Located at the southernmost tip of Miyazaki Prefecture, Kushima City is known for its beautiful coastline, historic buildings, and opportunities to encounter wildlife. Agriculture and fisheries are also important local industries, and the city’s specialties are recognized throughout Japan. From dramatic coastal scenery and wild horses to traditional festivals and local food, Kushima offers visitors a rich combination of nature, history, and regional culture.
Kushima Shrine is a historic shrine that has long been revered by local residents. With its solemn atmosphere, it offers a peaceful place to pray. The shrine has traditionally been cherished as a guardian deity protecting the local community.
The Former Yoshimatsu Family Residence is a historic property in Kushima City that was designated an Important Cultural Property in 2008. Preserved as the residence of a wealthy merchant family whose prosperity spanned the Edo and Meiji periods, the house conveys the architectural styles of its time. This valuable historical site offers visitors an opportunity to learn about the culture and traditions of Kushima.
Kojima Island, also known as Kōjima, is famous as a habitat for wild Japanese macaques. The monkeys are known for an unusual behavior: washing sweet potatoes in seawater before eating them. This behavior has attracted the attention of researchers in animal behavior, and visitors can also enjoy observing the monkeys in their natural surroundings.
The Ishinami Coastal Forest stretches along the coastline of Kushima City and is characterized by its rich greenery and beautiful seaside scenery. The contrast between the naturally formed woodland and the sea creates an impressive landscape. It is an ideal place for a leisurely walk and nature observation.
Cape Toi is one of Kushima’s best-known tourist destinations. Located within Nichinan Kaigan Quasi-National Park, the cape offers spectacular views of expansive grasslands and the Pacific Ocean. The scenery is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset.
Cape Toi Lighthouse is a beautiful lighthouse selected as one of Japan’s 50 Best Lighthouses. From the lighthouse, visitors can enjoy magnificent views of the cape and its surrounding landscape. The combination of this historic lighthouse and the dramatic natural scenery makes the site a popular place for photography.
Cape Toi is also famous as the habitat of the Misaki horses, which are designated a Natural Monument of Japan. These wild horses roam freely across the grasslands of the cape, offering visitors a rare opportunity to see them at close range. Foals are born in spring, when visitors may also catch sight of the young horses.
Cape Toi is home to a natural habitat of cycads designated a Special Natural Monument of Japan. The landscape, with its subtropical-looking vegetation growing naturally in the area, conveys the strength and beauty of nature. Cycads are hardy plants that have continued to thrive by adapting to the local environment.
Koigaura is well known as a surfing destination. Its beautiful waves and quiet coastline make it an appealing place for surfers. The beach is also popular with couples as a romantic seaside spot.
The Cape Toi Fire Festival is a traditional local event held every year on the fourth Friday and Saturday of August. The festival features powerful ceremonies and dances involving flames, attracting many visitors to the area.
The Toi Grand Dance is the main event of the fire festival. Its vigorous and impressive movements captivate the audience. This traditional dance symbolizes the area’s culture and history, and it provides an occasion for local residents and visitors to share in the festivities.
The Miyahara Hashiramatsu Dance is another important event held as part of the Cape Toi Fire Festival. This traditional dance has been passed down through generations. It is not only a performance enjoyed by spectators but also a cherished expression of local pride.
The Netaro Shrine Festival is a distinctive traditional event held in Kushima City. The ceremonies are based on the local legend of Netaro, making the festival an intriguing cultural experience for visitors.
Moguramochi is a traditional local confectionery and one of Kushima’s specialties. It is familiar to local residents and is loved for its chewy texture and simple, comforting flavor.
Sairin-in Temple in Kushima City is known as the burial place of Akizuki Tanezane, a Sengoku-period feudal lord. Standing in a quiet setting, the temple is a place where visitors can sense the area’s history and enjoy a moment of tranquility.
Kushima Onsen is a hot spring facility where visitors can relax in a natural setting. It offers an opportunity to enjoy the restorative qualities of hot spring bathing and spend some unhurried time away from the demands of everyday life.
