A complete guide to school trips to Kyushu and Miyazaki! Introducing 2-night/3-day and 3-night/4-day courses with experiences and accommodations.

Miyazaki Prefecture, located in Kyushu, boasts one of the highest rates of sunny days in Japan and faces the Pacific Ocean. With its blue coastline, vast pine forests, and history steeped in ancient myths, Miyazaki offers a perfect blend of nature, culture, and experiential learning opportunities, making it a popular destination for school trips across Japan in recent years.

This article provides essential information for school officials and travel agencies considering a school trip to Miyazaki, including recommended learning spots, activities, a 2-night, 3-day model itinerary, and tips on choosing accommodations.

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Reasons why Miyazaki has been chosen as a school trip destination in recent years

When explaining to parents and schools "why Miyazaki," you need supporting reasons. Easy access, a wealth of experiences, a stable climate, and financial support systems. Miyazaki has all the clear reasons why it continues to be chosen as a school trip destination.

Here, we will explain in detail the reasons why it is chosen.

A variety of themes for inquiry-based learning and experiential learning are available.

In recent years, school trips have undergone a significant shift from "sightseeing" to "learning through thinking and experience." Following the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's promotion of inquiry-based learning, schools are now required to clearly incorporate "what students will learn" into their itineraries.

Miyazaki is a place that can adapt to these changes.

From beach cleanups at sea turtle nesting grounds to programs that let you experience the work of an animal caretaker, and nonverbal communication with horses, there are plenty of opportunities for experiences themed around SDGs, life, the environment, and human relationships. The environment is well-suited for designing itineraries that are linked to pre- and post-trip learning.

The stable climate makes it easy to plan outdoor programs.

Miyazaki boasts one of the highest annual sunshine hours in Japan, and is characterized by its high percentage of sunny days. Except for the rainy season, the weather is stable, so you can keep the risk of bad weather relatively low even when incorporating multiple beach activities and outdoor experiences.

The environment is ideal for implementing outdoor programs that allow students to learn while being physically active, as planned. The mild climate throughout the year makes it a comfortable place to spend time during the spring and autumn school trip seasons.

Good access from within Kyushu and from the Kansai region.

Miyazaki Airport is connected to Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo, and other cities by direct flights. It is also accessible by land, with buses running from Kagoshima and Kumamoto via the Kyushu Expressway and Miyazaki Expressway.

Miyazaki is conveniently located for school trips that span multiple prefectures in Kyushu. A course that includes peace education in Nagasaki and experiential learning and nature studies in Miyazaki is widely used as a model course for educational travel.

Subsidies and grant programs are available.

Miyazaki Prefecture and Miyazaki City have several subsidy programs specifically for school trips. Details of these programs and application requirements can be obtained by consulting with the relevant local government offices or administrative offices. Gathering information in advance will make it easier to plan a well-organized itinerary. Details of these subsidy programs will be provided later in the section "Utilizing Subsidy and Grant Programs."

Things you can do on your Miyazaki school trip

Miyazaki's appeal lies in the fact that learning spots and experiences with diverse themes are concentrated in a compact area. Mythology, history, natural science, environment, food, and life—the ability to combine places offering different learning experiences without the burden of travel is a major strength of school trips to Miyazaki.

Here are some recommended spots.

Miyazaki Shrine (Miyazaki City)

This is a prestigious shrine known as the setting for Japanese mythology.

The main deity enshrined here is Emperor Jimmu, and the shrine has been revered since ancient times as the starting point of his "Eastern Expedition," which unified Japan from the land of Hyuga. As you walk through the vast shrine grounds, you can experience firsthand the origins of Japan that you learned about in textbooks.

It can be easily used as a theme for pre-visit learning in conjunction with history, Japanese language, and ethics classes, and it also adds depth to reflections after the visit.

Aoshima Island and the Oni no Sentaku-iwa (Devil's Washing Rocks) (Miyazaki City)

Unique rock formations, shaped by marine erosion, spread around Aoshima Island. This landscape, known as "Oni no Sentaku-iwa" (Devil's Washing Rocks), is the result of millions of years of natural processes.

Many schools use these for field observations in science and earth science classes, as seeing and touching them in person allows students to experience a sense of scale that is difficult to convey through textbook illustrations alone.

