Discover Miyazaki: Aoshima, Gardens and Culture

Aoshima is a small island in the southeast of Miyazaki City, with a circumference of 1.5 kilometers. The Miyakoh Botanic Garden Aoshima is on its west coast. Its outdoor garden includes native Aoshima fan palms as well as Phoenix, royal and date palms. Bougainvillea and hibiscus add to the tropical plants. Various palm species and flowering plants are thus the main features here.

The garden’s Palo Borracho Cafe serves smoothies, parfaits and fruit juices made with fully ripened Miyazaki mangoes. Offerings may change; check what is currently available before your visit.

Aoshima: Shrine and Winter Festival

Aoshima Shrine is on the island and is regarded as a place where prayers for marriage are answered. Visitors can pray for good fortune there: depending on their wishes, they tie cords of different colors or throw clay vessels at a designated spot. These customs give a visit a different focus from the botanical garden.

The shrine also holds an annual winter festival on the second Monday in January. It reenacts Yamasachi-hiko’s return from the palace of the sea god. According to legend, the deity, riding on a shark, was welcomed ashore by a joyful crowd. The festival thus combines a set date in winter with a retold scene from mythology.

Heiwadai Park: Haniwa and the Seasons

In Heiwadai Park in Miyazaki City, the Haniwa Garden features about 400 ancient clay figures known as haniwa. The Tower of Peace, which stands 37 meters tall, is also in the park. The figures and the tower offer different points of interest: the garden draws attention to a larger collection of individual objects, while the tower’s height offers a different way to orient yourself.

The seasons also shape the park’s appearance. Cherry blossoms are a feature in spring, while brilliant autumn foliage marks the fall. Weighing these experiences against each other can help you plan your visit for the season you prefer: blossoms and fall colors take center stage at different times.

Coastline and Outdoor Activities

Miyazaki Seaside Park includes Marina Sun Marina Miyazaki, where yachts and cruise ships are moored, as well as Sun Beach Hitotsuba. This beach is described as Miyazaki Prefecture’s only artificial beach. The park offers water sports such as SUP and BIGSUP, as well as beach tennis and beach volleyball. Activities on the water and on the beach are therefore available side by side, without promising the same experience.

Grilling is free year-round on the north beach of Sun Beach Hitotsuba; reservations are required. Check the current operating and reservation conditions before your trip. Another outdoor option is the nearly flat hiking trail along the Kaeda Valley. You can hike, enjoy forest bathing and watch birds along the trail. Water sports, beach games and nature watching offer distinctly different kinds of activities.

AOSHIMA BEACH PARK has parasols and benches. Uminoie Coffee Stand serves coffee, soft drinks and light meals. Offerings may change, so it is a good idea to check what is currently available before your visit.

Gardens, Museums and Wildlife

Florante Miyazaki offers green lawns year-round and themed gardens with flowers and greenery. The museums range from hands-on activities to art collections: the Miyazaki Science Technology Museum offers experiences such as science shows and craft workshops. The collection at the Miyazaki Prefectural Art Museum focuses on Eiku, a painter born in Miyazaki. Other highlights include artists from the region and the prefecture, works that provide an overview of the development of Japanese art, and significant art from abroad.

The Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo is home to about 1,200 animals from 100 species, including Asian elephants, chimpanzees and lions. The zoo also has an amusement park with 15 types of rides. Ride details may change; check the latest information before your visit. The wildlife and amusement park thus offer different themes within the same named destination.

Restaurants and Lanterns in Nishitachi

Nishitachi is described as Miyazaki City’s largest entertainment district, with more than 1,500 restaurants. Numerous lanterns hang along both sides of the streets. The number of restaurants may change; it still gives a sense of the district’s scale. Those interested in dining and an evening streetscape will find a different focus here than on an island, in a garden, park or museum.

Discover more destinations: Takachiho, Ebino, Nichinan, Sankasho, Saito, Miyakonojo, Kobayashi, Gokase.

For the broader travel overview: Miyazaki Prefecture.