My Solitaire Wedding

 This wasn't the first choice for our hotel. But our preferred hotel is fully booked due to a weekend golfing event. All hotels in Miyazaki are full.  This place is dated. The cupboard laminates are peeling. But they do provide decent amenities and snacks for kids.  Most importantly they are clean. So this is home for the next two nights. The parking is spacious but not complimentary with the hotel. 

This is a very ambitious plan to visit all these places all in a day. So there is really a need to start the day early. The Nichinan coastal drive is the my most anticipated place of interest. It started off well. Aoshima is very drafty. The spurt of wind will actually lift my bag off the shoulder.  I came here as i wanted to see the geological formations along the beach.   The Aoshima shrine next to it is just simple walk through for us.  The pathway to Aoshima island and shrine where the strong winds blow. Next stop is  Sun Messe Nichinan housed the replicas of  famous Moai figures from Easter Island carved by the Rapa Nui people. This is the only other place in the world with the statues.  As time is of essence, we stayed an hour and left the place. We did not complete the entire park. The kids love the swings in the middle of the park.  Udo Shrine (鵜戸神宮, Udo Jingū)  is dedicated to Yamasachihiko, the father of Emperor Jimmu. Its a steep and lo...

  Address:    3-1 Chuodori, Miyazaki, 880-0002, Japan Walked around Nishitachibana Street. Its friday night and everywhere is booked and crowded. The recommend haunts are all full or a long waitlist.   Finally found a family friendly place, that will sit us immediately. Family friendly as in no need to order beer or sake for the meal. Hubs and i shared a plate of fried rice and a platter of miyazaki beef. The Miyazaki beef is soft and tender. Most importantly so value for money. They even showed the picture of the cow.  Garlic Fried rice cooked in beef fat is so fragrant but a little greasy. 

  Address:  949 Shiraki, Oita, 879-2202, Japan The restaurant is located on Level 2. Level 1 is somewhat like a small marketplace selling japanese products. We choose the seat facing the seaview.  A very affordable dining place. I came here specifically to try their horse mackerel which is unique to the area. But alas, the special set for the mackerel is sold out!. So i just choose randomly another seafood sashimi bento set.