I made my first journey to far-south Kyushu actually on my first go to to Japan, in 2014. Effectively, form of–I ended in Kagoshima for lunch on my strategy to Yakushima island. Does that depend?
No, it doesn’t, no less than not from the place I sit at the moment. Nor does my first “intentional” journey to each Kagoshima and close by Miyazaki in 2019. It was intensive journey, no less than within the context of Kyushu islands; my readings of every prefecture, nevertheless, have been cursory at greatest.
The excellent news? I’ve returned to each locations many occasions, and now have a lot deeper insights into them. The higher information? I’m right here to interrupt down the Miyazaki vs Kagoshima debate so that you simply don’t should.
Why Vacationers Get Tripped Up in Southern Kyushu
Kyushu normally is a large island whose dimension vacationers underestimate. Consequently, by the point they even find yourself needing to determine between Miyazaki or Kagoshima, most assume that they’ll simply go to each, typically inside a single day. After they arrive and actuality units in, most both select one by default, and even name of their journeys totally. I’ve encountered a couple of one that (no less than earlier than hiring me to plan their journey) was prepared merely to stay in Fukuoka!
If you may make peace with how lengthy it takes to discover Kyushu (i.e. a minimal of two weeks for even a considerably complete journey across the island), then you definately shouldn’t have any issues. To interrupt this down even additional, you need to plan to finances a minimal of two days every in every of those prefectures, and ideally extra. If you wish to go to each, then, you’ll want no less than 4 full days to play with.
Miyazaki
Methods to Examine Miyazaki with Kagoshima
Getting there and round
Each of those prefectures are comparatively remoted—the one sensible strategy to attain them from Tokyo is by aircraft. Miyazaki’s airport is nearer to its metropolis heart (although removed from Nobeoka and Nichinan); Kagoshima will get factors for being served by the Shinkansen. Getting round each prefectures requires a automobile, until you intend solely to stay in every metropolis’s respect heart.
Issues to do
Miyazaki and Kagoshima are surprisingly attention-grabbing as locations for a lot of vacationers. In Miyazaki, it’s all concerning the shrines, from Minato Shrine and its blue torii gate all the way in which all the way down to the extra conventional Udo Shrine. Kagoshima, in the meantime, boasts rather more dramatic nature, from Sakurajima volcano (which is near the town) to Yakushima, Yoron and Amami Oshima islands (which aren’t).
Resorts and eating places
I’ll be very frank: There’s no lodge (or different lodging) in Miyazaki prefecture that even comes near the wonderful views of the Shiroyama Resort in Kagoshima, even when the lodge itself is a bit dated. Meals-wise, Kagoshima additionally in all probability wins, with dozens of fantastic eateries inside the lined Tenmonkan buying arcade.
Surrounding panorama
I discussed earlier that Kagoshima had rather more dramatic nature than Miyazaki, however this doesn’t imply that the winner of this class within the Kagoshima vs Miyazaki is unequivocal. For instance, in the event you drive all the way in which south alongside Miyazaki’s shoreline, you’ll attain Cape Toi—which, along with being scenic, is house to a inhabitants of untamed horses. With this being stated, and even maintaining Takachiho Gorge in thoughts, I do nonetheless assume Kagoshima prevails.
Day journeys and excursions
From Kagoshima, you possibly can head west to the Satsuma Peninsula or south throughout the water to Sakurajima volcano with out having to maneuver motels, to say nothing of locations barely additional afield, equivalent to Kirishima Onsen or the Mizonokuchi Cave featured in the primary picture of this text. From Miyazaki, in the meantime, there’s a lot to see inside the prefecture that feels excursive from the town heart that I wouldn’t say there are a variety of correct “day journeys.”
Kagoshima
Different Locations to Go to in Kyushu
Kyushu has been within the journey information loads currently, however I really feel like many individuals nonetheless lack a way of simply how wonderful it’s. Right here’s a fast breakdown:
- Past the 2 I’ve talked about on this article, main cities price visiting embrace Fukuoka (road meals), Nagasaki (historical past and harbor views) and Kumamoto (castles and Kumamoto).
- Pure points of interest vary type the Mt. Aso Geopark in central Kyushu, to the new springs of Beppu Onsen within the east, to offshore islands like Tsushima and the Goto Islands.
- Different wonderful street journey locations embrace the Kunisaki Peninsula (from Beppu or Oita Metropolis), or Shimbara and Mt. Unzen (from Nagasaki).
Whether or not to determine between Kagoshima or Miyazaki or to plan out your broader journey to Kyushu, take into account hiring me to help along with your Japan travels.
Different FAQ About Kagoshima and Miyazaki
Is Miyazaki or Kagoshima higher for vacationers?
I discover that Kagoshima usually makes for a greater base than Nagasaki attributable to higher motels and a higher variety of metropolis heart points of interest. With this being stated, the sights that you may see driving alongside the coast of Miyazaki are unmatched each in Kagoshima and all through Japan as a complete.
Ought to I go to Kagoshima or Miyazaki?
If in case you have time (a minimal of two days per prefecture), then I like to recommend visiting each Miyazaki and Kagoshima. Every provides a singular vary of points of interest and experiences—and albeit, they couldn’t be extra totally different from each other. Discovering them is actually price devoting a couple of days of your journey!
How do I get from Miyazaki to Kagoshima?
Though you possibly can trip a restricted categorical practice between Kagoshima-Chuo Station and Miyazaki Station, a rental automobile is a way more environment friendly strategy to journey between these two prefectures. It will help you instantly join disparate locations just like the Satsuma Peninsula (in Kagoshima) and Cape Toi (in Miyazaki).
The Backside Line
The Miyazaki vs Kagoshima is usually superfluous. In any case, in the event you’re going to journey this far south and west, you’d may as nicely give “terminal” Kyushu the time it deserves, and go to each locations. This might entail basing your self someplace in each prefectures (in Kagoshima Metropolis; however possible in Nobeoka or Nichinan, moderately than Miyazaki Metropolis) and splitting 3-5 days between. Or, in the event you’re snug driving (and albeit you actually needs to be, if you wish to do that a part of Japan justice) you possibly can base your self in Kagoshima and take a street journey into Miyazaki, or vice-versa. Want customized assist planning all of it out? Take into account hiring me to plan your Japan journey!