From 800 years of Shinto rituals to local cuisine. A trip to Miyazaki for adults

Obi area is known as "Kyushu's Little Kyoto." Enjoy a relaxing stay in this good old castle town.

Kira Obi

It's about an hour's drive south from Miyazaki Airport along the Nichinan Coast. In the Obi district of Nichinan City, known as Kyushu's Little Kyoto, you'll find a new lodging facility, Kira Obi, which opened this year. Originally a Nagayamon gate, it was the residence of a middle-ranking vassal during the Edo period. Two of these traditional houses, Katsumatei and Aiyatei, have been fully renovated and are available for private hire, with only one group per day allowed. The guest rooms are high-quality, luxurious spaces that combine traditions such as raised floors and hearths with modern beauty. One way for adults to enjoy the cold days of winter is to "travel like you live" with your important partner or friends.

Kira Obi is located in Obi, a district that once flourished as a castle town where merchants lived. Walking around the area, you can enjoy the townscape of samurai residences and temple towns from the Edo period. Don't miss the power spot known as "Happy Cedar," which stands among the Obi Castle trees.

Obi Cedar Crafts Obidalary

Obi cedar is one of the prefectural trees of Miyazaki Prefecture. It is an excellent wood with a high oil content, durability and elasticity, and was also used in shipbuilding. Obi cedar products that make use of these strengths are lined up at Obi Darary, a gallery full of Obi cedar. The name Obi Darary is wonderful, as it is full of Obi cedar.

The Obi cedar sake cups are individually handcrafted by artisans and have an excellent mouthfeel. When you pour sake into them, the soft scent of cedar wafts through the air. There are also gift envelopes made from Obi cedar, which recipients can take out and reuse. It's a smart system that creates a "relay of happiness." You're sure to find a perfect gift for yourself, as well as a souvenir.

Shochu Dojo

Another place I'd like to introduce in relation to Obi cedar is Inoue Shuzo's "Shochu Dojo." In fact, Miyazaki Prefecture is number one in the country in terms of annual shochu shipments. This is an experiential mini-brewery built to pass on the techniques of authentic shochu, and it recreates the appearance of a sake brewery from the Meiji and Taisho periods using Obi cedar.

At the Shochu Dojo, you can not only observe the shochu-making process, but also sample shochu from Sakuranosato Shuzo and Inoue Shuzo, which boast some of the largest storage volumes in the country. There are an astonishing 40 different types of shochu available. You can also blend your own 6 types of shochu (3 types of potato shochu, 1 type each of rice, barley, and buckwheat shochu / 25% alcohol) to create your own original shochu (reservations required). Slowly savoring your favorite drink in a warm room is one of the best things about winter!

From bistro chicken nanban to a full course of Miyazaki gourmet food, here is a list of famous restaurants worth visiting.

Bistro ADEN

Miyazaki is also famous as a treasure trove of food. Everything is delicious here, from mangoes and Hyuganatsu fruits to bonito seafood and Miyazaki beef, but the most well-known local dish is probably "Chicken Nanban," which originated in Miyazaki Prefecture. It's now available in convenience stores and bento shops across the country, but we recommend trying it in its original location. We would like to recommend Bistro ADEN, which serves Western-style Chicken Nanban.

The chicken nanban, made with sweet and sour sauce and special tartar sauce, will make you want to eat more rice. The accompanying fries and sweet potato fritters are also surprisingly fluffy and sweet. Other Western dishes such as chicken cutlets and hamburgers are also delicious, making this a famous restaurant that you'll want to visit again and again.

Lamptei

If you want to eat Miyazaki beef, fresh local vegetables, and even fish, why not try Lamptei, a long-established Western restaurant in Miyazaki City's downtown that has been in business for over 40 years? It's a famous restaurant that is frequented by celebrities from both within and outside the prefecture. There's so much on the menu that it's hard to choose, with a lineup that allows you to enjoy every bit of Miyazaki ingredients, including fluffy quiche, dishes and pasta made with Miyazaki fish, Miyazaki beef, and Kawaminami pork.

The most recommended dish is the Miyazaki beef cutlet. Squeeze a little lemon over it to directly experience the delicious flavor of the Miyazaki beef. The crab cream croquette, inherited from the first generation owner, is also popular, and the creamy crab filling your mouth.

And during the cold winter, we recommend ordering a bowl of hot onion soup. This soup topped with plenty of cheese will warm you to the core.

We recommend ordering a course meal made with seasonal ingredients from Miyazaki and enjoying a blissful adult experience. As it is a popular restaurant, don't forget to make a reservation in advance.

Takachiho, where Japanese mythology lives on. Enjoy the winter-only "Yokagura"

Night Kagura / Takachiho Kagura

Takachiho, located at the northern tip of Miyazaki, is known both in Japan and overseas as a "village of mythology" for its abundant nature and mystical spots. Every year from mid-November to early February in Takachiho, 20 villages hold "Yokagura" dances that are dedicated throughout the night. This is a Shinto ritual that has been continued for about 800 years, in which the guardian deity of each village is invited to a private home or community center called a kagura-yado, and 33 kagura dances are dedicated throughout the night. In 1978, it was designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

Tourists can also watch this traditional Shinto ritual, "Yokagura," as "participants." Kagura, which is performed all night in the clear midwinter air, has a solemn and fantastical atmosphere. The rules for Yokagura, which is carefully preserved by the locals, are to observe proper etiquette and to watch with the feeling of attending a shrine ceremony. Yokagura dances differ depending on the village, so it may be a good idea to see the differences in each culture. Please check the schedule of Yokagura on the official website in advance before going.

Outside of this period, Takachiho Kagura can be enjoyed 365 days a year at Takachiho Shrine. It also includes an explanation, so it is recommended for beginners.

Located in the southeastern part of Kyushu, Miyazaki is surely associated with summer for many people. However, by visiting in different seasons, you may discover different charms. There are many places that respect Japanese culture, and Takachiho Kagura in particular is a famous event in Japan that attracts many tourists. Miyazaki is truly a place where you can enjoy different things in summer and winter. For adults who lead busy days, we recommend taking time to please your mind and body in Miyazaki, where time flows at a leisurely pace. Why not visit Miyazaki, a Japanese paradise with plenty to enjoy all year round?

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