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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Saito
西都
Half a day for the Saitobaru Tombs, then move on: Saito is a stop, not a base. One night only if you want a quiet evening in a small city.
Saito, in central Miyazaki Prefecture, is a small city best known for the Saitobaru Tombs, a park with over 300 ancient burial mounds. There is little else to see, and most travellers use it as a short stop between Miyazaki City and Hyuga or Takachiho.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 西都
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Jan–Feb (cold)
- 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 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English) 050-3816-2787
- 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 | ¥300–500 |
| Ramen or soba | ¥700–1,000 |
| Beer (can at konbini) | ¥250–350 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | ¥1,800–2,300 |
| Bus ride within Saito | ¥200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KMI · Miyazaki Airport
- About 40 min by car or bus; check bus schedules.
Typical fares
- Miyazaki → Saito, bus
- about ¥1,000, about 40 min (check)
- Taxi from Saito Station to tombs
- ¥1,000–1,500
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
Walking is fine for the tombs area. A rental bicycle or taxi covers the rest. Buses are infrequent.
See and do
Known for
- Saitobaru Tombs (kofun group)
- Saitobaru Prefectural Natural Park
- Quiet rural atmosphere
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Miyazaki City | JR train or bus, about 30–40 min | About 1 h |
| Hyuga | JR train, about 40 min | About 1 h |
| Takachiho | Car or bus via Miyazaki, about 1.5–2 h | About 2–2.5 h |
Sleep
- Near Saitobaru Tombs
- A few mins' walk from the park; quiet, limited options.
- Saito Station area
- Closest to the station; a handful of small hotels and minshuku.
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 |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | 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
- Buses are very infrequent: check the timetable in advance.
- Most restaurants close by 20:00; eat early.
- The tombs park has no shelter from rain or strong sun.
Very safe. The main risks are heat in summer and limited services after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Saito yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Saitobaru Tombs (kofun group)
- Saitobaru Prefectural Natural Park
- Quiet rural atmosphere
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Saito tourist association (Japanese): www.saito-kanko.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Saito, revision 4869107 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4869107
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Saito西都
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
The US consulate in Fukuoka covers this area; most other countries have embassies in Tokyo.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/saito). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.