Aoshima Island (青島, Aoshima) is a small, beautiful island just off of the coast of the resort beaches south of Miyazaki City. Aoshima is connected to the mainland by a bridge and is ringed by white beaches surrounding a subtropical jungle at the island's center.

It is a 1.5 kilometer walk around Aoshima's beaches with a number of canvas stands selling souvenirs along the way. At the center of the island is Aoshima Jinja, a colorful shrine set back in the jungle that is said to bring luck to married couples.

Make sure to follow the short path to the right of the shrine's main building through the jungle to a smaller outlying shrine. The scenery and silence along the way can be quite mesmerizing. At the small shrine you can buy clay disks which are thrown at a target for luck.

The shallow water around the island has a geological phenomenon known as Oni no Sentakuita, or devil's washboard. Visible at low tide, these perfectly straight rows of basalt rock look as if they must be the remnants of something manmade. They are natural formations, however, which can be found farther south along the Nichinan Coast as well.

Aoshima Island is not to be confused with an identically named island in Ehime Prefecture which is known for its cat population.

Getting there and around

Take a local or rapid train on the JR Nichinan Line from Miyazaki Station to Aoshima Station. The trip takes 30 minutes and costs 380 yen (fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass). The island is about a five minute walk from the station.

Alternatively, buses from Miyazaki Station stop at Aoshima on their way to Udo Shrine. The one way trip from Miyazaki to Aoshima takes about 50 minutes and costs 730 yen. There is one bus per hour.

