 |
After a relaxing hour-and-a-half flight from Tokyo over the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, our aircraft landed at Miyazaki Airport. On disembarking we were greeted by a bracing Pacific breeze. Looking up to the sky, we could see palm fronds waving languidly in the wind, making us feel we were vacationing at a summer resort.
The city of Miyazaki lies on the southeast side of Kyushu, the westernmost island of mainland Japan. Thirty kilometers of white, sandy beach stretch north to south along the coast, with sublime views of the Pacific Ocean known as the Hyuga Sea. Miyazaki is located on a coastal plain surrounded by hills on three sides, with the Oyodo, Kiyotake, and Kaeda rivers flowing through the city. With a plentiful water supply and fertile soil, Miyazaki has traditionally been an agricultural area renowned for its poultry, beef, and fruit.
The prefectural capital has a population of around 300,000, and average annual temperatures hover in the region of 17¼C. Sports are popular in this city where the climate is always warm and springlike. It offers an impressive range of facilities for citizens and tourists alike, including a sports complex and park, tennis courts, golf courses, and much more. It is clear that sports forma part of everyday life here.
Once the playing season is over, Japanese professional sports teams come to Miyazaki for winter training camp. Professional baseball and soccer players take advantage of the warm climate to tune up after a hard season and recharge their batteries for the next round. |
 |
| Miyazaki Shrine, located in lush forest north of the city, is dedicated to the legendary first emperor and his successors. |
|
