Obi Castle Town 飫肥城下町

The town of Obi is renowned for its architecture, stone walls, Obi cedar, and old world charm.

Obi Castle Town is best accessed by car or train from Miyazaki City.

Trains run to Obi Station from Miyazaki Station via the JR Nichinan line.

A more convenient way to get to Obi Castle Town from Miyazaki City is by rental car as public transport is limited. By car, you can drive along the Nichinan coastal road and take in the amazing views.

Take Route 220 south from Miyazaki City and follow it for about 40 kilometers. About five minutes after the Udo Shrine turnoff, you'll see signs for Obi Castle. Turn right off Route 220 and just follow them the signs all the way to the town.

To reach Miyazaki City, most options include air or a combination of train and bus travel. From Tokyo, flights operate from both Haneda and Narita airports to Miyazaki. From Osaka, take flights from Itami Airport or Kansai International Airport. Connecting trains or buses run to Miyazaki Station from Miyazaki Airport.

By train, take a shinkansen to Kagoshima-Chuo Station before transferring to the JR Kirishima line for Miyazaki City.

From the late 1500s to the 1860s, Obi Town was a thriving samurai district under the powerful Ito clan. Today, you can explore the lush grounds of Obi Castle and peek inside the remaining samurai residences in the streets around the castle.

Most of the original castle no longer remains, but reconstruction work took place in the 1970s.

The grounds include lots of open spaces and beautifully manicured garden areas.

Once you've built up an appetite by exploring the castle grounds, you can enjoy some great food at one of the nearby restaurants. Recommended is Hattori Tei.

The menu is extensive, but it's the restaurant's gardens that are even more alluring. The back of the restaurant opens up to an incredible Japanese-style garden that you can see through large windows as you enjoy your food.

Alternatively, you can have a light snack or coffee at one of the many cafes that line the town's main street.

If you want to stay overnight, try a renovated samurai residence. Katsume Tei was converted into accommodation for visitors in 2017. You get your own private Japanese garden and the full cultural experience.

Another former samurai residence renovated from an Edo period middle-class vassal's house is Oya Tei, located near to the castle and available for stays. Neither provides food, but kitchens are available to prepare your own.

In the evening, the lights that line the street outside Obi Castle light up. It looks spectacular and really takes your mind back to what Obi, and other parts of samurai Japan, might have looked like in their prime.