Aoshima Shrine is also famous as a shrine for matchmaking, and for students, it is a place where they can learn about both mythology and natural science at the same time.

Heiwadai Park and Haniwa Garden (Miyazaki City)

The "Haniwa Garden" located within Heiwadai Park displays a large number of haniwa (clay figures) that are representative of the Kofun period (ancient burial mound period).

The sight of clay figures standing in the outdoor lawn creates a unique atmosphere unlike anywhere else. Nearby is the Ikime Kofun Cluster, a nationally designated historical site, making it an ideal place for history learning, where you can experience ancient Japanese culture with all your senses.

Some facilities offer ancient culture experience programs such as "magatama making" and "haniwa making," allowing for learning beyond just sightseeing.

Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo

This zoo is located near the coast in Miyazaki City. It features facilities where visitors can interact with bottlenose dolphins, as well as exhibits of various other animals.

In addition to simply observing, the facility offers programs that allow visitors to actually experience the work of the animal care staff, fostering an understanding of life and providing valuable career learning opportunities through caring for animals. Combining these programs with those described later will provide a deeper experience that cannot be obtained through facility tours alone.

SDGs experience on the beach (beach cleanup)

This is a beach cleanup experience at Sun Beach Hitotsuba, known as a nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles.

Participants can learn firsthand about the marine plastic problem and its impact on ecosystems by actually cleaning up the beach. This program is well-suited to inquiry-based learning centered on the SDGs, as it provides an opportunity to think about "why garbage washes ashore in this ocean" and "how it connects to our daily lives."

By combining a "sand sculpting competition" after the cleaning, teams can share a sense of accomplishment from their environmental learning.

Udo Shrine (Nichinan City)

This is a rare shrine in Japan, with its main hall situated inside a cave on a cliff overlooking the Hyuga Sea.

This site is associated with mythology as the place where Toyotama-hime gave birth, and many schools visit it as a place for historical learning linked to the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki.

The journey along the rocky coastline to the shrine is an extraordinary experience in itself, making it a memorable spot for students.

This place is often included in itineraries that connect Miyazaki's myths and history not as isolated points, but as a coherent story, along with Aoshima and Miyazaki Shrine.

Takachiho Gorge and Takachiho Shrine (Takachiho Town)

Located in the northern part of Miyazaki Prefecture, Takachiho is a central site in Japanese mythology, known as the place where the heavenly grandchild descended to earth.

In Takachiho Gorge, where columnar jointed cliffs line the landscape, you can view waterfalls up close from a boat, making it a great place to study topography and geology.

By visiting Takachiho Shrine, where nighttime Kagura performances are offered, you can create a highly enriching itinerary where you can learn about Japanese mythology, traditional performing arts, and natural landscapes all in one place.

Since it takes about two hours by car from Miyazaki City, it's common to design a trip that includes an overnight stay in the Takachiho area.

Sunmesse Nichinan (Nichinan City)

This unique tourist spot features replicas of the Moai statues from Easter Island, spread across a vast area facing the Pacific Ocean.

The sight of the world's first seven Moai statues, restored with official permission, lined up in a row, leaves a strong impression on the students.

In addition to being useful for studying world civilizations and geography, it is also incorporated into many courses as a base for routes that explore the entire coastline of Nichinan.

Agricultural and fishing experiences (various locations in Miyazaki Prefecture)

Miyazaki Prefecture is an agricultural prefecture with one of the highest agricultural output values in Japan (ranking 5th to 6th) (according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries). It is known as a production area for various agricultural products such as cucumbers, bell peppers, and mangoes.

Learning through direct interaction with farmers and fishermen throughout the prefecture, and experiencing how food reaches the dinner table, is valuable from both a food education and career learning perspective. For students from urban areas, it is also a valuable opportunity to feel closer to the professions of agriculture and fishing.

Sample itinerary for a 2-night, 3-day school trip to Miyazaki

Miyazaki Prefecture is long from north to south, and the themes you can study vary depending on the area.

We will introduce two sample itineraries: a 2-night, 3-day trip centered around Miyazaki City and the Nichinan area, and a 3-night, 4-day trip that extends to Takachiho.

The program can be customized to suit your learning theme, the number of participants, and your departure location.

Course A | 3 days/2 nights (focused on Miyazaki City and Nichinan area)

This course, centered around Miyazaki City and the Nichinan Coast, offers a well-balanced combination of mythology, nature, and experiential learning.

