Miyakonojo City is located in the southern part of Japan called Kyushu, which is one of the four main islands in Japan. The population of Miyakonojo is about 166,000 and the land area is 653.3km2. Miyakonojo is surrounded by mountains and is rich in groundwater and spring water.
Miyakonojo is famous for farming, and is the largest producer of pork, chicken and beef in Japan. Delicious meals made with the locally produced meat are served in town. The city is also known as the largest producer of Shochu, a traditional Japanese distilled drink.
Miyakonojo provides visitors with historical attractions such as its 14th century castle, or a shrine home to a famous folklore. The area also has beautiful sceneries, such as the nationally acclaimed waterfall Sekino-oh, as well as many excellent onsen to relax in.
14th century castle
A local shrine, home to a famous folklore legend
The city is home to 19 junior high schools for students aged between 13 and 15, and a total of about 4,900 students attend these schools. They not only study very hard but also engage in sports and cultural activities after school and on weekends. Every year, the schools hold sports and cultural festivals, which the students thoroughly enjoy – especially compared to the cleaning of classrooms they have to do everyday! They study English as a second language and they would like some opportunities to use their English, toengage in cultural exchange, to experience the great natural beauty of Australia through a Sister School relathionship.
Sports Festival
