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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Kobayashi
小林市
Spend one day in Kobayashi to see Ikoma Plateau, Idenoyama Park and the hot springs; add a second day if you want to cover all three sightseeing zones (Nojiri, Kobayashi, Suki).
Kobayashi is a small city in Miyazaki Prefecture with three sightseeing zones (Nojiri, Kobayashi, Suki). Most attractions are reachable by car, making a single day enough for the highlights, while a night stay lets you enjoy the firefly festival in late May (check exact dates).
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 小林市
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov (check)
- Avoid
- Jun–Jul (typhoon risk, check)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | ¥300–¥500 |
| Ramen bowl | ¥600–¥900 |
| Local sake (180 ml) | ¥400–¥800 |
| Car rental (compact, 1 day) | ¥7,000–¥9,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KMI · Miyazaki Airport
- About 50 min drive on tolled expressway
Typical fares
- Miyazaki Airport → Kobayashi (car)
- ≈¥1,500 toll + ¥6,500 rental (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Attractions are spread across three areas (Nojiri, Kobayashi, Suki); a car is the practical option. Cycling is possible but slower. Public buses are infrequent (check).
See and do
Known for
- Ikoma Plateau flower garden
- Idenoyama Park and firefly festival
- Sukimu Land suspension bridge
- Nojiri hot springs
- Kirishima-Mine Shrine
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ebino | check — drive east on Route 219, about 30 min | check |
| Kirishima | check — drive north via Route 219, about 45 min | check |
Sleep
- Kobayashi City centre
- Convenient for restaurants and park access; drive to Ikoma Plateau about 20 min.
- Near Ikoma Plateau
- check — some lodges may have hot spring baths; confirm when booking.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the restroom? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Toll road from Miyazaki Airport; have cash for tolls.
- Firefly festival in late May (check exact dates and parking).
Kobayashi is safe for tourists; main risks are road tolls and occasional typhoon rain – keep an eye on weather forecasts.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kobayashi yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ikoma Plateau flower garden
- Idenoyama Park and firefly festival
- Sukimu Land suspension bridge
- Nojiri hot springs
- Kirishima-Mine Shrine
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Kobayashi city official tourism page: www.city.kobayashi.lg.jp/kanko_bunka_sports/kankojoho/index.html
- Wikidata – Kobayashi coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Kobayashi, revision 5239251 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239251
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kobayashi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.