A practical English guide to Nichinan in Miyazaki: the Obi castle town, the coast and its islands, and access from Miyazaki and Kagoshima.
Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 07 November 2026).
Why visit
- Nichinan is a city on the southern coast of Miyazaki, and its old centre, Obi, is one of the best preserved castle towns in Kyushu. Obi was the seat of the Ito clan, and its stone walls, samurai houses and mossy lanes have survived in a compact grid that is easy to walk.
- The coast is the other half of the city. South of Obi the land breaks into cliffs, small bays and islands, with the Nichinan coast road running above the water. It is subtropical, with palms and broadleaf trees, and the sea is warm for much of the year.
- Nichinan is a stop on the Nichinan line, which runs south from Miyazaki through the mountains and along the coast, and it makes a good base for both the castle town and the beaches.
Top places and highlights
Obi castle town
Stone walls, samurai houses and old lanes in the preserved centre.
Nichinan coast
Cliffs, bays and islands along a subtropical shoreline.
Nichinan line
A scenic railway that runs through the mountains and along the sea.
Local food
Seafood and Miyazaki dishes in the town and along the coast.
Food and drink
- M
- i
- y
- a
- z
- a
- k
- i
- f
- o
- o
- d
- i
- s
- g
- e
- n
- e
- r
- o
- u
- s
- :
- c
- h
- i
- c
- k
- e
- n
- d
- i
- s
- h
- e
- s
- ,
- m
- a
- n
- g
- o
- a
- n
- d
- c
- i
- t
- r
- u
- s
- ,
- a
- n
- d
- f
- i
- s
- h
- f
- r
- o
- m
- t
- h
- e
- c
- o
- a
- s
- t
- .
- N
- i
- c
- h
- i
- n
- a
- n
- h
- a
- s
- s
- m
- a
- l
- l
- r
- e
- s
- t
- a
- u
- r
- a
- n
- t
- s
- i
- n
- O
- b
- i
- a
- n
- d
- a
- r
- o
- u
- n
- d
- t
- h
- e
- s
- t
- a
- t
- i
- o
- n
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- m
- o
- r
- e
- c
- h
- o
- i
- c
- e
- i
- n
- M
- i
- y
- a
- z
- a
- k
- i
- c
- i
- t
- y
- .
Getting there and around
- N
- i
- c
- h
- i
- n
- a
- n
- i
- s
- o
- n
- t
- h
- e
- N
- i
- c
- h
- i
- n
- a
- n
- l
- i
- n
- e
- f
- r
- o
- m
- M
- i
- y
- a
- z
- a
- k
- i
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- t
- h
- e
- j
- o
- u
- r
- n
- e
- y
- t
- a
- k
- i
- n
- g
- a
- r
- o
- u
- n
- d
- a
- n
- h
- o
- u
- r
- ,
- a
- n
- d
- i
- s
- r
- e
- a
- c
- h
- e
- d
- b
- y
- r
- o
- a
- d
- o
- n
- r
- o
- u
- t
- e
- 2
- 2
- 0
- .
- O
- b
- i
- i
- s
- a
- s
- h
- o
- r
- t
- b
- u
- s
- o
- r
- t
- a
- x
- i
- r
- i
- d
- e
- f
- r
- o
- m
- N
- i
- c
- h
- i
- n
- a
- n
- s
- t
- a
- t
- i
- o
- n
- .
Where to stay
- A
- c
- c
- o
- m
- m
- o
- d
- a
- t
- i
- o
- n
- i
- s
- m
- o
- s
- t
- l
- y
- s
- m
- a
- l
- l
- h
- o
- t
- e
- l
- s
- ,
- i
- n
- n
- s
- a
- n
- d
- g
- u
- e
- s
- t
- h
- o
- u
- s
- e
- s
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- s
- o
- m
- e
- c
- o
- a
- s
- t
- a
- l
- o
- p
- t
- i
- o
- n
- s
- .
- I
- t
- i
- s
- a
- q
- u
- i
- e
- t
- b
- a
- s
- e
- r
- a
- t
- h
- e
- r
- t
- h
- a
- n
- a
- r
- e
- s
- o
- r
- t
- .
Best time to visit
- S
- p
- r
- i
- n
- g
- a
- n
- d
- a
- u
- t
- u
- m
- n
- a
- r
- e
- t
- h
- e
- m
- o
- s
- t
- c
- o
- m
- f
- o
- r
- t
- a
- b
- l
- e
- .
- S
- u
- m
- m
- e
- r
- i
- s
- h
- o
- t
- a
- n
- d
- h
- u
- m
- i
- d
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- t
- y
- p
- h
- o
- o
- n
- r
- i
- s
- k
- .
- W
- i
- n
- t
- e
- r
- i
- s
- m
- i
- l
- d
- ,
- w
- i
- t
- h
- c
- l
- e
- a
- r
- d
- a
- y
- s
- a
- n
- d
- f
- e
- w
- e
- r
- v
- i
- s
- i
- t
- o
- r
- s
- .
Practical tips
- Obi’s lanes are residential; respect private property and keep voices low.
- The coastal road is exposed; take care in wind and rain.
- Some trains on the Nichinan line are infrequent; check timetables.
Suggested day-trip outline
- Morning: train along the Nichinan line.
- Late morning: Obi castle town on foot.
- Lunch: a local restaurant in Obi.
- Afternoon: the coast road and a viewpoint.
- Late afternoon: a beach or a small harbour.
- Evening: dinner in town or back to Miyazaki.
Before you go
Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.
Explore More of Japan
Published guides that pair with this one:
- Hyuga Travel Guide: Miyazaki’s Cape and Myth Country
- Nobeoka Travel Guide: Castle Ruins and River Country in Miyazaki
- Usuki Travel Guide: Stone Buddhas and a Castle Town in Oita
- Goto Islands Travel Guide: Churches, Coves and the Edge of Kyushu
- Miyazaki City Travel Guide: Palms, Shrines and the Phoenix Road
Browse every Kyushu guide on this site for the rest of the region.
Sources
- city.nichinan.lg.jp (checked 2026-11-07)
- kanko-miyazaki.jp (checked 2026-11-07)
Leave a Reply