#001
Hello! This is the Tsunocho Tourism Association.
Tsunocho belongs to Koyu District in Miyazaki Prefecture and sits in the prefecture’s central region.
To the east lies the Hyuga-nada Sea, and to the west stretch the ridges of MtOsuzuyama, one of Japan’s 200 famous mountains.
Known as the “town of mountains, waterfalls, and fruit,” it’s rich not only in nature but also in agricultural, livestock, and marine products.
On the Tsunocho Tourism Association account, we’ll share information to make you want to visit Tsunocho, so please follow along!

For our first post, we’ll introduce what kind of town Tsunocho is, the key points we want to convey, and a bit about the Tsunocho Tourism Association.

Access to Tsunocho
By plane and by car
Haneda to Miyazaki: about 1.5 hours; from Fukuoka: about 4 hours
Itami to Miyazaki: about 1 hour; from Kumamoto: about 3 hours
Fukuoka to Miyazaki: about 40 minutes; from Kagoshima: about 2.5 hours

From Miyazaki Airport
By JR Nippō Main Line to tsuno station: about 1 hour
By car via the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway to Tsuno IC: about 1 hour 10 minutes

What kind of town is Tsunocho?
First, here’s an introduction to Tsunocho.
Tsunocho has a total population of about 9,300 (April 2025) and is a town with very active agricultural and livestock production. The town is also working to revitalize the fishing industry through an onshore aquaculture initiative called the Fisheries Dream Future Project.
Tsunocho preserves many historic sites, including the venerable Hyuga Province Ichinomiya Tsuno Shrine, listed in the Engishiki register of shrine names, and the Akagi Family Residence, a valuable house that served as lodging for feudal lords and government officials in the Edo period.
Every year on August 1 and 2 the town holds its largest summer event, the Tsuno Shrine Summer Festival, when a golden mikoshi and four neighborhood taiko floats parade through town. Visitors come not only from within the town but also from other cities and prefectures.
Town tree: ginkgo. Town flower: Osuzu winter orchid. Town bird: Japanese white-eye.

A brief history of Tsunocho
Next, a short look at Tsunocho’s history.
The modern Tsunocho formed in 1889 (Meiji 22) when Tsuno Town and Kawakita Village merged to create Tsuno Village. Thirty-one years later, in 1920 (Taisho 9), Tsuno was established as a town, and in 2020 (Reiwa 2) it celebrated the 100th anniversary of its town status. The old village name Kawakita still appears today as a ward name.

Tsunocho sightseeing spots
Next are Tsunocho’s sightseeing spots.
The town has many famous and lesser-known attractions. Here are two carefully selected highlights.

1. Hyuga Province Ichinomiya Tsuno Shrine
Affectionately called Ichinomiya Shrine by locals and indispensable to telling the Miyazaki myths, Hyuga Province Ichinomiya Tsuno Shrine exudes a solemn atmosphere and feels powerful.
Legend says that six years before Emperor Jimmu’s accession, he stopped in this area while moving eastward, prayed for national peace, safe seas, and lasting military fortune, and enshrined the deities here.
The shrine’s principal deity, Ōkuninushi no Mikoto, is associated with blessings such as fertility, because he took many wives and fathered many children; recovery from illness, due to establishing medical practices and helping many people; and business prosperity, among other benefits.

2. Roadside Station Tsuno
Opened in 2013 to help revitalize a town worn down by the 2010 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, Roadside Station Tsuno showcases the agricultural town’s proud selection of fresh vegetables, fruits, and seafood.
The station also sells original local products made from regional ingredients. The most popular item, the tomato twisted fry, draws repeat customers from both inside and outside the prefecture.
Packed with Tsuno’s charms, Roadside Station Tsuno is well worth a visit.

Tsunocho specialties and gourmet foods
Next are Tsunocho’s specialty products and local cuisine.
The town offers numerous specialty agricultural and livestock products. Here are three highlights.

1. Tomatoes
Tsunocho offers an ideal environment for growing tomatoes.
Tomatoes grown here benefit from the Osuzu Mountain Range’s water, the sea breeze from the Hyuga-nada Sea, and a mild climate, producing exceptional flavor.
The town grows many varieties, including the much-sought-after Nigo 25 and the honey-sweet Furutika, so comparing varieties is a delight.

2. Grapes
Tsunocho produces more than 30 grape varieties, including Shine Muscat, Sunny Rouge, and Kyoho. Recently, a variety called Suzuka, sometimes called the black muscat, has attracted attention for its refreshing muscat-like taste and aroma when you bite into it.

3. Tsuno Wine
Speaking of grapes, Tsuno Wine is made from the grapes introduced above.
Committed to using 100% grapes from Osuzu (around Tsunocho), these wines express the local terroir. A rosé made from the Campbell Early grape was selected for Wine Report’s “World’s Top 100 Wines” in 2004, and many other Tsuno wines have won domestic and international awards.
Tsuno wines are so delicious they attract repeat visitors from abroad as well as within Japan.

Tsunocho Tourism Association
Finally, about our tourism association.
We use social media to promote Tsunocho and handle everything from preparing to running local events.
Recently, we have offered rentals for Osuzu Campground on MtOsuzuyama and electric bicycles.
Through Cool Japan initiatives, we work to share Tsunocho’s charms and provide useful information to help visitors enjoy their stay. We appreciate your support!