Obi Town

Obi is a historic town that flourished for about 280 years from the Edo period through the early Meiji era as the castle town of the Obi Domain. Samurai residences and merchant buildings from the period remain in the streetscape, carefully preserved so visitors can feel the town’s atmosphere and history. Sometimes called the “Little Kyoto of Kyushu,” Obi’s sightseeing spots are scattered, making it ideal to rent a bicycle and explore at a relaxed pace—visiting historic sites, shochu breweries, shrines, and power spots with sacred trees. Access: by public transportation, take the JR Nichinan Line rapid “Nichinan Marine” (bound for Shibushi) from JR Miyazaki Station or Miyakoh City; travel time about 1 hour 9 minutes, get off at Obi Station. From Miyazaki Airport, about 1 hour by rental car, or about 80 minutes by bus. Alternatively, from JR Miyazaki Airport Station, ride the Miyazaki Airport Line (Miyazaki-bound) 3 minutes to JR Tano-yoshi Station, then transfer to the JR Nichinan Line rapid “Nichinan Marine” (bound for Shibushi), about 1 hour. By car, exit at Miyazaki Expressway “Tano IC” and take prefectural roads, or exit at “Miyazaki IC” and follow Route 220 toward the Nichinan Coast.