What to do in Hyuga

I think a key word here is beaches! Hyuga is right on the coast and has a lot of beaches (actually Miyazaki has a lot of beaches). If you want to surf, catch some rays or play in the sea Hyuga is the place to come! You definitely don't want to miss Hyuga if you're a surfer. Check out the beaches HERE.

The beaches are not all there is to Hyuga. Here's a few other things for starters.

Umagase

Umagase is a really interesting rock formation and is visited by lots of people. It has been used in some TV drams and was also where I went with my girlfriend on our first date. When we were standing at the end of the peninsula there was actually a small earthquake, honto! I read somewhere that is looks like a horse's back (the origin of the Japanese name). I would describe it as a really impressive gauge with rock faces made from very symmetrical stone pillars pushed together in a uniform way almost giving the impression that it is not natural. I would recommend visiting Umagase if you come to Hyuga. If you are interested in geology then you shouldn't miss it. (The only down side (which is very much to do with it's down side and the 70 meters or so of it) is that it is a key spot for ultimately resolving problems in an irresolvable way). Also at Umagase there is a lighthouse. I am not sure what is special about it but it has a good view! The day we actually went there was the same day as a maritime festival. So the coastguard and allowed you to go inside and look out the top. They also gave out some handouts regarding the coastguard and some shipping and sailing charts (some were even in English!). Sorry, I don't have any of these now.

Busshari shrine

As you can see Busshari shrine is a bit white dome shaped Buddhist temple that you can see from many parts of Hyuga (it's on the top a hill). It has some great statues built onto it and is a great place for Hanabi parties (if you can find a spot) and looking at cherry blossom. Driving up to it when the cherry blossom is in bloom is really amazing as well as the road is lined by cherry blossom trees. It is well worth visiting even when there is no cherry blossom. There are also some wild chickens there too!

Onsens

Hyuga is famous for it's onsens! Alas, for the wrong reasons. In 2002 Hyuga became famous for having a legionnaires out break at one of its onsens, well technically there is only one onsen, the other is really a bath house (sentou). I heard it was caused by recycling water and not cleaning it properly, but that might not be true. Anyway what was the legionnaires onsen has since changed hands, being refitted and is now probably the most tested and safest onsen in Japan. It's name now is Ofunadenoyu and its just south of Hyuga at place called Sun Park (which is a Japanese style campsite). It might actually be argued that the onsen is in Mimitsu, the town just south of Hyuga, but it generally though of as Hyuga's onsen (no doubt people in Mimitsu say it's theirs!).

Ofunade no Yu has good views of the sea. In fact it is where the first emporer of Japan sailed away. The name actually has the kanji for "boat" and "go" in it. I think it is a great onsen (but it takes a lot of persuasion to get my girlfriend to go). It's all really new. On one side (men's or women's, they alternate) it has a big onsen made from tsunoko a type of wood (maybe pine, but be warned tsunoko is really bloody slippy!) and then some smaller onsens. On the other side the onsens are made from stone and there is one inside a cave. It costs ¥500. ¥500 seems to be the standard cost for an onsen in Miyazaki-ken unless you go to Ebino. In Ebino, onsens are abundant, really natural, bloody hot, you can get family onsens, and usually cheap. Still on onsens my favorite is Nishimera onsen (¥300), which I think has the best water out of all onsens in Miyazaki, maybe even Japan (overstatement)! The water, to my experience to date, has a unique soapy feel to it. The downside is that Nishimera is up a curvy little mountain road and a long way from nowhere! Nishimera also have a real cool firework festival (especially considering its such a small town) in August too!

Anyway back to Hyuga. The bath house (I think bath house sounds a bit derogatory, especially as it's quite good) is called Hyottoko no Yu (costs ¥390 week days ¥450 weekends) and is just opposite Yamada Denki on route 10. It has a lot of baths, massage baths, flavoured baths, cold baths, ryokuburas and I think a denki (electric) bath as well as a steam sauna and the standard hot dry sauna. If you are looking for a denki onsen I suggest you go to Kadogawa onsen, called Kokoronomori, has one and is quite a good onsen. At Kokoronomori onsen you can also play sports, such badminton and volleyball, there is a gym with some workout machines and there is an outdoor swimming pool open mid-spring to mid-autumn. For these you just have to pay the normal ¥500 onsen fee plus ¥200. You can then have an onsen once you are finished!

I will try and add some more to this section. Sorry for the moment!