The short travel distance from Miyazaki Airport makes this itinerary easy to incorporate into a school trip to Miyazaki for the first time.

Day 1 | Arrival, History, and Nature

Time slot	Content
Morning to noon	Arriving at Miyazaki Airport or Miyazaki Station
afternoon	Miyazaki Shrine and Heiwadai Park (History and Cultural Learning)
evening	Accommodation Check-in
night	Sky lantern experience (an extraordinary experience where you send your wishes into the night sky)

On the first day, taking into consideration fatigue from travel, we'll start with an afternoon of walking around and learning about Miyazaki's history and culture. In the evening, we'll enjoy a sky lantern experience, allowing everyone to share a special experience unique to a school trip right from the start.

*The sky lantern experience is intended for guests staying at PHOENIX SEAGAIA RESORT

Day 2 | Heading south along the coastline and exploring the Nichinan area

Time slot	Content
morning	Aoshima Island and the Oni no Sentaku-iwa (Geology and Mythology)
lunch	Meals using ingredients from Miyazaki
afternoon	Sunmesse Nichinan → Udo Shrine (Mythology and History)
night	Group exchange and reflection

This is a day where you can design your itinerary as a "mythological journey" connecting mythological sites in Miyazaki.

By giving the themes a narrative structure—Aoshima (geology and mythology) → Sunmesse Nichinan (world civilizations) → Udo Shrine (sacred site of mythology)—it becomes easier to deepen learning during review lessons.

Since the itinerary involves a lot of bus travel, combining pre-learning and explanations during the bus ride will be more effective.

Day 3 | Experiential Learning & Departure

Time slot	Content
morning	Beach cleanup or Phoenix Natural Zoo (experiential learning)
After lunch	Travel to Miyazaki Airport or Miyazaki Station / Return journey

The trip concludes with an experiential learning activity that allows participants to personally verify the "nature and life" theme they learned in Miyazaki. Although time is limited due to the afternoon return journey, we can condense a short but fulfilling program into the morning.

*Both beach cleanup and animal care experiences can be taken near PHOENIX SEAGAIA RESORT.

Course B | 3 nights, 4 days (including all of Miyazaki Prefecture, including Takachiho)

This course allows you to experience a diverse range of learning themes in Miyazaki, from Takachiho (mythology and natural geography) to Miyazaki City and the Nichinan Coast, all in one go.

This itinerary allows you to experience the charm of Miyazaki as the "homeland of myths" from top to bottom, and is recommended if you can secure a trip of 3 nights or more.

Day 1 | Arrival and departure to Takachiho

Time slot	Content
Morning to noon	Arriving at Miyazaki Airport or Miyazaki Station
afternoon	Takachiho Gorge (Geology/Nature) → Takachiho Shrine (Mythology/History)
evening	Stay in Takachiho Town

Since it takes about two hours to drive from Miyazaki Airport to Takachiho, we'll head there immediately after arrival and start our trip from the northern area.

From the first day, you can enjoy a highly enriching learning experience, such as studying topography at Takachiho Gorge, where columnar jointed cliffs and waterfalls intertwine, and learning about mythology at Takachiho Shrine, the site of the descent of the gods to earth.

*In Takachiho, it may be possible to view nighttime Kagura performances (advance confirmation required).

Day 2 | Heading south to Miyazaki City

Time slot	Content
morning	Saitobaru Burial Mounds and Saitobaru Archaeological Museum (History Learning)
lunch	Miyazaki City
afternoon	Miyazaki Shrine
evening	Check-in at accommodation
night	Sky lantern experience

Starting from Takachiho, a sacred site of mythology, and moving south, this history lesson follows a progression through ancient history (Saitobaru) and the founding myth (Miyazaki Shrine). Day two of Course B offers a unique experience of Miyazaki's history, allowing you to experience it not as isolated points, but as a story.

You can celebrate the halfway point of your journey together with sky lanterns at night.

*The sky lantern experience is intended for guests staying at PHOENIX SEAGAIA RESORT.

