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Aoshima Island

Aoshima Island 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.

Heiwadai Park

Heiwadai Park, or Peace Tower Park, was built in 1940 to celebrate the 2600th anniversary of the ascension of Emperor Jimmu, the mythical first emperor of Japan, on what is believed to be the original site of his capital. Inside the park stands the Peace Tower, or Heiwadainoto, a tower constructed of stones sent from all around Asia and one of Miyazaki's most recognizable landmarks.
The Peace Tower was meant to symbolize a united world. On the front of the tower is the phrase "Hakko Ichiu", which is attributed to Emperor Jimmu and means "United under one roof". While it is somewhat ambiguous what he meant, this was often used as a rallying cry for imperialists who believed that peace would reign once Asia was united under Japanese leadership.
Heiwadai Park also has an interesting acoustic trick. If you face the Peace Tower from the center of the wide lawn at its base and clap, your clap will be magnified and reflected back toward you.

Miyazaki Shrine

Miyazaki Shrine, or Miyazaki Jingu in Japanese, is the oldest and most important shrine in the city. Dedicated to Emperor Jimmu, the mythical first emperor of Japan, it is said to have been established over 2600 years ago.
The shrine's buildings, constructed of simple, unpainted cedar, sit in the center of a large, quiet forest. Festivals and other events such as yabusame (horseback archery competitions) are held during the year on the wide path under the trees.

Miyazaki Science Museum

Across the street from Miyazaki Station is the Miyazaki Science Center. Also known as Cosmoland, this museum features many interactive exhibits with an emphasis on physics and space.
Inside the museum is an animatronic "Dr. Cosmo" who greets visitors and introduces them to the museum and its exhibits, most of which are hands on and let visitors experiment with various principles of physics.
The main emphasis of the museum is on space, however. Along with interactive exhibits and activities on space travel, the is also a real sized model of the Apollo 11 Moon Lander, a Gemini Spacecraft and a 1/4 scale model of a Japanese H-1 Rocket. In addition, the museum's upper floor houses one of the world's largest planetariums.

Miyazaki Prefectural Museum

The Miyazaki Prefectural Museum of Nature and History is located on the same grounds as Miyazaki Shrine. It is a comprehensive museum with exhibits on both the natural and cultural history of Miyazaki Prefecture. Furthermore, it is the venue of temporary, special exhibitions.
The museum's extensive permanent exhibition displays a variety of plants and animals in reproductions of their natural habitats. Additionally there are many well done displays, several of them life size, of life and industry throughout the history of Miyazaki. Explanations, however, are only provided in Japanese.

Udo Shrine

Udo Shrine, located on the Nichinan Coast south of Miyazaki City, is dedicated to Yamasachihiko, the father of Emperor Jimmu, the mythical first emperor of Japan. This brightly painted shrine is set in a cave on the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean and so enjoys a spectacular view.
There are a few legends concerning Emperor Jimmu and this cave, although it is unclear whether he was born here or visited here as a baby. However, the one thing the stories have in common are the breast shaped rocks in the cave wall which are said to have nourished him.

February - April

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