth: the Devil's Washboard at low tide, whether to add Horikiri Pass, Udo Jingu with its parking access currently blocked, and Obi with its last entry time. For the full trip including Miyazaki Jingu and Nishitachi, see the 3-day route below.
Around Miyazaki Station is an easy base: the airport bus ends here and JR Nichinan Line trains start here. If you want the sea at sunrise, you could also stay in Aoshima, an area known for sea views, the beach and sunrise.
Morning: JR Aoshima Station to Aoshima Shrine
Take the JR Nichinan Line from Miyazaki Station and get off at Aoshima Station. About a 10-minute walk away is Aoshima, where the island, its shrine, the Devil's Washboard rocks and the beach are all close together.
Aoshima is a small island about 1.5 km around, thick with subtropical plants such as Chinese fan palms (biro) over 300 years old. Aoshima Shrine in the middle is linked to the Umisachi and Yamasachi myth and is known for matchmaking blessings. Worship is free from 6:00 until sunset; the only paid spot is the Hyuga Mythology Museum on the grounds.
The UMISACHI YAMASACHI sightseeing train also runs on the JR Nichinan Line. It makes one round trip a day, and all reclining seats need a reservation. Check JR Kyushu for operating days and times.
The Devil's Washboard: tides, shoes and sunrise
The Devil's Washboard (Oni-no-Sentakuita) is a National Natural Monument running 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 the waves into rows that look like a giant washboard.
The rocks are most exposed at low tide, when you can walk on them, but wet or mossy spots are slippery. Tide times change daily, so if you want to walk on the rocks, check that day's low tide in advance and plan your Aoshima time around it.
Wear comfortable shoes with good grip. Sunrise is especially beautiful. If you stay in Aoshima, you can head to the shore around sunrise and then start the day at Aoshima Shrine, which opens for worship at 6:00.
- Check that day's low tide in advance
- Comfortable shoes with good grip
- Take care on wet or mossy rocks
- The view is especially beautiful around sunrise
Horikiri Pass: add it or skip it
Horikiri Pass is a Nichinan Coast viewpoint with rows of Canary Island date palms (phoenix) and blue sea. Looking down from the pass you can see the Devil's Washboard rocks in the waves, so you get a second view from above of the rocks you saw on the shore.
To get there, take a bus toward Nichinan and get off at Horikiri-toge. It is not part of this one-day plan, so if you want to add it, check the bus timetable and decide yourself where it fits in your day. If time is tight, save the pass for another trip and follow the basic order.
Udo Jingu: check the latest notices first
Udo Jingu is 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.
In this plan you reach it by route bus after Aoshima, then walk about 10 minutes from the Udo Jingu bus stop. If you head to the coast straight from the airport, route buses toward Nichinan or Obi from the Miyazaki Airport bus stop take about 60 minutes. Note that 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 official notices before you go.
Obi castle town: aim for the 16:30 last entry
Obi was 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.
Each facility costs JPY 300 for adults, or JPY 800 for a combined ticket to all six. They are open 9:30-17:00 (last entry 16:30) and closed 29-31 December. If you plan to enter several, work out first whether the combined ticket is better value.
To go inside you need to arrive before 16:30, which is why putting Aoshima in the morning and Obi in the afternoon works well. Afterwards, walk 15 minutes to JR Obi Station and take the train back to Miyazaki. Check JR Kyushu for train times.
Bus passes, luggage, season and what to bring
Part of this day is by route bus, so a one-day pass is worth considering. 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.
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). If you are changing hotels that day, the tourist information center in Miyazaki Station stores luggage (small JPY 500, large JPY 1,000; 9:30-17:00).
March-May and October-November are 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. July-August are hot, with average highs of 31-32°C, and June is the wettest month of the year (about 516 mm). Check the Japan Meteorological Agency forecast before you go.
- Check official timetables for buses and trains
- Check the latest Udo Jingu notices
- Passport and return ticket (or itinerary) if you use the foreign visitors' bus pass
- Check official Japanese government information on entry procedures before you travel
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FAQ
Can I see the Nichinan Coast in one day?
The one-day plan covers Aoshima and the Devil's Washboard, Udo Jingu and Obi castle town, then returns to Miyazaki from JR Obi Station. Horikiri Pass is not in that plan, so check the bus timetable if you want to add it.
Can I walk on the Devil's Washboard?
Yes, when the rocks are exposed at low tide. Wet or mossy spots are slippery, so wear comfortable shoes and take care.
Which bus ticket should I use?
A one-day route bus pass (JPY 2,500 for adults) or, for foreign visitors, the VISIT MIYAZAKI BUS PASS (JPY 2,500) covers route buses to Aoshima, Udo and Obi for a day. The regular Miyazaki Station-Obi round trip is JPY 4,480.
I heard the road to Udo Jingu's parking is blocked. Can I still go?
As of the 7 September 2026 notice, the road to parking lots 1 and 2 is blocked, 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.
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ⓘ Photo credits
- JR East Yamanote Line E235 series train · Rsa / CC BY-SA 3.0