How to get to and around Miyazaki

Hours and Fees

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Hotels around Miyazaki

Top rated in Miyazaki
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    • Dormy Inn Miyazaki Natural Hot Spring
      Mid-range
      Dormy Inn Miyazaki Natural Hot Spring is situated in Miyazaki, 1.4 km from Miyazaki Station and 5.1 km from Oyodo River Study Center. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space. The accommodation features a sauna, hot spring bath, restaurant and free WiFi throughout the property. At the hotel, the rooms are fitted with a desk. All rooms in Dormy Inn Miyazaki Natural Hot Spring are fitted with a TV and free toiletries. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Miyazaki Phoenix Zoo is 12 km from Dormy Inn Miyazaki Natural Hot Spring, while Kodomo-no-Kuni is 15 km from the property. Miyazaki Airport is 5 km away.
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    • Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort
      Luxury
      Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort boasts hot springs, swimming pools and golf courses. Guests can enjoy, indoor or outdoor tennis, scuba diving or shopping, or they can relax with a massage at Banyan Tree Spa. Services include a concierge, childcare and free shuttle service within the surrounding area. Spacious rooms overlook the ocean or golf course through large windows, and they come with a comfortable sofa, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and movies-on-demand and a minibar. All rooms offer a personal safe, toiletries and a bathroom with a bathtub and a walk-in shower. At in-house fitness centre The Ocean Club, at a charge you can work out with advice from a personal trainer, try the high-pressure oxygen capsule or participate in classes like yoga, swimming or belly dance. You can unwind in Onsen at Shosenkyu's hot spring baths, while golf lessons and tennis lessons are also available at the hotel. Buffet restaurant Pine Terrace offers an international spread of dishes, while the resort also offers authentic Japanese, Chines and Italian cuisines. There are 2 bar lounges, karaoke rooms and a caf? with its own bakery. The Sheraton is a 20-minute drive from Miyazaki Jingu Shrine, and a 36-minute drive from Sadowara Museum Kukusho-kan. It is a 35-minute bus ride from Miyazaki Airport. The beach is a 15-minute walk away.
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    • Miyazaki Daiichi Hotel
      Mid-range
      Located a 5-minute drive from JR Miyazaki Station, Miyazaki Daiichi Hotel provides comfortable accommodation with large male public baths and sauna. A female stone sauna facility is also featured on site. A breakfast buffet features both Western and Japanese dishes, including local specialities. Free WiFi is available throughout the entire property. Guests can sample food and beverages such as shochu, beer in the male public baths, popcorn, miso soup and baked sweet potato. Simply decorated rooms come with a flat-screen TV and a work desk. All rooms feature Simmons beds, and hairdryers and toiletries are provided in the en suite bathroom. Hotel Miyazaki Daiichi’s 24-hour front desk can store guests’ luggage for free. Guests can rent a bicycle to explore the local area, or use the on-site coin launderette. The front lobby is also open 24-hours a day, and offers 15 different kinds of complimentary drinks. The male public bath offers beer and shochu for tasting. The hotel is a 15-minute drive from Miyazaki Airport. Miyazaki Jingu Shrine is an 18-minute walk away, while Miyazaki Art Museum is a 15-minute walk from the property. A hearty breakfast buffet with Japanese and Western dishes is served at an additional charge, at the on-site restaurant Terrace Dining. Breakfast buffet is served between 6:45 and 10:00.
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    • JR Kyushu Hotel Miyazaki
      Mid-range
      Less than a minute's walk from the West exit of JR Miyazaki Train Station and the expressway bus station (Miyazaki Station), JR Kyushu Hotel offers western-style rooms and a 24-hour front desk. Free wired internet access is provided. Featuring carpeted flooring, rooms come with an electric kettle, a refrigerator and a flat-screen TV. The en suite bathroom has a bath, shower and hairdryer. Guest facilities include a coin launderette and a restaurant, which serves a breakfast buffet daily. JR Kyushu Hotel Miyazaki is a 15-minute train ride to Miyazaki Airport. By car, it is a 20-minute journey.
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    • Hotel JAL City Miyazaki
      Mid-range
      Hotel JAL City Miyazaki offers bright rooms with free WiFi. It features a restaurant and a 24-hour front desk. Miyazaki Train Station can be reached with a 10-minute walk. Air-conditioned rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, air purifier/humidifier and a fridge. The bathroom includes a bathtub, shower and toiletries. An electric kettle is furnished in each room. A charged parking facility is located nearby. Western dishes are served for lunch and dinner at Brasserie Bernerd. It also offers a breakfast buffet with Japanese and Western food. JAL City Miyazaki Hotel is 15-minute drive away from Miyazaki Interchange, and a 20-minute drive from Miyazaki Airport. Carino Miyazaki Bus Stop is a 2-minute walk away.
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    • ANA Holiday Inn Resort Miyazaki, an IHG Hotel
      Luxury
      Right on the Hyuga-Nada Sea, ANA Holiday Inn Resort Miyazaki (formerly Palm Beach Hotel) features an indoor swimming pool, karaoke and 4 dining options. The hotel’s rooms are air-conditioned and come with an LCD TV and free wired internet. Each room at Miyazaki ANA Holiday Inn Resort includes a fridge and an electric kettle. The en suite bathroom has a bathtub, amenities and slippers. Miyazaki Airport is 10 km away, and JR Miyazaki Train Station is a 20-minute drive. Miyazaki Shrine is 19 km from the hotel. On-site parking is free. You can relax with a massage or a sweat in the sauna, or work out at the fitness room. Rental bicycles offer a fun way to explore the area. Red Fairy Restaurant lays a buffet spread for breakfast and dinner, while Himuka Shizuka serves Japanese cuisine and Ryuo has a Chinese menu. Drinks are on offer at Cafe & Bar Ripple.
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    • Green Rich Hotel Miyazaki Tachibandori 2 (Artificial hot spring Futamata Yunohana)
      Mid-range
      Green Rich Hotel Miyazaki Tachibandori 2 (Artificial hot spring Futamata Yunohana) is located in Miyazaki, 1.2 km from Miyazaki Station and 5.2 km from Oyodo River Study Center. Featuring a restaurant, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. Private parking is available on site. All rooms in the hotel are fitted with a kettle. All units in Green Rich Hotel Miyazaki Tachibandori 2 (Artificial hot spring Futamata Yunohana) are equipped with a flat-screen TV and free toiletries. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. At Green Rich Hotel Miyazaki Tachibandori 2 (Artificial hot spring Futamata Yunohana) guests are welcome to take advantage of a sauna. The hotel can conveniently provide information at the reception to help guests to get around the area. Miyazaki Phoenix Zoo is 12 km from Green Rich Hotel Miyazaki Tachibandori 2 (Artificial hot spring Futamata Yunohana), while Kodomo-no-Kuni is 15 km away. Miyazaki Airport is 5 km from the property.
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    • Yurakuan Miyazaki
      Mid-range
      Set 2.3 km from Miyazaki Station, 7.6 km from Oyodo River Study Center and 11 km from Miyazaki Phoenix Zoo, Yurakuan Miyazaki provides accommodation located in Miyazaki. This 3-star ryokan offers a lift and luggage storage space. The ryokan also offers free WiFi, free private parking and facilities for disabled guests. Every unit has a private bathroom and bidet, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a toaster. A fridge and kettle are also offered. The units are equipped with heating facilities. Kodomo-no-Kuni is 13 km from the ryokan, while Aoshima Shrine is 15 km from the property. The nearest airport is Miyazaki Airport, 4 km from Yurakuan Miyazaki.
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    • Comfort Hotel Miyazaki
      Mid-range
      Comfort Hotel Miyazaki is located in Miyazaki, 4.8 km from Oyodo River Study Center and 13 km from Miyazaki Phoenix Zoo. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage space and free WiFi. The property is non-smoking and is situated 1.2 km from Miyazaki Station. Guest rooms in the hotel are fitted with a TV. All rooms at Comfort Hotel Miyazaki have air conditioning and a desk. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Kodomo-no-Kuni is 16 km from Comfort Hotel Miyazaki, while Aoshima Shrine is 18 km from the property. Miyazaki Airport is 6 km away.
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    • Prince Smart Inn Miyazaki
      Mid-range
      Prince Smart Inn Miyazaki is situated in Miyazaki, 1.4 km from Miyazaki Station and 5.4 km from Oyodo River Study Center. Featuring a restaurant, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. Private parking is available on site. The rooms at the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a safety deposit box. Languages spoken at the reception include English, Japanese and Chinese, and guests are invited to request advice on the area when needed. Miyazaki Phoenix Zoo is 12 km from Prince Smart Inn Miyazaki, while Kodomo-no-Kuni is 15 km from the property. Miyazaki Airport is 5 km away.
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