Every December, the Miyazaki international Foundation hosts a grand international exchange event, and this year’s was the biggest yet!
Groups from throughout the prefecture came to host information booths to teach about their home countries and cultures. Many people performed traditional music or danced on stage. Visitors enjoyed trying their hand at crafts, practicing a new language, and playing new instruments. A variety of food and drinks were available as well. Continue reading
This event has become an immensely popular staple in the MAJET calendar and for good reason; kayaking along autumnal embankments, cosy cabins surrounded by woodlands and a festival in one of the most remote villages in Japan.
Miyazaki is known as the sunniest place of Japan (the original name of Himuka literally means “facing the sun”), so many people think that summer is the best time to visit. However, the autumn can be just as exciting, if you know where to look. 😉
Many of Miyazaki’s hidden gems are tucked away in the mountains to the northwest. Forests boasting beautiful foliage, hidden rivers and waterfalls, excellent hiking, and much more await the intrepid explorer! Here, the towns are small and unique customs are passed on from generation to generation. The locals are friendly and eager to share their experiences with passersby. And lucky for you, MAJET has planned an event to show you all of these wonderful things in a single weekend! Continue reading
Get your tare sauce ready, Miyakonojo’s annual Yakiniku Festival is coming up on the 7th of October! The festival showcases Miyazaki beef and celebrates Miyakonojo as “the best place for meat in Japan” (which it definitely is). But instead of just telling you about it, we’ll let some Miyakonojo and southern Miyazaki locals do the talking. We’re sure you won’t want to miss the biggest fireworks and meat festival in Kyushu after you hear our seven guests’ favourite things about the event…
When: October 7th, 11:00am – 8:00pm
Where: Kannon-ike Park, Freedom Plaza, Takajo, Miyakonojo. (map)
Cost: Reserved table and meat package tickets cost ¥2,000.
But if you don’t mind waiting for a table to open up, the event and grill use is free, and you can buy meat packages at various stalls on the premises.
Transport: There will be shuttle buses running between Miyakonojo Station and the festival grounds. A schedule can be found here, but only in Japanese. Contact MAJET at miyazakiajet@gmail.com for translation services.
The final weekend of summer holidays saw over 50 JETs and our friends attending MAJET’s 2017 Welcome Weekend. Spread across a Beach BBQ, the Cape Toi Fire Festival and Sakaematsu Camping, there was something for everyone! It was the perfect event to welcome the new JETs to our beautiful (and HOT!) home prefecture. Continue reading
One of Miyazaki’s biggest and most exciting festivals, the Cape Toi Fire Festival, will be held on the 25th-26th of August this year. For those who don’t know, the Fire Festival features locals slinging lit torches towards the top of a 100-foot pole in order to light it: a sight not to be missed!
So that our new arrivals don’t miss out on this amazing festival, MAJET is planning a nearby welcome barbecue before the festival, so it’s a truly unforgettable weekend! Senpais, reach out to our newest additions by offering them a lift and let’s give them a proper welcome to beautiful, sunny Miyazaki!!
Continue reading
Spring has sprung, and soon the cherry blossoms will be in full bloom! Sakura blossoms symbolize many things, especially for students and teachers. The bittersweet ending of a school year when graduates move on, students change classrooms, and teachers are transferred to new schools. The excitement of a new beginning or a fresh start in a new place. All overshadowed by the fleetingness of the sakura blossoms, reminding us to enjoy things while we can, for nothing lasts forever. Continue reading
The time has finally come for everyone to enjoy perhaps Japan’s most popular season: Spring! And what’s the best way to do that? By coming to Sake and Sakura, MAJET’s hanami (花見) event!
For those wondering what hanami is, first of all… Continue reading
As the holiday season is in full swing, some of us are heading home to be with family or going on tropical vacations. And some of us will stay here in Miyazaki to watch the red leaves fall off the branches and warm up with a hot bowl of ramen. There is a chance it won’t be as nostalgic as your hometown traditions, but Miyazaki and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer during this season! So, we have compiled a list of ideas to battle those Japanese-shocked holiday blues. And hey, you might even discover a new tradition of your own! Continue reading
Miyazaki may be known as the surf and sun capital of Japan, but our prefecture has much more to offer than summer fun. 😉 As part of our Fawning Over Fall event, MAJET took advantage of one of Miyazaki’s many other outdoor pursuits–river kayaking! Continue reading
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