Toroku Onsen

Toroku Onsen in Miyazaki city, Miyazaki Prefecture, serves Kyushu's east coast capital, a sun-drenched city on the Pacific coast historically associated with the training of the Japanese national baseball team whose warm, subtropical winter climate attracted professional athletes for pre-season preparation, earning Miyazaki its reputation as the Phoenix City after the phoenix palms that line its streets. The siliceous spring water flows from geothermal sources in the volcanic Kirishima uplands west of the city, providing smooth mineral baths that relax athletes and urban dwellers alike in the warm coastal city that enjoys more sunshine hours annually than almost any other major city in Japan. Miyazaki's spectacular local cuisine, including its celebrated wagyu beef, fresh Pacific seafood, and the distinctive local speciality of cold noodles served with a spiced mango dipping sauce, complements thermal bathing in a city where the pleasures of the body are celebrated with characteristic Southern Kyushu warmth.