Nobeoka: Nobeoka Castle Ruins and the Birthplace of Original Chicken Nanban - Taste and Castle Mountain Stroll

In Nobeoka, a castle town in northern Miyazaki Prefecture, experience a one-day gourmet course combining the birthplace of a signature dish and historical sightseeing. Begin your morning at Imayama Daishi, where the 17-meter Kobo Daishi statue—said to be the largest in Japan—watches over the city. At Nobeoka Castle ruins, gaze up at the renowned "Thousand-Man Killer" stone wall standing 19 meters high, then leisurely walk through the verdant Shiroyama Park. At noon, visit Nao-chan, the long-established restaurant said to be the birthplace of Chicken Nanban. The original style, topped with only tangy vinegar sauce without tartar sauce, brings out the essence of the chicken and the subtle sweetness of the egg batter in a nostalgic flavor. In the afternoon, enjoy Chicken Nanban burgers and souvenir shopping at Michi-no-Eki Kitagawa Hayuma, then conclude at Atago Mountain Observatory, designated as a "lovers' sacred place." Spend your final moments in the birthplace of this iconic dish leisurely taking in the panoramic views of Nobeoka city and the Hyuga-nada Sea.