Miyazaki to Udo Jingu shrine one day trip by a local bus and the limited express train Umisachi-Yamasachi.

2012 spring trip to Kyushu
Udo Jingu shrine is located at Nichinan coast. It is very scenic! (C) JP Rail

Udo Jingu shrine (鵜戸神宮) was one of the place where I really loved to go. When I had a trip to Takachiho, I had a time to go there. I use a local bus on the way and get on cruising train Umisachi-Yamasachi on the way back from Udo Jingu shrine.I would like to show you how to access to Udo Jingu shrine by both transportation.

My itinerary and summary of access to Udo Jingu shrine

Udo Jingu can be accessed by local bus only. We can catch this bus at several Japan Railway’s stations, Miyazaki (宮崎), Miyazaki airport (宮崎空港), Aoshima (青島), Aburatsu (油津) and Obi (飫肥). If you use Japan Rail Pass and want to minimize your extra cost, try to catch a bus at Aburatsu. This station is the closest station to Udo Jingu shrine.

When I had a trip to Udo Jingu, I caught a bus at Miyazaki airport. Because I visited Takachiho before this trip. I got on limited express Nichirin from Nobeoka to Miyazaki airport. Most of limited express Nichirin connect to Miyazaki airport. It is easy to transfer from train to bus and the fare is a bit cheaper than getting on at Miyazaki station. And also that is one of the reason why I would fry back to Osaka by the flight. I wanted to check in the baggage before going Udo Jingu.

Anyway my itinerary was the following:

March 18, 2012
08:15 Depart from Takachiho bus center by local bus to Nobeoka (Link to My trip to Takachiho)
09:45 Arrive at Nobeoka station
10:28 Depart from Nobeoka station by limited express Nichirin 3
11:47 Arrive at Miyazaki Airport station
13:07 Depart from Miyazaki Airport by Miyzaki Kotsu local bus to Obi via Udo Jingu and Aburatsu
14:05 Arrive at Udo Jingu iriguchi (iriguchi means “entrance”)
15:20 Depart from Udo Jingu iriguchi by Miyazaki Kotsu local bus to Obi via Aburatsu
15:41 Arrive at Aburatsu station
15:50 Depart from Aburatsu station by limited express Umisachi-Yamasachi
17:11 Arrive at Minami Miyazaki station
17:13 Depart from Minami Miyazaki station by local train
17:18 Arrive at Miyazaki Airport station
I flew back to Itami (Osaka) airport.

I use the bus on the way and the train on the way back. I tell you about both bus and train.

Miyazaki Kotsu Bus (宮崎交通バス)

Common commute bus is used for this route. (C) JP Rail

This is operated by a common commute bus. It is not operated by a highway motor coach. I think most of you take this bus from Miyazaki station or Miyazaki Airport station. Since this bus service is a commute service, there are some many bus stops on the way and it runs very slow. I recommend you to take this bus from Miyazaki Airport station to shorten your trip time.

Fare

One day pass gives you a good deal! (C) JP Rail

It is 1,480 yen between Miyazaki station and Udo Jingu. It is 580 yen between Udo Jingu and Aburatsu. But forget about this regular fare if you use the bus from Miyazaki station or Miyazaki airport. Because Miyazaki Kotsu sell 1 day unlimited ride pass at 1,800 yen. Even though I travelled from Miyazaki station to Udo Jingu and from Udo Jingu to aburatsu, 1 day pass was still cheaper than regular fare. You can buy this pass at Miyazaki station bus center, Miyazaki airport bus stop, Aburatsu station bus center, Nobeoka station bus center, Takachiho bus center and many more places in Miyazaki.

I made a huge mistake! I got on the bus from Takachiho to Nobeoka station too in same day as trip to Udo Jingu. Both bus from Takachiho to Nobeoka and to Udo Jingu are operated by same company, Miyazaki Kotsu. If I bought this one day pass at Takachiho, I could make a big save. But I forgot to buy a pass before I got on the bus from Takachiho. This pass cannot be bought in the bus. Don’t make a same mistake as me! 🙂

This one day pass covers all local bus services in Miyazaki prefecuture that are operated by Miyazaki Kotsu. It does not cover any express bus services and the bus goes to other prefectures. If you will use the train to Aburatsu both way and get on the bus at Aburatsu, the fare will be 1,140 yen for the round trip. Single fare is cheaper than one day pass.

