Where to stay
Stay in Miyazaki city for the food and the trains, by the sea at Aoshima for the beach and the surf, in Takachiho for the gorge and the night kagura, or in Nichinan and Obi for the quiet south. Many visitors split their stay between the city and Takachiho.
The areas
Best baseFood, trains and the airport
The widest choice of hotels, from business hotels near Miyazaki Station to the beach resort of Phoenix Seagaia, with restaurants, bars and transport on the doorstep.
Best for: First visits, food lovers and travellers without a car
Best for the beachSea views and surf
Resort hotels, guesthouses and surf lodges by the sea at Aoshima and the beaches nearby, with the train to Miyazaki city and the Nichinan coast road close by.
Best for: Surfers, couples and beach days
Best for cultureRyokan, minshuku and night kagura
Small hotels, ryokan and family-run minshuku in the mountain town, a short drive from the gorge and a walk from Takachiho Shrine and its nightly kagura.
Best for: The gorge at dawn and the night kagura
Best for the southCastle town and fishing ports
A few hotels, inns and old townhouses turned into guesthouses in Obi and the port of Aburatsu, handy for Udo Jingu and a drive to Cape Toi.
Best for: Slow travel on the southern coast and Cape Toi
Miyazaki city has plenty of clean, compact business hotels near Miyazaki Station and along Tachibana-dori, often at good prices. They are a practical base for the coast and for trips by train.
For a more traditional stay, choose a ryokan, a Japanese inn with tatami rooms, futons and often a hot spring bath, or a minshuku, a simpler family-run guesthouse. Takachiho has several of both. Dinner and breakfast are usually included, so check meal times when you book.
The Phoenix Seagaia resort north of the city has a tall hotel tower, golf courses and a long beach in a pine forest. Smaller resort hotels and surf lodges are found around Aoshima.
Prices rise during Golden Week, the Obon holidays in mid-August and the autumn colours in Takachiho in November. In February, professional baseball teams and their fans fill hotels in Miyazaki city during the spring camps. At other times, rooms are easy to find and good value.
Good to know
Miyazaki city, for the choice of hotels, the restaurants and the trains and buses. Add a night in Takachiho if you want to see the night kagura and the gorge early in the morning.
We think so. Day tours rush through, and the town is far from everywhere else. A night lets you see the kagura at Takachiho Shrine and visit the gorge before the crowds arrive.
A family-run guesthouse, often in a traditional house, with Japanese-style rooms and shared bathrooms. Dinner and breakfast are usually included and served at set times. They are a good way to meet local people.
Book early for Golden Week (late April to early May), the Obon holidays in mid-August, the autumn colours in Takachiho in November, and February, when baseball teams hold their spring camps in Miyazaki.
Plan your Miyazaki trip
Once you have a base, compare day tours, private guides and activities across Miyazaki.