Hyuga
Discover Hyuga
Hyuga (日向) is a small, but prominent port city in northern Miyazaki prefecture. It is a small city with a population of just over 60,000 with a long and varied history. Hyuga was historically one of the most major ports in Kyushu, acting as the gateway to Kyushu, but shrunk with the introduction of trains. Now, Hyuga is most famous for its natural beauty, white sand beaches, and surfing. It makes a perfect trip for those visiting Miyazaki or other parts of Kyushu.
What to Experience in Hyuga
Taste of Hyuga...
Hyuga has a lot of agriculture and an abundance of fresh specialty food. Some of these are available around Miyazaki. Hyuga City has no shortage of places to drink. Most of these are located generally around the izakaya, Hachiman. There are many bars, snack clubs (スナック), and Izakaya. To avoid surprises, it can be important to know the difference when you are looking for a place to go drinking. Like much of Japan, Hyuga is somewhat lacking in terms of public Wi-Fi, so don't have very high expectations. The tourist information center in Hyuga-shi Station and most convenience stores have free public Wi-Fi. Most free Wi-Fi in Japan still require registering your email and a user name. This can get annoying if you have to keep registering over and over, so there are some Japan free wifi apps to help you search to locations and connect with the push of a button. If you install the app, be sure to register it in a place that you still have internet access, because you will need to open a confirmation email. The city is also slowly installing free Wi-Fi hotspots for tourists. The hyuga_free_wifi hotspots are available at city hall, Togo Roadside Station, Seaside Station Hososhima, and in front of Omi Shrine. To access this Wi-Fi, you need to input the password (0982522111), your email, and our own password. You can do this without internet access, but you can only access this Wi-Fi for one hour at a time up to 4 times per day.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Hyuga into what it is today.
The Hyuga area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Archeologists have found stone tools and stone mounds dating back as much as 30,000 years ago, placing it in the early Japanese Paleolithic period making it one of the earliest inhabited areas of Japan. There are also active archeological digs uncovering pottery from the Jomon Era which you can see in many of the museums in Hyuga. Many thousands of years later, Emperor Keiko conquered Kyushu to bring the local tribes into the Japanese Empire. It is said that following a war to subjugate the Kumaso people (an ancient tribe that used to live in the Miyazaki area), Emperor Keiko faced East and said, “I name this country Hinata because it faces the rising sun.” Hinata (日向) literally means "facing the sun" or sunwards. Hinata-no-kuni (日向の国) was later changed to Hyuga (日向) and eventually to Miyazaki during the Meiji Period. Hyuga City (日向市) has adopted the Prefecture's old name. There used to be castles on the mountain behind Omi Shrine (Hichiya Castle) and in Shiomi (Shiomi Castle), in western Hyuga. Shiomi Castle was totally destroyed and never rebuilt and Hichiya Castle is just ruins that have now been swallowed up by forest. Central Hyuga is centered on Hyuga-shi Station. The greater Hyūga area is 336.29 km², much larger than the city limits as a result of mergers with other smaller towns such as Togo and Mimitsu. Hyūga City is a small port city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, just south of Nobeoka....
Location & Landscape
Central Hyuga is centered on Hyuga-shi Station. The greater Hyūga area is 336.29 km², much larger than the city limits as a result of mergers with other smaller towns such as Togo and Mimitsu. Hyūga City is a small port city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, just south of Nobeoka. The city sits on flatlands between the Kyushu Mountains and the Hyūga Sea. The area along Cape Hyūga with its exposed hexagonal pillar rocks (columnar joint) and ria (saw tooth) coastline are designated as part of the Nippo-Kaigan Quasi-National Park. A bit south are famous beaches such as Ise-ga-hama, Okura-ga-hama, and Kane-ga-hama, known for their surfing. Hyuga has a mild, but humid subtropical climate with no dry season. The climate is comparable to the southern coastal areas of the United States or southern Europe. The average summer daytime temperature is about 30 °C (86 °F) with 80% humidity. The average winter daytime temperature is about 13 °C (56 °F) with 60% humidity.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Hyuga.
Hyuga has a lot of agriculture and an abundance of fresh specialty food. Some of these are available around Miyazaki. Hyuga City has no shortage of places to drink. Most of these are located generally around the izakaya, Hachiman. There are many bars, snack clubs (スナック), and Izakaya. To avoid surprises, it can be important to know the difference when you are looking for a place to go drinking. Like much of Japan, Hyuga is somewhat lacking in terms of public Wi-Fi, so don't have very high expectations. The tourist information center in Hyuga-shi Station and most convenience stores have free public Wi-Fi. Most free Wi-Fi in Japan still require registering your email and a user name. This can get annoying if you have to keep registering over and over, so there are some Japan free wifi apps to help you search to locations and connect with the push of a button.
