Miyazaki Prefecture

Prefecture Flower:

Crinum Asiaticum

Prefecture Tree:

Phoenix, East Asian cherry, Obi cedar

Prefecture Bird:

Copper pheasant

Prefectural Capital:

Miyazaki City

Area:

7,735 ㎢ (14th biggest in Japan）

Population:

1,267,060人（36th largest in Japan）*2017

Population Density:

335/㎢（39th in Japan）

Prefecture Website:

http://www.pref.miyazaki.lg.jp

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/miyazakipref.eng

Miyazaki is perfectly positioned to catch the sunrise so it’s called “Hyuga no Kuni” which means “country that faces the sun.” Additionally, there are many legends in Miyazaki about Japan’s first emperor Jinmu Tennou, so the prefecture is named “Miyazaki” because Tennou’s palace (“miya”) may have been located in or around this area.

Miyazaki Prefecture is located in the southeastern area of Kyushu. Oita Prefecture is to the north, Kumamoto Prefecture is to the west over the Kyushu Mountains, Kagoshima Prefecture is to the southwest, and the Pacific Ocean is to the east. The length of the coastline, called Hyuga-nada, from north to south is about 400km. Miyazaki Prefecture is mountainous with forests that occupies 75.7% of the land; the cultivated land area is 8.6%. The result is a region of rich green terrain.

Miyazaki Prefecture is blessed to have an environment of rich nature, green mountains, and a beautiful coastline. The total area of Natural Parks, which includes Kirishima Kinkou Beach National Park, four Quasi-National parks (Nichinan Coast, Sobokatamuki, Nippo Coast, Kyushu Central Mountains), is 91,919ha. These parks occupy about 12% of land in the prefecture. Additionally, there are 105ha of designated marine park areas.

Furthermore, Miyazaki Prefecture has two sites, Aya (2014) and Sobo• Katamuki• Okue(2017), registered as UNESCO Eco parks (there are ten total in Japan). This type of park represents a model area that has a rich ecosystem and promotes sustainable economic activities utilizing local natural resources.

Miyazaki Prefecture’s administrative subdivision is comprised of nine cities: Miyazaki, Miyakonojo, Nobeoka, Nichinan, Kobayashi, Hyuga, Kushima, Saito, Ebino; and six counties: Kita-morokata, Nishi-morokata, Higashi-morokata, Koyu, Higashi-Usuki, Nishi-Usuki. These six counties are comprised of fourteen towns and three villages.

Miyazaki Prefecture is charmed with a high average temperature and mild climate. The average temperature is 17.4℃ (3rd warmest in Japan), 2,116 hours of sunshine per year (3rd most in Japan), and 52.7 sunny days per year (2nd most in Japan). All high ranking Japan, Miyazaki has excellent natural conditions.

Miyazaki Prefecture takes advantage of its mild climate and abundant sports facilities with the initiative “Sports Land Miyazaki.” As a result, Miyazaki regularly hosts training camps for professional baseball teams and soccer teams (J-league).

Miyazaki’s appeal to the sports world has begun to extend internationally. In 2019, Miyazaki hosted the ISA World Surfing Games, the world championship of surfing. Miyazaki was also the official 2019 Rugby World Cup training camp location for Japan’s National team and the UK National team.

Many domestic and international golfers visit Miyazaki because they can enjoy golfing throughout the year. There are three tournaments in Miyazaki City: the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament (since 1974), the LPGA Tour Championship Ricoh Cup played at the Miyazaki Country Club which is the first country club in Miyazaki Prefecture, and AXA Ladies Golf Tournament played in the spring.

Miyazaki Prefecture has designed a guide called “Roots of Japan - to the origin of myths” that introduces ancient ruins and historic sites cited in the Kojiki and Nihon shoki, Japan’s oldest records of Ancient Matters compiled 1,300 years ago in 712 and 720. There are over 200 stories of Kagura in Miyazaki and at Takachiho Shrine, Kagura are danced every night for tourists.

From the Miyazaki airport, it is convenient to travel around by train because there is a JR Kyushu station connected to this airport. In order to get around in Miyazaki Prefecture, there is the VISIT MIYAZAKI BUS PASS (1,500JPY per day) which allows visitors to get on Miyazaki Koutsu city buses any time during the day. This bus pass is a good deal for travel all the way to Takachiho and Nichinan, which are the most famous tourist destinations in Miyazaki.