Cape Toi都井岬

Wild horses graze in a pastoral setting. A lighthouse that commands views of the O-sumi-hanto Peninsula.

Cape Toi, located in the south of Miyazaki Prefecture, is a cape at the east end of Shibushi Bay, which is in the southernmost part of the Nichinan-kaigan Coast. Gentle hills extend, and you can observe wild horses, called Misaki-uma, living and grazing there. It is said that the Misaki-uma are the descendants of army horses left grazing and which became wild 300 years ago. They are now designated as a natural monument. At the Horse House in the Toi-misaki Visitor Center, information about the ecology and living circumstances of the Misaki-uma is displayed on panels.

On the cliff, 250 meters above sea level, the Toi-misaki Lighthouse stands, from which, on a clear day, you can see as far as the O-sumi-hanto Peninsula. At the top of the cape, Misaki-jinja Shrine stands at the end of the cape, which is known as the talisman of a god that protects people from sea disasters and aids in matchmaking. Cycads grow wild there.

The Toi-misaki Fire Festival is held every summer. A huge pine tree, 30 meters tall, wound around with straw, symbolizes a big snake, and torches are thrown from below at the tree's mouth. The scene of the fire of the torches flying about against the night sky is breath-taking.