The Sea Cross where your wishes come true

“Cruise no Umi” (Cross Sea), known as a place where wishes come true, is located along a ria coastline within Hyuga Kaigan Quasi-National Park—cliffs formed over ages by volcanic activity and the powerful waves of the Pacific, and the area is designated a National Natural Monument. From the observation deck, the coastline appears cross-shaped (cruz in Portuguese, pronounced “kurusu”), and the sea surface can look like the characters that form “叶う” (to be granted), giving rise to the name. A legend says wishes come true here, and at the lookout there is a “Kurusu Bell” where visitors ring it with their hopes. The drive-friendly Nichinan Coast runs north–south through Miyazaki and is dotted with highlights such as Hyuga Cape Umagase, Horikiri Pass, Aoshima, and Udo Jingu—perfect for a coastal road trip. Access: by public transportation, about 18 minutes by car from JR Nippo Main Line “Hyuga-shi Station.” By car, about 5 minutes from Higashi-Kyushu Expressway “Hyuga IC.” From Aoshima it’s about a 1.5-hour (approx. 100 km) coastal drive; from Hyuga Cape Umagase it’s about 3 minutes (approx. 1.5 km).