Day 3 | Nichinan Coast - Experiential Learning

Time slot	Content
morning	Aoshima Island - Oni no Sentaku-iwa (Devil's Washing Rocks) → Sunmesse Nichinan
lunch	Nichinan City
afternoon	Udo Shrine
night	Group exchange and reflection

This day will be a concentrated learning experience focusing on nature and mythology, exploring the Nichinan Coast in southern Miyazaki Prefecture.

The route follows the coastline south from Aoshima to Sunmesse Nichinan and Udo Shrine, and the changing scenery is one of the highlights of the trip.

Day 4 | Experiences & Departure

Time slot	Content
morning	Beach cleanup & sand sculpting competition or SpoGOMI
After lunch	Travel to Miyazaki Airport or Miyazaki Station / Return journey

The 3-night, 4-day trip concludes with a memorable team-based experiential program. The memories of physical activity shared amidst Miyazaki's natural beauty will remain in the students' hearts even after they return to school.

*If you are incorporating the Horse Education Program into a 3-night, 4-day trip, it is recommended to schedule it for the evening of the 3rd day or the morning of the 4th day.

How do you choose accommodation for your school trip to Miyazaki?

Once you have a clearer picture of your itinerary, the next step is selecting accommodations. In school trips, the choice of accommodation plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of experiential learning, which is the "main" part of the trip.

The following four points are particularly important to check:

• Capacity and facility organization
• Collaboration with experiential programs
• Is it a space that will remain in the students' memories?
• Support system for staff

I will explain each of them in detail.

Capacity and facility organization

Whether all students can stay in the same facility or on the same premises is extremely important from a safety management and emergency response perspective. If students are dispersed across multiple hotels, it becomes difficult to manage them at night and respond to emergencies.

Collaboration with experiential programs

It's also important to check whether the experiences and sightseeing spots you want to include in your itinerary are located near your accommodation. The less travel time you have, the more time you'll have for experiences and learning.

Is it a space that will remain in the students' memories?

School trips are special journeys that will be remembered for a lifetime. The extraordinary scenery and spaces that cannot be experienced in everyday life have educational value in themselves.

Support system for staff

When choosing a destination for the first time, the level of support the facility staff provides in planning the school trip is an important factor to consider.

Furthermore, when school staff evaluate accommodations, they tend to prioritize not only the overall appeal of the itinerary but also the quality of daily operations.

In fact, the following items were cited as selection criteria during interviews with schools:

– Allergy accommodations (Is it possible to accommodate individual dietary needs?)

- Cleanliness and level of cleanliness of guest rooms

– Staff responsiveness (how they interact with students, how they handle emergencies)

– Quality of meals (quantity, nutrition, and menu planning)

The level of satisfaction with the accommodation facilities, as revealed in student surveys, can influence whether or not the facility will continue to be used in subsequent years, so this is a point that the person in charge carefully checks.

And one accommodation that meets these conditions to a high standard is PHOENIX SEAGAIA RESORT.

Accommodation at PHOENIX SEAGAIA RESORT

PHOENIX SEAGAIA RESORT is a comprehensive resort facility located along the coast in Miyazaki City.

The coastline facing the Pacific Ocean, the vast pine forest, the Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo, and the botanical garden are all within a few minutes' walk or drive, creating an environment where experiential learning can be concentrated while minimizing travel time.

Even for groups of several hundred students, all students can stay on the same premises, ensuring peace of mind in terms of safety management and emergency response, which are unique to school trips. We also have ample parking space for large buses, accommodating large groups smoothly. Our location, approximately 25 minutes by car from Miyazaki Airport, also contributes to the ease of itinerary management.

PHOENIX SEAGAIA OCEAN TOWER

This 154-meter-tall tower hotel offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from every room. Waking up to the ocean view filling your window will be an extraordinary experience that will be deeply etched in the memories of our students.

This facility allows everyone on a school trip to share the feeling that they "stayed in a special place." It is equipped to accommodate large groups and has ample dining and meeting spaces.

SEAGAIA FOREST COTTAGES

This cottage offers a villa-like experience, surrounded by a lush pine forest. You can spend relaxing time with friends in a quiet, natural setting.

The accommodation is designed so that groups can stay together, naturally fostering group activities and reflective discussions in the evenings. This unusual space, away from the hustle and bustle, provides an opportunity to deepen relationships among students.

SEAGAIA FOREST CONDOMINIUMS

This facility blends Japanese and Western styles, making it ideal for long-term stays. Designed to allow groups to stay together comfortably, it's a great choice for small group trips and activities.