Bus stops

Miyazaki Airport station is located at west end of terminal building. (C) JP Rail

Miyazaki station


First of all, get off Miyazaki station from west exit (西口). Please refer this page of Miyazaki Kotsu website. Look at the map on the top of page. You see “西1”, “西2”, “西3”, “西4”, “A”, “B” and “C” in the map. The bus to Udo Jingu stop at 西3. Take the bus that has route 965 to Aburatsu and Obi (965系統/油津・飫肥行き). If you want to buy one day pass at Miyazaki station bus center, it is located around “B” in above map. It is not complicated. You can find it easily.

Miyazaki airport

If you arrive at Miyazaki Airport station, there is only one exit and it is located at the terminal building. It is small airport and easy to find the location. The bus stop is located at other end of the terminal building. Walk about 50m from the exit of station, you will see a bus stop and small ticket booth. You can buy one day ticket there.

I took this picture when the bus just passed by Michi no Eki Phoenix. (C) JP Rail

Michi no Eki Phoenix

This is not related to Udo Jingu. But this is the best view point of this route. Nichinan Coast is one of the best drive route in Japan. Michi no Eki Phoenix is just located in the middle between Miyazaki and Udo Jingu shrine along Nichinan Coast. There are a restaurant, a souvenir shop and a view point. I visited there in cloudy day. You can see the beautiful images when it is sunny.

I regretted that I couldn’t get off the bus there. I should have done the following schedule:

12:12 Depart from Miyazaki Airport by Miyzaki Kotsu local bus to Obi via Udo Jingu and Aburatsu (I could take this bus. But I had a lunch at the airport and took 13:07 departure bus)
12:42 Arrive at Michi no Eki Phoenix and take a lunch there
13:37 Depart from Michi no Eki Phoenix by Miyazaki Kotsu local bus
14:05 Arrive at Udo Jingu iriguchi (iriguchi means “entrance”)

By the way, Michi no Eki (道の駅) means road side station. It is a rest stop. But usually Michi no Eki focus on more local. They sell the variety of local products and serve a local food. If you have a time, take some rest there and enjoy local taste.

Udo Jingu iriguchi bus stop is one of those bus stops. You cannot see any shrine at bus stop. (C) JP Rail

Udo Jingu iriguchi

This bus stop is located in local residential area. It doesn’t look like the bus stop where is the closet to Udo Jingu. But you will see the white pole sign at the other side of bus stop. And Udo Jingu iriguchi bus stop is located right after short tunnel. You may be able to find this white pole sign right after the bus get off the tunnel at the right hand side. After you get off the bus, please refer these following images.

One of readers gave me updated information. Now the bus goes in the parking, the second image below. So forget about the bus stop above. Now it is much easier to access Udo Jingu by bus.

I spent 1 hour and 15 minutes to see everything there.

Aburatsu station

JR Kyushu Nichinan line Aburatsu station (C) JP Rail

This is the easiest bus stop in this route. The bus stop is located just in front of the station. You cannot miss it.
As you saw my schedule above, I had only 9 minutes to transfer to limited express Umisachi-Yamasachi. If the bus arrive on time, it was completely no problem. But the bus was late about 5 minutes. It was very tight. Please be careful if you do this schedule.

Nichinan line and Limited Express Umisachi-Yamasachi

Umisachi-Yamasachi stop at Obi station for 10 minutes. You can buy some local food. at the platform

If you really want to save your extra cost on JR Pass or Kyushu Rail Pass, you can take a train from Miyazaki to Aburatsu. There is only one round trip of the Limited Express Umisachi-Yamasachi on weekends only. In other days, your choice is only a local train. Nichinan line is a rustic local line. There are only about 15 round trips between Miyazaki and Aburatsu. It takes 1 hour 30 minutes to access to Aburatsu from Miyazaki. So please check both train schedule and bus schedule from Aburatsu to Udo Jingu.

