'''Miyazaki''' (_{__; [http://www.city.miyazaki.miyazaki.jp/gyousei/html/english/outline/outline_e.htm]) is the prefectural capital of Miyazaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

Understand

Miyazaki is a tourism and resort area in southern Kyushu. It is not to be confused with the legendary Japanese animator and filmmaker, '''Hayao Miyazaki'''.

Get in

By plane

Miyazaki has its own airport. JAL, ANA and Skynet have regular flights from Tokyo Haneda Airport, Osaka Itami Airport and various other locations throughout Japan. Buses connect the airport to the main Miyazaki station in 25 minutes (¥400), while the JR Miyazaki Airport Line runs 1-2 trains per hour to Minami-Miyazaki station (¥340). If you are under 21, you can get tickets cheaper than normal. And also during the summer vacation or New year time, lots of people try to get ticket for Miyazaki to go back their home, so if you want to get a window seat, be careful to make your plan earlier.

By train

Miyazaki is 4 1/2 hours away from Kokura station in Kitakyushu, a stop on the San'yo Shinkansen, by taking the ''Sonic'' limited express to Beppu and transfering to the ''Nichirin'' limited express (¥8300). A few ''Nichirin'' trains run from Hakata in Fukuoka and Kokura directly to Miyazaki, with no change of trains necessary. There is also an overnight service, the ''Dream Nichirin'', which runs over the same route.

The ''Kirishima'' limited express also makes multiple daily runs from Kagoshima (2 hours, ¥4100).

There is no charge for the above services with a Japan Rail Pass.

By bus

Hourly buses run from Fukuoka to Miyazaki in about 4 1/2 hours at a cost of ¥6000.

Get around

See

In Miyazaki, there are lots of things to see, and especially I want to recommend the ancient tomb. You can see it in Saitobaru town and you can go there by car or train. Miyazaki has some historical places, and this ancient tomb is one of the famous place to visit.

Do

Miyazaki is one of the most famous places for surfing in Japan. Lots of foreigners visit there during the summer. There are good waves and the sunset is so beautiful.

Buy

Eat

Drink

"Kurokirishima" is a famous Miyazaki's shochu. Miyazaki produces lots kind of shochu, so people who like Japanese shochu, Miyazaki is a good place to visit. However, some of them are expensive, so you can not buy them so easily.

In the town of Aya, which is around 20km from Miyazaki City proper, there is a complex called the Aya Shusen-no-mori. There is a winery, beer brewery and shochu distillery all on site. The beer made here is German-style, and of a high standard. The Shusen-no-mori brewery makes (at time of writing) a Bock, a Koelsch, an Altbier and a blueberry-flavoured lager. The beer is far superior to the macro-brewed Japanese lagers such as Asahi Super Dry or Kirin Lager. The wine from the Shusen-no-mori winery, on the other hand, leaves something to be desired.

Sleep

The best hotels in Miyazaki City are the Kanko Hotel, in the city centre by the river, and the Sheraton, in the Seagaia complex surrounded by a golf course around 8km North-East of the city centre. The prices of these luxury hotels are comparable to those of five-star hotel chains in any large Western country.

A cheap place to sleep, on the other hand, is a manga coffee shop/internet cafe. There is one beside the 7-11 near the Miyazaki train station. There is also a "Cybac" internet cafe in Miyazaki which is slightly better than the aforementioned manga kissa - it is difficult to find, so get a taxi from the train station. It should cost around 1000 yen.

Get out