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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Kushima
串間市
Spend a half day to see the wild horses at Cape Toi and the lighthouse; stay overnight if you want a relaxed beach night.
Kushima is a small coastal city in Miyazaki Prefecture, famed for the wild Misaki horses on Cape Toi. The main sights are clustered near the cape, reachable by local bus or on foot, so a half‑day visit covers the highlights; an extra night lets you enjoy the beach and local eateries.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 串間市
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (dry season, horses active)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (typhoon risk)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 ¥5,000–7,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000–20,000 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 |
|---|---|
| Cape Toi Lighthouse entry | ¥300 |
| Horse‑spotting guide (90 min) | ¥1,500 per person |
| Local curry restaurant (SPICE CACTUS) meal | ¥800–¥1,200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KMI · Miyazaki Airport
- Nearest airport; connect by bus or train to Kushima (≈1 h).
Typical fares
- Miyazaki Airport → Kushima (bus)
- about ¥1,200, 1 h (check)
- JR Nichinan Line Kushima ↔ Miyazaki
- about ¥1,200 one way (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
JR Nichinan Line to Kushima Station, then Yoka Bus covers the city and cape; taxis are scarce.
See and do
Known for
- Wild Misaki horses
- Cape Toi
- Cape Toi Lighthouse
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Toi Lighthouse | Yoka Bus from Kushima Station, ~15 min, then 5‑min walk | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Kurikura Hotel Kushima
- Central location, simple rooms.
- Hanaoka
- Ryokan style, ¥4,000 per person.
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 bus stop? | バス停はどこですか？basu tei 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
- Bus schedules may be limited on weekends; check the latest timetable.
- Cape Toi horses are wild; keep distance and do not feed them.
Generally safe; watch for sudden rain during typhoon season and keep an eye on horses on the cape.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kushima yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Wild Misaki horses
- Cape Toi
- Cape Toi Lighthouse
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Kushima, revision 4869114 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4869114
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kushima). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.