In my trip, I got on Umisachi-Yamasachi on the way back to Miyazaki from Aburatsu. I heard this is very popular train. So I booked my ticket right after tickets were on sale. But when I got on, there were lots of empty seats. I think the reason why it was Sunday but not high season.

Find your hotels in 218 cities throughout Japan!!!

 

Hotels in Nichinan Coast, Aoshima, Japan
Hotels in Miyazaki,  Japan

I was very impressed the atmosphere and service by attendant in this train. I really enjoyed it. But Nichinan line goes through more mountain side than road. I had much better view of Nichinan Coast from the local bus on the way to Udo Jingu. If you expect lots of nice view on this train, you may be disappointed. I still recommend you to get on this train if you have a chance. But don’t expect so many chances to watch the view from this train. If you want more details about this train, please see the post below:

Comments

  1. June TERNG says:

    Dear Takeshi san,

    Please guide us for 1st time visiting Kyushu Japan, we want to go to Udo Shrine Departure from Hakata Station and reached Miyazaki Station at around 10.56 am. Can catch local bus at 11.10am to Udo Shrine reaching at 12.40pm. At this point, am i at right track. From Udo Shrine Bus Entrance Stop, how far we need to walk to the Udo Shrine Entrance to Udo Shrine. As there are 2 elderly aged above 60 years, is possible for them to walk there, difficult path to walk, or I chosen the wrong place for them to visit,
    please guide us.

    Many Thanks.
    Have A Nice Day !
    Jun

    • Hi Jun san,

      I think you can make it in 14 minutes at Miyazaki station.

      It takes 15 minutes from the bus stop to Udo Jingu. There are slopes and steps. When I was there, my mother was 68 years old but she was totally fine.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Jun says:

        Thank you very much

        • No worries, Jun.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • Jun says:

            Hi Takeshi san

            Good Afternoon.

            Can I use all Kyushu Pass to travel using this pass for a bullet train between Hakata and Kokura to Mojiko Station. (Only Sanyo Shinkansen)

            Where does Kyushu Shinkansen start and end.

            Kyushu Shinkansen does not go to Kokura and Mojiko. Am I right.

            Or using this pass for JR Kagoshima Line to Mojiko Station. As it also can use this pass to go to shimonoseki station.

            Please advise me.
            Many Thanks.

            • Hi Jun san,

              Sanyo Shinkansen is not covered. Kyushu Shinkansen runs between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo. You have to take a train on the conventional line, such as the limited express Sonic to get Kokura from Hakata and then take a local train to Mojiko:
              https://jprail.com/destinations/kyushu-area/sonic.html

              Shimonoseki is in the coverage area.

              Cheers,

              Takeshi / JPRail.com

              • Jun says:

                Hi Takeshi san

                Thank you very much for your good and useful information.

                Thank you again.

                Cheers 🙂
                Jun

                • No worries, Jun san.

                  Cheers,

                  Takeshi / JPRail.com

                  • Jun TERNG says:

                    Hi Takeshi san

                    Please guide me is All 5 Days Kyushu Rail Pass also cover the JR Chikuhi Line from Hakata Bus subway ( do not cover by Kyushu Rail Pass) to Karatsu Station. I need to pay subway via IC card only and rest of the train journey is covered by All Kyushu Rail Pass. Please guide me.

                    Or any one day unlimited train pass from Hakata Station to Karatsu Station as going in beginning November 2019.

                    Thank you.
                    Jun

                    • Hi Jun san,

                      Kyushu rail pass does not cover subway. You have to pay for the subway segment.
                      There is a rail pass which covers subway. That is “Tabimeijin no Mankitsu Kippu”.This pass covers all trains (JR and non JR), trams and subway in Kyushu and it is sold at 10,800 yen for 3 days. You don’t need to use this 3 days in the consecutive days. You can pick any 3 days in your trip period. Only Japanese link is available. I put it just for your info:
                      http://www.jrkyushu-kippu.jp/fare/ticket/96

                      However you cannot get the worth of this pass by Hakata to Karatsu round trip. And this pass does not cover any express trains. You cannot take the Shinkansen either. Even if you add the limited express seat fee, you cannot use this pass. This pass covers only local train. It is not very easy to get the worth of this pass by local train ride.

