Miyoshi city is located almost in the centre of the Chugoku region, with the Chugoku Mountains in the north and a flat agricultural area in the south. Together with the neighbouring city of Shōbara, it forms the northern part of the prefecture known as the Bihoku region.

About one-third of the rain that falls in Hiroshima Prefecture collects in this area, making it blessed with abundant water. Due to the confluence of rivers, the region is prone to fog from late autumn to early spring. This fog lies in the valley like a sea, and if you go up Mt. Takatani early in the morning, you can watch the sun rise over this sea, creating a kaleidoscope of rainbow colours on the surface of the fog.

Due to its foggy nature, Miyoshi became known as a city of spectres and monsters that inhabited its greyed out streets. One of the city’s highlights is the Miyoshi Mononoke Museum dedicated to the mythical creatures of Japanese folklore. This unique museum provides a deep dive into the fascinating world of yokai  and is especially appealing to fans of Japanese mythology. Another museum worth visiting is the Okuda Gensō Sayume Art Museum, located near Mount Kasa. The museum features the works of Okuda Gensō, a master of Nihonga Japanese-style painting, and large dolls made by his wife Sayume.

The city is part of the Sera Highlands, a region known for its fruit farms. You can enjoy fresh, juicy peaches, grapes, and apples straight from the orchards. The grapes are made into prize-winning wines at the Miyoshi Winery. High quality wagyu cattle is raised in Miyoshi using the residue of the grapes used for pressing the wine. The milk of cows and goats is processed into cheese at the Mirasaka Fromage farm. Miyoshi is also home to a couple of excellent sake producers, the Miwasakura and Yamaoka breweries.

One of the town’s defunct breweries has been redeveloped as accommodation and a restaurant, Mansabō, located on a street of traditional shops and houses. The lights on this old street are decorated with images of the various monsters that lurk in the city’s fog.

The Gōno River flowing through Miyoshi is ideal for long distance river rafting and kayaking, while its banks make a pleasant cycling route.

History
Because the tributaries of the Eno River meet in the Miyoshi Basin, the city flourished as a river port and has long served as a cultural, economic, and transportation hub linking the San’in and San’yō regions. Once called Itsukaichi, it was a castle town of the Miyoshi Domain, a branch of the Hiroshima Domain in the Edo period. The present city centre area where Miyoshi Station is located was once a separate municipality called Tokkaichi.