Miyazaki (宮崎市) is the capital city of Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 397,381 in 187,859 households, and a population density of 620 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 643.67 km2.

Geography

Miyazaki is located at the southern end of the Miyazaki Plain, with the Ōyodo River flowing through the center and bordered by the Hyūga Sea to the east. Except for the southern part, which is part of the Wanizuka Mountains, most of the area of the city consists of flat alluvial plains.

Surrounding municipalities

Miyazaki Prefecture

Climate

Miyazaki has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and cool winters. During the summer, the city is particularly prone to typhoons, one of which drenched the city with 587.2 mm of rain in one day on 16 October 1939. The wettest month since records began has been September 1886 with 1259.3 mm and the driest was December 1988, which stands as the only month with no measurable precipitation.

Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Miyazaki in 2020 is 401,339 people. Miyazaki has been conducting censuses since 1920.

History

The area of Miyazaki was part of ancient Hyūga Province. In 1551, a merchant market town called Jogasaki was established on the south bank of the Ōyodo River near Akae port, and flourished due to trade along the Seto Inland Sea with the Kinai region. This settlement came under the control of Obi Domain ruled by the Itō clan in the Edo period, although much of the rest of the area which is now within the city borders was a patchwork of feudal holdings ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate as well as Sadowara Domain, Satsuma Domain and others. With the abolition of the han system in 1871, the Ōyodo River was the border between "Mimitsu Prefecture" and "Miyakonojo Prefecture". When these prefectures were merged in 1873 to form Miyazaki Prefecture, a site near the geographic center was selected as the new capital, and this was the hamlet of Kitta-Beppu, located near the old settlement of Jogasaki. The town of Miyazaki was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. After the completion of the nationwide railroad system, many new people began to settle in the area. Miyazaki merged with the neighbouring town of Ōyodo and village of Ōmiya, and was raised to city status on April 1, 1924. On April 1, 1998, Miyazaki was designated a Core cities of Japan, giving it greater local autonomy. On January 1, 2006, the towns of Sadowara and Tano (both from Miyazaki District), and the town of Takaoka (from Higashimorokata District) were merged into Miyazaki. On March 23, 2010, the town of Kiyotake (from Miyazaki District) was merged into Miyazaki. Miyazaki District was dissolved as a result of this merger.

Government

Miyazaki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 40 members. Miyazaki contributes 12 members to the Miyazaki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Miyazaki 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

Miyazaki is primary a regional commercial center. Although eastern Miyazaki is designated as the "Miyazaki SUN Technopolis area", there is no large-scale industry in Miyazaki City as the city is hampered by poor transportation and logistics connections with other areas of Japan. In recent years, the city has been actively attracting the information industry. Rural parts of the city are still agricultural, cultivation of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and other crops, and food processing factories. Solaseed Air, a regional airline, has its head office in Miyazaki.

Education

Colleges and universities

Primary and secondary schools

Miyazaki has 48 public elementary schools and 25 public junior high schools operated by the city government and one public junior high school and ten public high schools operated by the Miyazaki Prefectural Board of Education. There is also one national elementary school and one national junior high school affiliated with Miyazaki University. The city has seven private junior high schools and eight private high schools. The prefecture operates five special education schools for the handicapped.

Transportation

Airports

Railways

JR Kyushu - Nippō Main Line JR Kyushu - Nichinan Line JR Kyushu - Miyazaki Kūkō Line

Highways

Sister cities

Miyazaki has five sister cities:

National

International

Local attractions

Notable people from Miyazaki