                      Kyushu rail pass + extra fare is better way in my opinion.

                      Cheers,

                      Takeshi / JPRail.com

                    • Jun says:

                      Hi Takeshi san

                      Just double confirm again does All Kyushu Rail Pass (5 Days) covers from Meinohama Station to Karatsu Station. Can I use All Kyushu Rail Pass for this line.
                      I need not to pay extra.

                      Sorry to trouble you again to reply this again.

                      For Fukuoka subway using subway day pass or IC card.

                      Thank you.
                      Jun

                    • Hi Jun san,

                      Yes. It covers Meinohama to Karatsu.
                      I recommend you to use a regular ticket instead of using IC card to Meinohama. If you use IC card, you have to get off the train and exit at Meinohama. Otherwise you have to tap it at Karatsu and whole fare will be charged to IC card. If you use a regular ticket, you can buy a ticket to Meinohama. You can show your pass and a regular ticket when you exit at Karatsu station. You don’t need to get off the train and exit at Meinohama.

                      Cheers,

                      Takeshi / JPRail.com

                    • Jun says:

                      Hi Takeshi san

                      Thank you very much. Thanks for your useful information and it is really make my journey as easy as ABC. Your advice really save me lots of time and inconvenience.
                      Have A Nice Day !
                      Cheers 🙂
                      Jun

                    • No worries, Jun san.

                      Cheers,

                      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Harjanti Buntoro says:

    Hello Takeshi,

    I am planning to explore South Kyushu in Feb 2018. I want to visit: Sakurajima, Takachiho Gorge, and Udo Shrine using 3 day South Kyushu JR Pass starting from Kumamoto. My questions:
    1. Which city is the best for me to stay at; Kumamoto, Kagoshima chuo or Miyazaki?
    2. What is the best route if I want to go to Takachiho Gorge and Udo shrine? Can I go to these 2 places in 1 day? If yes, what time shall I start the train ride from where I stay the night before (from your answer for question number 1)? Do you think I will have enough time to visit those 2 places in 1 day?
    3. Shall I buy Miyazaki Kotsu 1 day unlimited ride pass of 1800 yen to visit both Takachiho Gorge and Udo shrine?
    4. Do you have a map of the places mentioned above so that I will have some understanding of where those places are located. Can you please share it here?

    I am in the middle of building up my itinerary and stuck at this point. I really appreciate if you could help me plan how to best visit these 3 places in 3 days using my 3 day South kyushu JR Pass.

    Thanks,
    Harjanti

    • Hi Harjanti,

      First of all, please see the link below. You will find the info about access to Takachiho.
      https://jprail.com/destinations/kyushu-area/my-trip-to-takachiho-how-to-access-to-takachiho-how-much-can-we-use-japan-rail-pass.html

      I stayed in Takachiho and then moved to Udo Jingu on next day. But you don’t need to stay. You can reach Miyazaki after visiting Takachiho. But you cannot visit Takachiho and Udo Jingu in one day. It’s too much.

      You can spend your time in Udo Jingu on 2nd day and then move to Kagoshima to visit Sakurajima. You can stay 2 nights in Miyazaki.

      You need to purchase a bus ticket from Kumamoto to Takachiho. But you can purchase Miyazaki Kotsu pass at Takachiho. It will cover for Takachiho to Nobeoka and Miyazaki to Udo Jingu to Aburatsu. You can take a train from Aburatsu to Miyazaki or bus to go back to Miyazaki.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Hooi Chen says:

    Can do reservation thru online? Or only arrive Japan?
    With JR pass can make reservation seat with FOC? Or?

  4. Rachelle Lim says:

    Good morning,
    I would like to check if i having JR pass is it i can get to take Umisachi Yamasachi train with FOC right? But how to get the reserve seat for JR pass? Or i need to extra buy for the reserved seat? Where i can do the reserve seat?

    • Hi Rachelle,

      It’s covered by JR pass fully. You can book at any reservation window which is called “Midori no Madoguchi” throughout Japan. You can find Midori no Madoguchi at most of stations.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

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