Shintomi Town is located in Koyu District in central Miyazaki Prefecture. It is known as one of the major vegetable-producing areas of the Miyazaki Plain. With its fertile agricultural land, historical sites, natural attractions, and lively local events, Shintomi offers visitors an opportunity to discover the diverse character of this part of Miyazaki.
Shintomi Town has a relatively flat landscape. Plains extend across its eastern and southern areas, while elevated plateaus lie to the west. Approximately 70 percent of the town’s total area consists of flat land, providing favorable conditions for agriculture and settlement.
The Hitotsuse River flows along the southern part of the town, and the coastline faces the Hyuga-nada Sea. The coastal location also means that the area is exposed to tsunami risks. According to the cited estimate for a major Nankai Trough earthquake, a tsunami reaching a maximum height of 9 meters could arrive along the town’s coast.
Shintomi Town was established on March 31, 1959, when the two villages of Nyuta and Tonda in Koyu District merged. The name Shintomi was created by taking one character from the name of each former village.
The town has numerous historic sites and a rich cultural heritage. Its attractions range from ancient burial mounds to religious sites and places known for their natural beauty.
Nyutabaru Burial Mounds: A group of ancient burial mounds scattered throughout the town. These archaeological sites offer a glimpse into the area’s distant past and provide a sense of the history of the Miyazaki Plain.
Tomitahama Sea Turtle Nesting Ground: Tomitahama is known as a nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles. It is a valuable natural environment where visitors can learn about the coastal ecosystem and, when conditions permit, observe the natural surroundings associated with sea turtle nesting.
Honrenji Temple: A Buddhist temple that has long been a place of local religious devotion.
Yunomiya Zaron Plum Tree: One of the town’s best-known natural and cultural attractions. Famous as a plum-blossom viewing spot, it welcomes many visitors every year, particularly during the flowering season. Its history and distinctive form make it an important symbol of Shintomi.
Unilever Stadium Shintomi is one of the town’s principal sports facilities and regularly hosts local sporting events. It is particularly important as a venue for football matches, including games involving Viamaterasu Miyazaki of the Japan Women’s Football League and Tegevajaro Miyazaki, a club in the J.League.
For football supporters, the stadium offers an opportunity to experience the excitement of local matches and enjoy the atmosphere of Japanese football outside the country’s major metropolitan areas.
Shintomi Onsen is a popular hot spring destination where visitors can relax and enjoy a peaceful break. Its spring water is reputed to be gentle on the skin, making it popular with both local residents and tourists.
A visit to the hot springs is a pleasant way to unwind after exploring the town’s historic sites and natural attractions.
The Nyutabaru Air Base Air Festival is held every year in early December. One of its main attractions is the demonstration flight by Blue Impulse, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s aerobatic demonstration team.
The team’s precision maneuvers and dynamic aerial displays draw aviation enthusiasts from across Japan. The festival provides a rare opportunity to see the skill and coordination of the pilots at close range and is one of the major annual events in the area.
The Zaron Plum Blossom Festival is held every February, with the famous Yunomiya Zaron Plum Tree serving as its central attraction. During the festival, visitors come to enjoy the plum blossoms and the seasonal scenery.
Local specialties and sweets are also available, allowing visitors to experience the region’s food culture while enjoying the flowers. The festival is a popular seasonal event that brings together local residents and tourists.
Agriculture is one of the foundations of Shintomi’s economy. The flatlands are particularly suitable for greenhouse horticulture, where vegetables such as green peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes are cultivated. The area is also known for producing early-season rice.
On the elevated plateaus, livestock farming is important, especially egg production and beef cattle raising. Tea and leaf tobacco are also cultivated in these areas, contributing to the diversity of local agriculture.
The area around the Hitotsuse River is another important production center. Eel farming is carried out on a large scale and ranks among the leading operations of its kind in Japan. Locally farmed eel is one of the region’s distinctive specialty products.
In 2017, the Koyu Regional Development Promotion Organization, commonly known as the Koyu Foundation, was established to support the development of the local economy.
The organization promotes new business initiatives, including the cultivation of lychees and papayas, as well as the operation of inns and cafés. By attracting entrepreneurs and business owners from outside the town, it aims to introduce new ideas, create employment, and stimulate the local economy.
As a regional trading and development organization, the Koyu Foundation works to build new industries while making effective use of the area’s agricultural resources and other local strengths.
The main railway station serving Shintomi Town is Hyuga-Shintomi Station on the JR Nippo Main Line. Trains connect the town with Miyazaki City to the south and Takanabe Town to the north.
Local bus services operated by Miyazaki Kotsu also connect Shintomi with neighboring municipalities. Within the town, visitors can use the community bus service known as Lupinus-go to travel around the area.
The Higashi-Kyushu Expressway runs through the area, and Saito Interchange is the nearest interchange for Shintomi Town. National Routes 10 and 219 also pass through the town, providing convenient road connections to nearby destinations.
Travel by car is a practical way to explore the town’s attractions, agricultural areas, and surrounding communities.
Shintomi Town is a welcoming destination where a rich natural environment, historical heritage, and developing industries exist side by side. Visitors can explore ancient burial mounds, discover places of local religious and cultural importance, enjoy the famous Zaron Plum blossoms, and relax at Shintomi Onsen.
The town also offers distinctive experiences throughout the year, from the February plum blossom festival to the December air festival featuring the Blue Impulse aerobatic team. Its agricultural products, including greenhouse vegetables, early-season rice, tea, livestock products, and farmed eel, are another important part of its appeal.
When visiting Shintomi, take time to explore its natural and historical attractions, enjoy local events, and sample the products that reflect the area’s agricultural traditions and entrepreneurial spirit.