Hyūga Province

Hyūga was a historical administrative unit on the island of Kyūshū that covered the southeastern coastal area along the Pacific. Its territory stretched from the sea to the mountain ranges inland, forming a connected area with different landscapes between coastal plains and forested highlands.

The area was established as an official province within the administrative region of Saikaidō during the Nara period. During the medieval period, local clans gained influence and shaped the political structure of the region until the abolition of the province system in the 19th century.

The name derives from an old geographical designation referring to its location facing the Pacific Ocean. Visitors today find numerous shrines and memorial sites throughout the region that recall the connection between this area and the origin of the imperial line.

The boundaries of the former province largely match those of present-day Miyazaki Prefecture, which makes orientation on the ground easier. Travelers can trace the historical past of the region through visits to local museums and cultural sites.

Archaeological finds from the Yayoi period show special stone knives with gouged squares that rarely appear in this form elsewhere. Iron tools from central Kyūshū provide evidence of early trade connections between different parts of the island.