Explore the Stunning Nichinan Waterfront: Aoshima, Horikiri Toge, and More

As seen in Suzume no Tojimari - Suzume Movie by Makoto Shinkai

One thing to get straight before you plan: the “Nichinan coast” is the name of the
quasi-national park, not of Nichinan City’s shoreline. It runs from Aoshima in
Miyazaki City, through Nichinan, and down into Kushima — three
municipalities, roughly 100 km of coast. Cape Toi, Kojima and Ishinami, all
covered below, are in Kushima rather than Nichinan.

The coast road starts at Aoshima, a small island about 15 km south of central Miyazaki City, covered with subtropical trees and plants including palms said to be over 300 years old. The island’s plant community is designated a Special Natural Monument, the “Aoshima Subtropical Plant Community” - a natural-heritage designation, not to be confused with National Treasure status, which covers cultural property. The Aoshima Shrine is located in the center of the island.

Right after Aoshima on the Nichinan Waterfront is Horikiri Toge, a hill path that offers stunning views of the Nichinan Beach and the Pacific Ocean. The path is also known for its unique wave-shaped rocks along the shore and the Phoenix Tree Path.

On a sunny day, there is nothing better than going to Sun Messe Nichinan, a park symbolized by seven moai statues that have been set up with permission from Easter Island. The sight of the moai statues on green grass, lined up against a background of the blue sky and the majestic Pacific Ocean, is truly stunning. Make sure to head there early, since the park closes at 5pm!

if you still have time, Nango Reststop is consistently highly rated by its guests. A great view and good food awaits you. They also sell various souvenirs and even have a cut-out board that lets you pose as a mango.

The Nango Kushima region offers beautiful beaches with snorkeling potential. Many tourists miss this area, so not much infrastructure exists.

Ishinami Coast (Swimming prohibited due to accidents) has it all. In August, bioluminescent plankton can be seen on the beach at night. On the other side, a small island Kojima (幸島) also known as Monkey Island, is home to a troop of Japanese macaques that has been studied continuously since 1948 - the colony where researchers first recorded monkeys washing sweet potatoes in the sea, a founding observation in the study of animal culture. The story of Satsue Mito is very interesting. A ferry service is available to the island.
Contact Kushima Tourist Association for more details.

Further down we find the surfing point of Koigaura, and then finally Cape Toi with its lighthouse, where the wild Misaki horses roam.

We estimate it would take a full two days to do all on this list. There are buses, but for greater flexibility, you would probably want to rent a car.

Overall, the Nichinan Waterfront is a must-visit destination for anyone visiting Miyazaki Prefecture. The combination of beautiful beaches and stunning natural scenery make it a truly special place.