Miyazaki

About Miyazaki

Miyazaki Prefecture spans 7,734.05 square kilometers, population about 1.01 million, capital Miyazaki City 400,000 largest. It occupies the southeastern tip from 31°21' to 32°50' N, bounded by Oita, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, west Kyushu Mountains, east Miyazaki Plain opening to Pacific and Hyuga-nada with Gokase, Omaru rivers. Old province was Hyuga-no-Kuni, center of Hyuga myth where Kojiki tales place Amaterasu's cave. After Haihan-chiken, Obi, Nobeoka, Takanabe, Sadowara were merged into Mimitsu and Miyakonojo prefectures in 1871, then into first Miyazaki Prefecture on January 15, 1873 with office at Kami-Beppu Village then hamlet but central. On August 21, 1876 it was merged into Kagoshima and downgraded to Miyazaki Branch, leading to discontent as Satsuma prioritized reconstruction after 1877 Seinan War while tax collection in former Hyuga felt heavier. The Bunken Undo separation movement led by Kawagoe Susumu former Obi samurai resulted in re-establishment of Miyazaki on May 9, 1883 together with Toyama and Saga under Dajokan Proclamation No.15, separating old Hyuga except three villages that remain in Kagoshima like Shibushi now Kagoshima. Climate has some of Japan's top sunshine hours about 2,100 hours and high rainfall, especially Ebino Plateau and Mt. Wanazuka among Japan's wettest with over 3,000 mm due to orographic lift. Coastal plains rarely see snow; first snow not observed some years in Miyazaki City, southern coast south of Hyuga frost-free zone, but winter west winds bring many clear days 70 percent sunny ideal for sports training with average 8.1C in January warmest among uniform sunshine areas, attracting pro teams: Yomiuri Giants at Himuka Stadium since long and SoftBank Hawks at Ikime. Summer muggy from southeast monsoon but peak heat often from southwest föhn in late rainy season before typhoon period with 26-27C, less 40C due to sea breeze. Ebino at 1,150m records minus 20.2C in 1968 coldest in Kyushu. Typhoon Ginza many typhoons approach June-October bringing prolonged easterly rain causing landslides, 2005 Typhoon Nabi heavy damage. Industry benefits warmth: greenhouse mango Miyazaki brand high sugar branded Taiyo no Tamago sun egg over 3,000 yen, Hyuganatsu citrus summer orange, kumquat eaten with skin, tea Miyakonojo and Yabe, beef Miyazaki-gyu won Wagyu Olympics Prime Minister Award 2022, chicken Miyazaki Jitokko cross with unique texture, pork, shochu sweet potato Kogane Sengan, forestry Obi cedar 400-year plantation and natural cedar Yamasakura. Sports tourism national-level. Sightseeing highlights include Takachiho Gorge with Manai Falls 17m and legend Amano-Iwato cave where Amaterasu hid and Mt. Takachiho-mine 1,574m where Ninigi-no-Mikoto descended per Kojiki, Aoshima Island with washboard-like Oni-no-Sentakuita from uplifted sandstone 8 km and Aoshima Shrine in subtropical plants with wish tying, Udo Jingu shrine in cliff cave facing sea where lucky stones thrown into hole for luck, Nichinan Coast Quasi-National Park with Sun-messe Nichinan Moai 7 replicas permitted, Toi Cape wild horses 100 heads designated natural monument, Miyazaki Jingu dedicated to Jinmu Emperor first emperor with forest quiet, Peace Park's Tower of Haniwa clay figures 400 replicas hill, Saito Burial Mounds 333 kofun largest in Kyushu.