The spaciousness gives it a lived-in feel, creating an environment that naturally encourages learning through communal living.

Programs you can experience at Phoenix SEAGAIA

Combining your accommodation with PHOENIX SEAGAIA RESORT 's original experience programs will further enhance your itinerary. Each program is designed not merely as an activity, but with a focus on integration with pre- and post-experience learning.

*Prices are subject to change. Please contact us directly for the latest prices.

Beach Cleanup & Sand Sculpture Competition

This program takes place at Miyazaki Seaside Park's Sun Beach Hitotsuba, a place where loggerhead sea turtles come to lay their eggs. The first half is dedicated to environmental learning through beach cleanup, and the second half is a team activity where participants compete to create sand sculptures.

The process of experiencing firsthand "why this beach must be protected" and then engaging in creative activities as a team is a highly accomplished example of inquiry-based learning centered on the SDGs. Students can actually verify the marine environmental issues they discussed in class in a real-world setting.

• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Estimated price: 150,000 yen (excluding tax) / 50 people, 2,000 yen per additional person

SpoGOMI in Forest

This program, held in the Citizens' Forest Parkway, transforms litter picking into a competitive sport. Teams are awarded points based on the amount and types of trash they collect, and they compete for rankings.

While being an environmental activity, it is designed to naturally challenge teamwork, strategy, and communication, making it effective as a team-building activity that strengthens class cohesion. The feeling of "doing it while having fun" rather than "doing it for the environment" leads to the cultivation of sustainable environmental awareness.

• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Estimated price: 150,000 yen (excluding tax) / 50 people, 2,000 yen per additional person

Sky lantern

This is an experience where you gently release a lantern, imbued with your wishes, into the night sky. Often held on the last night of a school trip, it also serves as a time for reflection, as participants write down in their own words what they felt and learned during the trip and put it into the lantern.

The sight of countless lanterns floating in the darkness creates a special moment that everyone present will never forget.

• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Price: 5,000 yen (tax included) per item (for orders of 100 or more)

Animal care experience

This program at Miyazaki City Phoenix Zoo allows participants to experience the daily work of zookeepers. From cleaning the animal enclosures to preparing and feeding the animals, participants will be responsible for the entire process of actual animal care.

This program allows students to learn about the responsibility of working with lives and the relationship between animals and humans through their own actions. It can be connected to a variety of learning themes, such as career experience, life education, and animal welfare.

• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Price: 2,000 yen (tax included) per person

HorseEducationProgram

This program teaches the essence of non-verbal communication through interaction with horses. Horses are highly sensitive to human emotions and attitudes. They will approach students who are relaxed and move closer, while keeping their distance if they sense tension or forcefulness. Through these reactions, students learn firsthand how to effectively communicate with others.

This unique program is ideal for team building, fostering communication and self-understanding, and integrating seamlessly with career guidance—an experience unlike any other.

• Duration: Approximately 3 hours or more
• Price: From 330,000 yen (tax included) (horse usage fee not included)

Utilize subsidy and grant programs.

Several programs are available to subsidize part of the cost of school trips to Miyazaki. Combining these programs can create more flexibility in making your itinerary more fulfilling. Eligibility requirements and application procedures vary depending on the program, so we will provide details when you inquire.

System name	subject
Miyazaki Learning and Travel Promotion Project Grant	Educational trip throughout Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki City Educational Travel Promotion Subsidy Program	School trip including a visit to Miyazaki City
Kyushu Area School Trip Subsidy Program	Wide-area subsidies targeting the Kyushu area

*Please note that the content and names of subsidy and grant programs may change from year to year, or applications may have closed. For details on application deadlines and conditions, please check the latest information from each local government or secretariat.

summary

Miyazaki is a special school trip destination, offering a high concentration of nature, history, and experiential learning opportunities. With an environment that allows for a wide variety of inquiry-based learning themes, a stable climate, and easy access from all over Japan, it is gaining increasing attention as a school trip destination year after year.

PHOENIX SEAGAIA RESORT offers facilities that allow even large groups to stay comfortably and offers unique, self-contained experience programs within the resort. Please feel free to contact us for details and reservations regarding the use of our facilities and SEAGAIA sponsored programs.

For details and inquiries about school trip plans, please click here.