Kunimi Hill

The most attractive feature of Kunimigaoka is undoubtedly the stunning sea of clouds! The mystical view of the sunrise shining through the sea of clouds that spreads over the surrounding mountains is so beautiful that it feels like heaven. To see it, you need to go in the early morning from mid-September to late November when there is a large temperature difference between the previous day and the morning of the day, and the weather is both humid and clear with no wind! Because it can't be seen at any time, the excitement of seeing it is enormous. If you're planning to visit Kunimi Hill, there's also a website called "Unkai Shutsugen NAVI" that tells you the probability of seeing the sea of clouds, so it's a good idea to check it as a guide!

Even if you woke up early and made the trip, it's okay if you didn't get to see the sea of clouds! Even without the sea of clouds, the panoramic view of nature and the majestic sunrise from the 513m high Kunimigaoka is truly beautiful and worth seeing even if you have to wake up early. You can see 360 degrees of nature, including Mt. Aso and Mt. Soborou, but one point you definitely want to check out is the "Nehanzou of Aso," which looks like Buddha lying down. In addition to the sunrise, you can also enjoy the changing scenery depending on the time of day and season, such as the fresh greenery of early summer and the autumn leaves.

Miyazaki Prefecture is famous for being the stage of the "Descent of the Heavenly Grandson," and here at Kunimigaoka, it is also known as a sacred spot where legends of Japanese mythology are passed down. According to legend, long ago, Emperor Jimmu's grandson, Tategami Ryuo (Tateiwatatsu no Mikoto), stopped here while ruling Kyushu and viewed the country. It's quite moving to think that we can see the same view that the gods saw! There is also a statue of the Descent of the Heavenly Grandson on the observation deck, so be sure to find it.

Takachiho is the stage of "Tenson Kourin," the story of Ninigi-no-Mikoto, the grandson of Amaterasu, descending to earth for the first time from heaven. Around the Kukami-ga-oka area, there are many popular spots that became the stage of mythology, such as the Takachiho Gorge, where Ameno-murakumo-no-tsurugi brought the seed of water to the earth, the Amano-iwato Shrine, where Amaterasu is enshrined, the Takachiho Shrine, which represents Takachiho, and the Amano-yasu-kawara, where the heavenly rock door that Amaterasu hid behind is located. All of these spots can be reached within a 30-minute drive from Kukami-ga-oka, so you can enjoy a legendary mythology tour as well!

Right by the parking lot, there is a shop called "Unkai Chaya," and further back near the second parking lot, there is a small shrine called "Nakahata Shrine," which enshrines the deity Takeiwatatsu-no-mikoto. It's recommended to stop by these places right after enjoying the view from the observation deck. The shop is open from 8:30 am and mainly sells souvenirs and drinks, but during the "unkai" season (sea of clouds) and on New Year's Day, it opens early in the morning. It's nice to warm up your chilled body with a hot drink during a cold early morning sightseeing trip!