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Miyazaki Prefecture

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Miyazaki Prefecture is a distinct administrative region in Japan. It is located on the southeastern coast of Kyūshū island. The prefecture sits along the Pacific Ocean to its south and east. To the north, it shares a border with Ōita Prefecture. To the west, it borders Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures.

Map of Miyazaki Prefecture Ja
Map of Miyazaki Prefecture Ja

The total geographic area is 7,735 square kilometers. As of January 1, 2025, the population reached 1,028,215 people.

The landscape of Miyazaki is ecologically unique. It is one of only two locations on Earth where the fungus Chorioactis geaster grows. The region is also home to the hyuganatsu fruit. You can find two virgin forests of the palm Livistona chinensis here. One of these populations is on the islet of Aoshima. This is the northernmost reproducing population for this species.

Takachihokyo 20170219-2
Takachihokyo 20170219-2

Other plants like the Cycas revoluta, or sotetsu, grow at Cape Toi.

Toimisaki Sotetu Kuma Miyazaki
Toimisaki Sotetu Kuma Miyazaki

Nature conservation is a major part of the prefecture. Approximately 12% of the land is designated as Natural Parks. This includes the Kirishima-Kinkōwan National Park. Several quasi-national parks also exist in the region. These are the Kyūshū Chūō Sanchi, Nichinan Kaigan, Nippō Kaigan, and Sobo-Katamuki parks. There are also many prefectural natural parks. These include Mochio-Sekinoo, Osuzu, Saitobaru-Sugiyasukyō, and others.

Ooyodogawa River
Ooyodogawa River

The history of Miyazaki involves several changes in government. Originally, the area was known as Hyūga Province. The prefecture was first established in 1873. This occurred when Mimitsu Prefecture merged with parts of Miyakonojō Prefecture. However, this first version of Miyazaki was short-lived. It was merged into Kagoshima Prefecture in 1876. Eventually, public pressure led to change. The Kagoshima Prefectural Assembly faced demands for independence. Miyazaki finally became an independent prefecture in 1883.

Miyazaki is organized into several cities and districts. Miyazaki City serves as the capital and largest city. It has a population of 398,215. Other major cities include Miyakonojō, Nobeoka, and Hyūga. There are nine cities in total. These include Ebino, Kobayashi, Kushima, Nichinan, and Saito. The prefecture also contains many towns and villages. These are organized into various districts. For example, the Higashimorokata District includes the town of Aya. The Nishiusuki District includes the town of Takachiho.

Sports and travel are important to the local culture. Miyazaki hosts the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament. This is an annual event on the Japan Golf Tour. It attracts top players from all over the world. The tournament offers some of the highest prize money on the tour. The region also supports professional soccer and basketball teams. Teams like Honda Lock S.C. and the Miyazaki Shining Suns are based here.

Transportation connects Miyazaki to the rest of Japan. Travelers can use Miyazaki Airport to arrive in the region. For rail travel, JR Kyushu operates several lines. These include the Nippō Main Line and the Nichinan Line. Other lines include the Miyazaki Kūkō, Kitto, and Hisatsu lines. Buses also provide local transport. This network allows people to visit the many natural and historical sites found throughout the prefecture.

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🖼️ Images & Media (58)
File:Ooyodogawa River.jpg
Ooyodogawa River.jpg
File:Toimisaki Sotetu Kuma Miyazaki.JPG
Toimisaki Sotetu Kuma Miyazaki.JPG
File:Takachihokyo 20170219-2.jpg
Takachihokyo 20170219-2.jpg
File:Map of Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Map of Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
File:Flag of Ebino, Miyazaki.svg
Flag of Ebino, Miyazaki.svg
File:Ebino in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Ebino in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
File:Flag of Hyūga, Miyazaki.svg
Flag of Hyūga, Miyazaki.svg
File:Hyuga in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Hyuga in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
File:Flag of Kobayashi, Miyazaki.svg
Flag of Kobayashi, Miyazaki.svg
File:Kobayashi in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Kobayashi in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
File:Flag of Kushima, Miyazaki.svg
Flag of Kushima, Miyazaki.svg
File:Kushima in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg
Kushima in Miyazaki Prefecture Ja.svg

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