Shibushi Bay Daikoku Dolphin Land is a marine-themed attraction where visitors can interact with dolphins and other sea creatures. Popular with families and couples, the facility offers experiences involving dolphins as well as shows.
Kushima City produces a variety of agricultural products, including rice, sweet potatoes, kumquats, mangoes, and cucumbers. One particularly notable product is Yamadai Kansho, a branded sweet potato. It was registered under Japan’s Geographical Indication (GI) Protection System in 2018 and has attracted attention as a specialty whose quality is officially protected.
Fishing is another thriving industry in Kushima. Fish caught in nearby waters include horse mackerel, mackerel, bonito, tuna, and flying fish. Spiny lobster fishing takes place in autumn, when visitors can enjoy fresh seafood. The area also farms species such as rock oysters, greater amberjack, and yellowtail. Its farmed yellowtail is marketed under the brand name Kurose Buri.
One popular local dish is Kushima Ikijime Buri-Puri Don, a rice bowl topped with locally produced yellowtail that has been ikejime-processed to preserve its freshness. It is a favorite among visitors to the city.
Kushima City is home to three shochu producers: Shoro Shuzo, Kokozo Shuzo, and Jukai Shuzo. These distilleries produce shochu while maintaining traditional brewing methods and making use of local ingredients to create high-quality spirits.
Kawahoku Seimen, a noodle manufacturer in Kushima City, is also working on the production of gluten-free noodles. The company is developing products for consumers who are particularly conscious of their health and dietary choices.
Kushima City lies at the southernmost tip of Miyazaki Prefecture, approximately 70 kilometers south-southwest of Miyazaki City, the prefectural capital. The eastern part of the city faces the Hyuga-nada Sea, while the southern part faces Shibushi Bay. The coastal area is designated as part of Nichinan Kaigan Quasi-National Park.
Tourist destinations such as Kojima Island and Cape Toi are scattered throughout the area. Much of the city consists of hilly terrain, and relatively little land is flat.
Mountains: Mount Onzuzu (783 meters) and Mount Takahata (518 meters).
Rivers: The Fukushima River, Oyatori River, Chino River, Honjo River, and Ichiki River.
Cape: Cape Toi.
Islands: Tsukishima, Bindarijima, Kojima, Torishima, and Eboshijima.
Kushima borders Nichinan City and Miyakonojo City in Miyazaki Prefecture, as well as Shibushi City in Kagoshima Prefecture. Its varied natural environment provides opportunities to enjoy a range of outdoor activities.
Kushima has hot summers and relatively mild winters, thanks in part to the influence of the Kuroshio Current. This warm climate makes sightseeing possible even during the winter months. However, typhoons frequently pass through the region from summer into autumn, and the city can be affected by their approach.
In the past, the warm climate also made Kushima a training destination for professional baseball. The Chunichi Dragons held their spring training camp at Kushima Municipal Baseball Stadium.
During the Muromachi period (1336–1573), Kushima was ruled by the Nobe clan. Nobe Hisamori was dispatched to the area as a local governor. After defeating powerful local families in battle, he established the clan’s control over the region.
In 1336, Nobe Moritada attacked Kushima Castle, an event that also forms part of the area’s history.
During the Edo period (1603–1868), Kushima became part of the Takanabe Domain. It served as an exclave of the domain, surrounded by the neighboring Obi and Satsuma domains. To strengthen its administration of Kushima, the Takanabe Domain established an official position known as Tsugoshoku, in addition to its existing system of local administrators and district governors.
Historical records also mention the discovery in Kushima of a jade bi, a circular ceremonial object with a central hole said to have been possessed by kings in ancient China.
On November 3, 1954 (Showa 29), Fukushima Town and the villages of Otsuka, Honjo, Toi, and Ichiki, all in Minaminaka District, merged to form Kushima City. The city has since developed through many changes into the community visitors see today.
Kushima City is an appealing destination where beautiful natural scenery and a rich history come together. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views from Cape Toi, encounter the Misaki horses roaming the grasslands, and discover the region’s distinctive agricultural and seafood products. When visiting Kushima, take time to experience its natural beauty and cultural heritage, and sample the local specialties that reflect the area’s land and sea.