Day tour
Season: Year-roundTakachiho Gorge day tour
- Walk the gorge path to Manai Falls between basalt cliffs
- Many tours add Amano Iwato Shrine; the rowboats are usually extra
Miyazaki calls itself a land of sunshine, and it is one of the warmest and sunniest parts of mainland Japan. Even so, the seasons make a big difference to a trip here. The short answer: come in spring or autumn. Here is what to expect through the year.
Spring (March to May)
Spring is warm and bright, and the countryside is at its greenest. Cherry blossoms usually open in late March and early April, a little earlier than in Tokyo. The fields of rape flowers around the burial mounds of Saitobaru bloom at the same time, making one of the prettiest sights in the prefecture. Golden Week, from late April to early May, is very busy, so book ahead or avoid it.
The rainy season (late May to mid-July)
Like most of Japan, Miyazaki has a rainy season in early summer, and it can be very wet. Days are warm and grey, and heavy downpours sometimes close the rowboats at Takachiho Gorge. On the bright side, this is mango season, the waterfalls are full and the hotels are quieter.
Summer (mid-July to September)
Summer is hot and humid, with highs above 30°C. It is the best time for the beach and the surf, and Takachiho Gorge is lit up in the evenings. It is also the start of typhoon season, which runs from about August to October. A typhoon can bring days of strong wind and rain, stop trains and close roads, so keep your plans flexible. Read our guide to surfing in Miyazaki.
Autumn (October and November)
Autumn is our favourite season. The heat fades, the skies clear and the typhoon risk drops. In Takachiho, the trees in the gorge turn red and gold from mid to late November, and on cool, still mornings a sea of clouds fills the valleys below the viewpoint of Kunimigaoka. The night kagura season in the villages of Takachiho begins in late November.
Winter (December to February)
Winter is mild and often sunny on the coast, with cool days and cold nights. It is a good time for walking, for hot springs and for seeing the all-night kagura held in village homes around Takachiho. In February, professional baseball teams hold their spring training camps in and around Miyazaki city, and fans fill the hotels. Takachiho and the Kirishima mountains are colder, and frost and snow are possible.
At a glance
- Best overall: October and November, then March to May.
- Best for the beach and surfing: July to September, watching out for typhoons.
- Best for autumn colours: mid to late November in Takachiho.
- Best for food: early summer for mangoes; any time for chicken nanban. See what to eat in Miyazaki.
- Most crowded: Golden Week, mid-August and autumn weekends in Takachiho.
For more on weather, packing and safety, see our Miyazaki travel guide.
