Takachiho, Nobeoka, Hyuga Travel Guides

The Takachiho, Nobeoka, and Hyuga areas offer tourist attractions such as Mt. Hiei, Takachiho Gorge, and Nachi Falls; sightseeing events such as the Golden Games in Nobeoka, Festival Nobeoka, and Takachiho Night Kagura; and local delicacies such as chicken nanban, cold soup, and Miyazaki ramen.

Here are some of Miyazaki Prefecture's attractive tourist spots: Takachiho, the home of the gods where the legend of the descent of the grandchildren still lives on, Nobeoka's sweetfish fishing, which boasts a tradition of more than 300 years, and Hyuga, famous for its beautiful handmade washi paper.

Takachiho, located in the mountains at the northern tip of Miyazaki Prefecture, is a mysterious town that is said to be the birthplace of Japan in Japanese mythology. The area is dotted with spots that evoke episodes from the myth, such as Ama-no-Iwato, where the mythological god Amaterasu Omikami hid himself, and Takamagahara Haruhosho, the hill where the eight million gods were born.

One place to keep an eye out for is Takachiho Shrine, which is said to have been founded as far back as 1,900 years ago. The shrine is the headquarters of 88 shrines in Takachiho and is a historic shrine dedicated to important deities that appear in the foundation myths, such as Niniginomikoto, the first god to descend from the heavens to help build the nation.

In addition, Ama-no-Iwato Shrine, which tells the aforementioned Ama-no-Iwato myth, allows visitors to view Ama-no-Iwato, the sacred body of the deity. Within walking distance of the shrine's west main shrine is the cave Ama-no-Angawara, where it is said that when Amaterasu Omikami hid in Ama-no-Iwato, the eight million gods gathered for a divine discussion.

As a mythical place, all of the tourist spots are famous as power spots, and there is no end to the number of visitors who come to experience the power of the gods.

To the northeast of Takachiho is Nobeoka. Ayu (sweetfish) is a typical autumnal delicacy in Nobeoka, and the ayu fish caught in the Gokase River, which begins in early October, is a specialty of the area. Ayu yaki, a local dish of grilled ayu fish, is the only one in Miyazaki Prefecture that has been selected as one of the 100 best ayu fish aroma sceneries.

In Hyuga City, there is the traditional craft of making Misuzu handmade Japanese paper, which has been passed down from generation to generation in the town of Misuzu. Blessed with a mild climate, the area is also blessed with native kouzo and mitsumata trees, the raw materials for paper, and has received generous protection from the prefecture as a representative industry.

Each sheet of washi is finished by hand and is filled with the warmth of handmade paper. During the Edo period (1603-1867), as many as 60 craftsmen competed with each other, but today there is only one person who has inherited this technique. In addition to washi, kaishi paper, business cards, Japanese-style notebooks, and noren (traditional Japanese curtains) are also made, and can be purchased at the workshop.

Every area is a unique spot with its own distinctive characteristics. We invite you to experience the charm that the people of Miyazaki Prefecture have carefully cultivated.