Shopping Malls

 Ichibangai (一番街)
 A long arcade that is a little south of Bon Belta, running parallel with Takachiho-dori. All the streets that lead off of Ichibangai are essentially Miyazaki City’s entertainment district, playing host to an impressive number of bars, clubs, restaurants, and venues such as karaoke booths and game arcades. There are a number of excellent stand up bars with cheaper drinks, but if you want a proper cocktail try some of the fancier looking upstairs bars. There is also a Maid Café nearby, where girls in maid costumes serve drinks and snacks. For a small fee female guests can also try on maid costumes if you want some crazy photos to send back to your friends.

Amu Plaza (アミュープラザ) 
A convenient shopping mall connected to Miyazaki Station, this is a major part of the city as it is host to many festivals, food markets, and events held outside the main building. However, the festivals are not the only reason to visit Amu, as the main building holds a multitude of shops that carry everything from clothes to books to groceries. There is even a movie theater, and a shrine on the roof that offers a wonderful view of the city! 
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Aeon Mall 
Without a doubt the largest shopping mall in Miyazaki City, AEON mall will feel nostalgic to anyone used to spending time in large shopping centers back home. filled to the roof with a variety of shops, entertainment, and a full food court. You can spend your time here doing anything from buying a groceries to chilling with a pig in a cafe. The list of shops can be found on their website here. You’ll find this the perfect place to spend a rainy day, sunny day, or really any day you feel like going. There are multiple parking lots to use, but the ones closes to the mall do fill up fast! Come and enjoy a day at AEON Mall, there’s something here for everyone.
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Miyako City
The other large shopping center in the city, Miyako City sits on the southern side of the river and is much easier to get to for many people who live on that side of the river as well. While it does not have as many shops as AEON Mall, there are still an amazing selection of shops to choose from. With food stalls, grocery stores, clothing shops, a bookstore, and more it is useful to know where this gem of Miyazaki City is. It is also one of the only places in Miyazaki City that I have found Root Beer consistently (check out the Kaldi on the first floor). There is a parking garage available as well, make sure to bring your parking ticket with you as some stores offer to redeem it for you so you do not need to pay.
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Movie Theaters

If you are interested in films, these are the best places to catch a movie in Miyazaki. Enjoy watching the latest and classics with your friends or solo, and don’t forget the popcorn!

 

Central Cinema 
Found in Aeon mall, this is a great cinema for catching the latest releases. Often showing movies from Japan as well as America, you can watch English movies with Japanese subs, or Japanese dub, just make sure you’re going into the right one! 
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Wonder Attic Cinema 
Found in Amu Plaza, this is a great cinema for catching the latest releases as well. You can smell the popcorn as you ride the escalator up, and the movie theaters themselves are comfy so you can sit back and enjoy your movie!
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Kinema-kan
Less focused on the mainstream films, this cinema is a movie lovers delight as it has wide arrange of classics and lesser known films in rotation. You can even rent out an entire theater on your own if you want!
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Museums

Miyazaki Science Center
 Home to the 5th largest planetarium in the world, and the largest on Kyushu. The museum is a fun experience for the young at heart, with lots of cool interactive exhibits. It doesn’t require a lot of Japanese to be fun, but it would enhance the experience. The planetarium show is 50 minutes, with about half being the presentation of the starry sky and the latter half being a themes movie. Intermediate Japanese level is recommended for comprehension, but it’s still pretty to look at.
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Miyazaki Art Center
Conveniently located in downtown Miyazaki, the Art Center plays host to a variety of traveling exhibitions. There is a section that is free entry, where you can look at permanent installations. The traveling exhibitions are always “pay to enter” but they are well worth the price as it is always a beautiful array of art. It is also conveniently located right next to Miyazaki Shrine and the Miyazaki prefectural Museum of Nature and History, so you can have a wonderful afternoon of visiting each of them.
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Miyazaki Prefectural Museum of Nature and History  
A small museum which plays host to a number of rotating exhibits in addition to its regular exhibits about early Japanese life and animal diversity in Miyazaki and Kyushu. You can see preserved tools from the early history of Miyazaki, see exhibits on the culture and lifestyle of these people, and even see dinosaur fossils that will delight the inner child in all of us! The museum is also only a short walk away from Miyazaki Shrine and the Art Center, so you can stop by on the way and enjoy some art or buy an Omamori.
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Bowling and Arcades

Aceland
While bowling is definitely a big draw for Aceland, it is not the only fun thing to do here. You can lace up your bowling shoes for a few games, then go upstairs and play some table tennis for a while, and end the trip with a nice dip in the onsen on the same floor! Keep an eye out for collaborations and deals to get discounts on your bowling game and towel rental at the onsen.
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Round 1
Rivaling Don Quixote for pure sensory overload, Round 1 has a massive array of activities to keep you occupied. You can bowl, sing karaoke, play darts, enjoy a game of badminton, play bubble soccer, hit the batting cages, and so much more. Make sure to bring some 100 yen coins for the arcade on the first floor and games on the second, where you’ll lose way too much money trying to get that one stuffed toy you want.
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Others

Phoenix Zoo
The zoo in Miyazaki may be small, but there are many things to do there! Take a ride on a pony or elephant, watch the tigers get fed, play with some guinea pigs, enjoy the parade of goats, or take a break and try some shrimp flavored ice cream! With over 50 types of animals, there’s a lot to see.
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Backdoor Extreme Bar
For anyone who loves a casino, this will become your favorite place in Miyazaki! Betting is not allowed, but you can sit down and enjoy the thrill of the game as you can join a game of blackjack, poker, or baccarat. There are even tournament hosted every week where you can test your luck and skill against others. Good luck, and keep an eye on your cards!
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This is not a complete list of everything you can find in the city, but it does cover many of the main entertainment options. If you find one that you think should be added to the list, don’t hesitate to contact us so we can get it on here! Have fun in Miyazaki!