Miyazaki is Kyushu at its sunniest: palms, broad streets, surf beaches, and a coastline where shrine mythology sits right beside resort Japan. It is less dense and less famous than Fukuoka or Nagasaki, but it has a relaxed southern pace and enough strong sights for a full day.
The classic first stop is Aoshima Shrine, set on a small island ringed by the folded rock formations nicknamed the Devil's Washboard. Inland, Miyazaki-jingu gives the city its oldest mythic identity, with a shrine dedicated to Emperor Jimmu, Japan's legendary first emperor.
Miyazaki is also good at easy pleasures. Heiwadai Park has its stone peace tower and haniwa figures, while the city's beaches pull surfers when the swell is right. Food helps too: chicken nanban, Miyazaki beef, mango desserts, and shochu make the city more rewarding after the sightseeing is done.