Orientation
Miyazaki is a city on the southeastern coast of Kyushu, and it is centred on Miyazaki Station, which also serves as the main hub for trains and buses. The city's attractions are fairly spread out, so it pays to think about how you will link them together before you arrive. The good news is that public transport, and especially the bus network, can get you to most of the places a visitor wants to see.
Getting in from Miyazaki Airport
Miyazaki Airport sits just south of the city and is served by JAL, ANA, Solaseed Air and Jetstar Japan, with regular flights from Tokyo and Osaka and other points around Japan, plus international links to Seoul and Taipei. Two straightforward options connect the airport to central Miyazaki:
- Train: The JR Miyazaki Airport Line runs to Minami-Miyazaki station, with roughly one to two trains per hour. The Japan Rail Pass covers this line.
- Bus: A shuttle bus connects the airport directly to Miyazaki Station. It is slower than the train but drops you at the city's main station, and it runs about once per hour.
Which you choose depends on where you are staying: the train is the quicker hop into the southern part of the city, while the bus puts you at the central station from which most onward connections radiate.
Arriving by train or bus from elsewhere in Kyushu
If you are coming from further afield, Miyazaki is reached by limited express trains and by long-distance buses. The Kirishima limited express makes multiple daily runs from Kagoshima, and connections via the Kyushu Shinkansen at Kagoshima open up routes from Hakata and, further out, from Shin-Osaka. A more scenic alternative runs up the east coast via Oita and Beppu on the Sonic and Nichirin limited expresses. The Japan Rail Pass covers these services, and there is also a JR All Kyushu Pass that covers all routes within Kyushu; note that the Shinkansen section beyond Kokura toward Shin-Osaka belongs to JR West and needs its own pass.
A useful hybrid option is the B&S Miyazaki bus, operated by JR Kyushu, which links Shin-Yatsushiro bullet train station with Miyazaki roughly once an hour, timed to meet arriving Shinkansen services. It shortens the overall journey from Fukuoka considerably. The bus is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but tickets can be bought at any JR Midori-no-Madoguchi seat reservation counter.
Long-distance highway buses also run to Miyazaki from Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima, Beppu, Oita, Nobeoka and Nagasaki. Most of these run during the day, with Fukuoka being the exception that also offers an overnight service. An overnight car ferry from Kobe is another, slower way to arrive.
Getting around the city
Miyazaki has no metro or tram network; getting around relies on trains, buses, taxis and your own two feet. Because the sights are spread out, a mix of modes works best.
Trains
Trains are useful for reaching a handful of specific sites. Aoshima Shrine is a short walk from Aoshima Station, while Miyazaki-Jingu Station gives quick access to Miyazaki Jingu, the Prefectural Museum of Nature and History, and the Prefectural Art Museum. The catch is frequency: on the Nippo Line in particular, timetables can be inconvenient, with trains running only about once an hour at certain times of day. Check departure times before you set out so you are not stranded.
Buses
City buses are generally the best way to get around, and many of them leave from Miyazaki Station. One practical tip: it is sometimes faster to walk about ten minutes down Route 25 to the intersection with Route 220, because a lot of buses travel along that street without diverting to the station. If you are unsure whether walking to another stop will beat waiting at the station, the Tourist Information Center inside Miyazaki Station keeps bus timetables and its staff can help you work it out. Buses serve all the local attractions, and most are also within reasonable walking distance of a JR station, though connections can be infrequent. A one-day bus pass is available on weekends and holidays, which is worth asking about if you plan several bus trips in a day.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Taxis are a convenient fallback when bus and train timetables do not line up, particularly for shorter hops around the centre or when you are carrying luggage. The source material does not describe a ride-hailing app culture in Miyazaki, so plan on hailing a taxi on the street or at a rank rather than relying on an app.
Walking
Walking is a realistic option in and around the city centre, and several attractions sit within a comfortable stroll of a station. The main caveat is that the city's sights are spread out overall, so walking works best for individual clusters rather than as a way to cover everything.
Rental cars
A rental car is not necessary for seeing the city itself, but it is convenient if you want to reach attractions outside it, such as Udo Shrine. Rental outlets can be found at the airport and around the city centre.
Tickets and passes at a glance
- The Japan Rail Pass covers JR trains in the region, including the airport line and the Kirishima limited express, but not the B&S Miyazaki bus.
- The JR All Kyushu Pass covers all routes within Kyushu, aside from the Shinkansen section beyond Kokura, which is JR West territory.
- A one-day bus pass is available on weekends and holidays.
- B&S Miyazaki bus tickets can be purchased at JR Midori-no-Madoguchi seat reservation counters.
Fares and schedules change over time, so it is worth confirming current prices and timetables locally, and checking exchange rates if you are budgeting in another currency.