EasyTicket A Miyazaki rental-car half-day trip is most efficient if you start at Aoshima Shrine, pass through Horikiri Pass and Michi no Eki Phoenix, and finish at Sunmesse Nichinan. Two confident drivers can take in the coastal scenery and the area’s signature sights in about five hours.
🗺️ Miyazaki Rental-Car Half-Day Route & Schedule
Route-planning notes: An early start works best
I checked the opening hours, and the natural order is to visit Aoshima Shrine first, which opens early, then finish at Sunmesse Nichinan, which opens at 9:30 a.m. It’s about a 15-minute drive from Miyazaki Airport to Aoshima.
Recommended 5-Hour Itinerary
| Time | Plan | Travel & stop time |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Depart Miyazaki Airport | About 15 min to Aoshima |
| 09:15~10:25 | Aoshima Shrine & Devil’s Washboard | 70 min on foot |
| 10:25~11:20 | Horikiri Pass & Michi no Eki Phoenix | Views & snack, 55 min |
| 11:20~11:55 | Drive to Sunmesse Nichinan | 18.9 km, about 35 min |
| 11:55~13:25 | Sunmesse Nichinan | 90 min sightseeing |
| 13:25~14:05 | Drive to Miyazaki Airport | About 40 min |
Allow separate time for rental-car pickup and return formalities.
⛩️ How to Visit Aoshima Shrine and the Devil’s Washboard
Walk the shrine and coast in one go
Aoshima Shrine is open for worship from 6 a.m. until sunset, and you can receive amulets and goshuin stamps from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aoshima Station is about 800 m from the shrine, and the island’s circumference is 1.5 km.
Check the parking lot and low-tide times first
The shrine has no dedicated parking lot. The parking lot at the entrance to the shrine approach next to Aoshimaya is open 24 hours and costs 500 yen per day, while the parking lot in front of JR Aoshima Station is free from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Devil’s Washboard is exposed for up to 100 m at low tide. Check Miyazaki’s tide table for your visit date and wear non-slip shoes on the wet rocks.
🌴 Horikiri Pass vs. Michi no Eki Phoenix
Pros and cons of the two viewpoints
Horikiri Pass offers free parking but has no restrooms. About 1 km south, you’ll find Michi no Eki Phoenix, with parking for 104 vehicles, including 95 regular cars, plus restrooms. The market hall is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Keep the food stop light
At Phoenix, you can buy Miyazaki mangoes and premium Hyuganatsu-flavored soft-serve ice cream. If you want a meal, Aoshimaya serves Chicken Nanban and Miyazaki beef dishes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
🗿 Sunmesse Nichinan: What to Know & Suggested Route
Admission, hours & parking
Sunmesse Nichinan is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m. Adult admission is 1,000 yen, and Wednesday is its regular closing day. It operates normally during the year-end and New Year period, Golden Week, Obon, and national holidays. The free parking lot accommodates 220 regular cars, and it’s about a three-minute walk from the parking lot to the entrance. (Source: Sunmesse Nichinan)
If two people use the paid Aoshima parking lot and Sunmesse, admission and parking fees total 2,500 yen. This excludes the rental car, fuel, and meals.
A 90-Minute Visiting Order
From the parking lot, walk uphill past Welcome Plaza to Moai Plaza, then take in the coastal view before heading back down. The site covers 20 hectares of sloping ground, so 90 minutes is a comfortable amount of time if you want plenty of photos as a couple.
🚗 Miyazaki Rental-Car Driving & Parking Tips
Prepare a paper International Driving Permit
In Japan, you need a paper booklet-style International Driving Permit compliant with the 1949 Geneva Convention. The permit is valid only within one year of its issue date, and you must use it in Japan within one year of entering the country; your passport’s entry record must also be available for verification. Japan drives on the left, so pay particular attention to your lane immediately after turning left or right at an intersection. (Source: Japan National Tourism Organization)
Consider a detour on National Route 220 during heavy rain
Some sections of the Nichinan Coast are subject to advance traffic restrictions when cumulative rainfall reaches 170 mm. On rainy days, check the status of National Route 220 in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s road information service before setting out.
📋 Pre-Departure Checklist & FAQ
- Prepare a paper International Driving Permit and passport
- Check Aoshima’s low-tide times
- Confirm Sunmesse Nichinan is closed on Wednesdays
- Check traffic information for National Route 220
- Save the gas station and opening hours before returning the car
Can I drive onto Aoshima Island in a rental car?
No. Park near the entrance to the shrine approach, then cross Yayoi Bridge on foot.
Is the Devil’s Washboard easy to see at high tide too?
Low tide is better. Since the rocks are exposed up to 100 m, plan your Aoshima itinerary around the low-tide time on the tide table.
Can I rent a Round Car at Sunmesse with an International Driving Permit?
According to the official guidance, you need to present a standard Japanese driver’s license to use the Round Car. Travelers with only an International Driving Permit should plan to visit on foot.
If you’ve booked a Miyazaki rental car, save the Aoshima parking lot, low-tide time, and Sunmesse closing day first. Getting these three right will make your half-day drive much smoother.