Climate
Hyuga has a mild, but humid subtropical climate with no dry season. The climate is comparable to the southern coastal areas of the United States or southern Europe. The average summer daytime temperature is about 30 °C (86 °F) with 80% humidity. The average winter daytime temperature is about 13 °C (56 °F) with 60% humidity. Early summer is marked with the rainy season in June and July. This is followed by an incredibly hot, humid summer and daily sunshine, but is often accompanied by typhoons. Winter is mild with small amounts of rain. If you are planning on coming to Hyuga during the rainy season, have an umbrella or be ready to buy one. If you are coming during mid summer, be sure the place you are staying has air conditioning. It is possible to withdraw cash using credit or debit cards issued overseas, but many Japanese ATMs are not compatible with overseas cards. Every post office in Japan has an international ATM, and tend to offer the best exchange rate.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe nearest airport is in Miyazaki City, though Kagoshima Airport typically offers cheaper flights. From Miyazaki Airport, you can drive or take the Nippo Main Line (60 minutes by express train). The Nippo Main Line, which runs along eastern Kyushu, has several stops in Hyuga City including Mimitsu, Minami-Hyuga, Zaikoji, and Hyuga-shi stations. Hyuga-shi Station is the main station in Hyuga, but be careful, there are several other stations along the Nippo Line with "Hyuga" in their name. These have no connection with Hyuga City. You can easily get there from transport hubs and major stations such as Hakata Station in Fukuoka, Oita Station, and Kagoshima Chuo Station. Fees will vary but will usually cost from ¥4000-6000 one way depending on your location. Within Miyazaki Prefecture, travel by the local train costs far less, but takes more time. From Miyazaki City, a local train costs ¥1290 one way (75 minutes) and the express train costs ¥2110 (45min)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The Hyuga Regional Information Center Tomitaka, just outside of Hyuga-shi station, and the information booth at the cruise ship terminal (if there is a cruise ship), will have plenty of flyers in multiple languages and typically an English speaker present. These will help you find your way around. Bus services and public transportation access to tourist spots in Hyuga is limited, typically about 1 bus every hour. It is probably better to avoid this unless you are confident about timing and use of buses in Japan. As a whole, locals avoid using the buses. Car rental is available near the station. The Hyuga City Tourism Incorporated Association, located in the Information Center can help you find the nearest one. There are two rental stores also listed in the Hyuga Walking Map. Taxi is fastest and most convenient if you can not drive in Japan, but as in the rest of Japan, fares do add up, so be careful.
Where to Stay
Like much of Japan, Hyuga is somewhat lacking in terms of public Wi-Fi, so don't have very high expectations. The tourist information center in Hyuga-shi Station and most convenience stores have free public Wi-Fi. Most free Wi-Fi in Japan still require registering your email and a user name. This can get annoying if you have to keep registering over and over, so there are some Japan free wifi apps to help you search to locations and connect with the push of a button. If you install the app, be sure to register it in a place that you still have internet access, because you will need to open a confirmation email. The city is also slowly installing free Wi-Fi hotspots for tourists. The hyuga_free_wifi hotspots are available at city hall, Togo Roadside Station, Seaside Station Hososhima, and in front of Omi Shrine. To access this Wi-Fi, you need to input the password (0982522111), your email, and our own password.
Money & Budget
It is possible to withdraw cash using credit or debit cards issued overseas, but many Japanese ATMs are not compatible with overseas cards. Every post office in Japan has an international ATM, and tend to offer the best exchange rate. Strangely, these ATMs, like human tellers, close at night and either have weekends off or reduced hours. Aeon mall also has a postal ATM; look for a green sign with "JP BANK ゆうちょ銀行". There are 24-hour ATMs at most convenience stores, but 7/11s are best for international withdrawals. Shinmachi (新町) is Hyuga's downtown area. Hyuga City has been engaged in large scale urban renewal, slowly widening roads, creating new businesses, beautifying, and modernizing the city center.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Hyuga
a small wooden building with a wooden fence around it
朝日、Sunrise, Amanecer, Hyuga, Miyazaki, Japan
a small wooden building with a wooden fence around it
朝日、Sunrise, Amanecer, Hyuga, Miyazaki, Japan
a small wooden building with a wooden fence around it
朝日、Sunrise, Amanecer, Hyuga, Miyazaki, Japan
a small wooden building with a wooden fence around it
朝日、Sunrise, Amanecer, Hyuga, Miyazaki, Japan
a small wooden building with a wooden fence around it
朝日、Sunrise, Amanecer, Hyuga, Miyazaki, Japan
a small wooden building with a wooden fence around it
朝日、Sunrise, Amanecer, Hyuga, Miyazaki, Japan
a small wooden building with a wooden fence around it