About Cape Toi
Cape Toi is a peninsula located in the south westernmost portion of Kushima City in Miyazaki Prefecture. The areas most popular inhabitants are Misaki Uma a local breed of wild horse. The wild horses are one of only a few breeds of native Japanese horses. The wild horses can freely roam the 1350 acre peninsula.
Prior to becoming a nature reserve, Cape Toi was a horse farm that was built by the Takanabe clan in 1697. The horses were breed to be an all purpose work horse for farming and transportation. After the war, the horses were relocated to their current location. In 1953, the Japanese government designated the Misaki Horse as a national natural monument.
Cape Toi’s popularity as a tourist destination peaked in the 1970’s. A number of hotels and shops sprung up to accommodate the boom in tourism. Since then, the number of tourists has been steadily declining to roughly 15% of its peak. Cape Toi has a number of abandoned hotels and shops. Driving through the area its a little sad to see all of the dilapidated buildings. Their are signs that a revival is in the works. The Pakalapaka Visitor Center was built in 2020 and completely rewrites Cape Toi’s narrative of a fading tourism spot.
Since Cape Toi is a nature preserve, a speed limit of 30 km is set as horses and people are often seen walking and crossing the roads.
Note: There are numerous warnings throughout the area that notify guests that the horses are wild. They should not be touched or fed. In our experience, the horses were pretty docile and we were able to get moderately close without alarming them.
4 Key Features of Cape Toi
Komatsugaoka
Komatsugaoka is one of the large grassy hills located in Cape Toi. The hill is popular for its breathtaking panoramic views of the Miyazaki coast and Philippine Sea. About half of the wild horses in Cape Toi live in this area. A short climb up the hill is a popular spot for pictures. There is a large parking lot located across the street.
Komatsugaoka is the best place to get the trifecta photos of sunset views with Misaki Horses & the Miyazaki Coast in the background.
Pakalapaka Visitor Center
Built in 2020, Pakalapaka Visitor Center is a modern and aesthetic building. It’s facilities include barrier free restrooms, a tourist information center, local products store, and small cafe. There is an abundant amount of seating and floor to ceiling windows let in a lot of natural light.
Toi Misaki Lighthouse
Built in 1929, the Toi Misaki Lighthouse and is the only climbable lighthouse in Kyushu. The lighthouse also operates as a museum that showcases its history and operations. The strength of its light can be reach up to 44 km away. The still operational lighthouse continues to be a beacon for ships passing Miyazaki.
Misaki Shrine
Misaki Shrine was constructed into the face of a mountain. The remote mountain shrine faces the water and the observation area provides beautiful, but limited views of the Miyazaki coast.
Cycad trees surround the area around the shrine. The bright red shrine amongst the greens of the cycad trees provides a beautiful contrast. The scene provides imagery of a red shrine island in a sea of green. The once accessible shrine was cut off by a landslide making it currently inaccessible.
Nearby Attractions in Kushima City Include
Udo Shrine & Roadside Station Nango.
Best Times to Visit Cape Toi
- April – May: Approximately 15-20 Colts are Born Each Year
- March – August: Horses Largely Gather on the Grassy Hills
- End of August: Cape Toi Fire Festival
End of August: Cape Toi Fire Festival
The traditional festival honors the legend of a monk who defeated a giant serpent by throwing a burning torch into its mouth. Today, a 30 meter tree is erected to represent the serpent. Volunteers, perform a traditional dance before trying to light the tree on fire. They do this by throwing flaming torches at it. The festival is an interactive affair as guests may have to dodge waywardly thrown torches. When the tree is finally lit, it triggers a fireworks display before crumbing to the ground.
Unique Reasons to Go
- Only Place in Japan to See Misaki Horses in their Natural Environment.
- Cape Toi Lighthouse is the Only Climbable Lighthouse in Kyushu.
- Sunset Views with Misaki Horses & the Miyazaki Coast in the Background are Amazing.
Admission Fee & Hours
Cape Toi Admission Fee
¥400/Car
¥100/Motorcycle
Pakalapaka Visitor Center
Free
Cape Toi Misaki Lighthouse Admission Fee
¥300/Adult (Junior High School Students & Above)
Children are Free (Elementary School Students & Under)
Cape Toi Hours
April – September: 8:30 – 18:00
October – March: 8:00 – 17:30
Pakalapaka Visitor Center
Open: 9:00 – 17:00
Closed on Tuesdays
Cape Toi Misaki Lighthouse Hours
March – October
- Saturdays & Sundays: 9:00 – 17:00
- Weekdays: 9:00 – 16:30
November – February
- 9:00 – 16:30
How to Access Cape Toi
By Public Transportation
From Miyazaki Station take a JR Nichinan Line Train Bound for Aburatsu Station transferring at Aburatsu Station to a JR Nichinan Line Train bound for Shibushi Station getting off at Kushima Station (2 hours, 45 minutes, ¥1,680 one way per person)
From Kushima Station take a Toimisaki Line Yoka Bus bound for Toimisaki getting off at Pakalapaka Bus Stop (38 minutes, ¥200 one way per person)
Best Cape Toi Parking Lots
The infrastructure at Cape Toi is really good. There are two lane roads to all of Cape Toi’s major destinations. In addition, there is plenty of parking and public restrooms at most of the stops
hi! which month did you visit as I see that in your photos, the grass are on the browner side than the lush green shown in many other photos. it will greatly help as I am planning to take my pre-wedding photos there thank you!!
Congrats! Cape Toi is a super beautiful location. We went December 28th. The grass was on the browner side and it was a bit chilly. However, we were one of only a few people there.