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Udo Shrine is one of the most famous shrines in Miyazaki Prefecture.
The main hall built inside a cave on a steep cliff has a sacred presence and makes the shrine a very popular sightseeing spot.
There are several free parking lots for visiting Udo Shrine, and each one is a different distance from the main hall.
In this article, we explain where each free parking lot is located and which one is the easiest choice for visiting the shrine.
Udo Shrine offers three free parking lots in total.
The “Udo Shrine Parking & Walking Route Map” below shows the relationship between Udo Shrine and each parking lot, as well as the walking routes from each parking lot to the shrine.
We will now go over the features of each of the three parking lots so you can decide which one fits how you want to visit Udo Shrine.
Let’s start with the First Parking Lot, which is the closest to the main hall.
As soon as you leave the parking lot you reach the Second Torii gate, so this is the easiest parking lot for getting to the main hall.
The First Parking Lot is one-way only, so keeping that in mind will help you avoid confusion when driving on site.
If you want to set the First Parking Lot as your destination in your car navigation system, use the address below.
3240 Miyaura, Nichinan-shi, Miyazaki 887-0101, Japan
The First Parking Lot is almost always crowded, and that is its biggest drawback. The photo below shows the lot around noon on a weekend.
It is constantly full, with cars entering one after another and quickly leaving again because there is nowhere to park.
When the First Parking Lot is full, staff members usually redirect cars to the Second Parking Lot before they enter the First Parking Lot area.
The Second Parking Lot is located up a slope from the First Parking Lot. You will need to walk up and down a hill a little, but the distance from this parking lot to Udo Shrine is still comfortably short.
The parking area is spacious, so the chances of parking without waiting in line are quite high.
This Second Parking Lot also has designated spaces for buses and other large vehicles.
When the First Parking Lot is full, on-site staff will guide you to the Second Parking Lot, so it is safe to remember that if the First Parking Lot is full, head for the Second Parking Lot.
Because the Second Parking Lot is located up the hill, the route from the parking lot to Udo Shrine is downhill, but on the way back you will be walking uphill. The distance itself is not long, so take your time and walk back at a comfortable pace.
The last option is the Tourist Parking Lot. Among the three free parking lots, this is the one farthest from the main hall.
However, this lot can also accommodate buses and other large vehicles, and the roads leading to this parking lot are wider than those to the First and Second Parking Lots.
If you visit Udo Shrine by bus, this is where you will get off, because the Miyazaki Kotsu bus stop is located next to the Tourist Parking Lot. The “Udo Shrine” bus stop is here, and from this point you will walk to the shrine.
The Tourist Parking Lot is equipped with restrooms and a smoking area.
If you want to set the Tourist Parking Lot in your navigation system, use the address below.
3264 Miyaura, Nichinan-shi, Miyazaki 887-0101, Japan
From the Tourist Parking Lot to Udo Shrine, you will walk up the stairs, pass through Udozaki Tunnel, then go down the stone steps of Udozan Hacchosaka.
This walking route takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
The Tourist Parking Lot is not just “far away” and inconvenient.
In the past, the route from the Tourist Parking Lot to Hacchosaka was the Hacchosaka Sando, which means it was the main approach to the shrine.
Today the newer approach, called the Shin-sando, is well maintained, so most visitors follow the Shin-sando route to reach the main hall.
If you look at the old information board in the Tourist Parking Lot, you can see that it was made before the tunnel was built, and that the main approach crossed over the mountain instead of going through the tunnel.
In this way, the Tourist Parking Lot is not simply inconveniently far away; it is a place where the historic main approach has been preserved, allowing visitors to experience this part of Udo Shrine’s landscape.
If you want to enjoy not only the famous Hacchosaka slope and the shrine path but also the historic atmosphere of the approaches themselves, it is well worth parking in the Tourist Parking Lot and walking to Udo Shrine even if it takes a little more time.
From here, we will walk you through what the newer approach via Udozaki Tunnel actually looks like.
First, you climb the stairs. There are quite a few steps, but you can take your time and enjoy the scenery as you go.
At the top of the stairs, there is a small rest area where you can catch your breath.
After you finish climbing, Udozaki Tunnel appears straight ahead of you.
This tunnel was completed in 1965 (Showa 40). Its exterior shows its age and gives it a distinctly historic character.
The moment you step into the tunnel, the air feels about 3 degrees cooler. It is like walking into a natural air conditioner.
This unique atmosphere is one of the charms of the new approach.
When you exit the tunnel, you arrive at a beautifully shaped cut-through road.
The neatly maintained cut-through creates a striking scene.
At the end, the road curves gently.
Here you join Udozan Hacchosaka. The mountain main approach also joins the path at this point.
From here, all you have to do is walk down the stone steps.
After descending, you arrive at the entrance area of Udo Shrine’s main approach.
The walk takes about 10 to 15 minutes on foot.
We have now introduced the three free parking lots at Udo Shrine.
As a rule of thumb, the First Parking Lot is the standard choice and the one most people aim for.
If it is full, head to the Second Parking Lot.
In most cases, you will find a space between these two.
If you want to fully experience the main approach, the new approach, Udozaki Tunnel, and Udozan Hacchosaka, and really feel the history of Udo Shrine, we recommend choosing the Tourist Parking Lot without hesitation.
Udo Shrine is well-known as a sightseeing spot for its beautiful main hall built inside a cave, but it also preserves historic scenery such as the main approach that dates back to the Edo period.
There are no other free parking lots at Udo Shrine besides the three introduced here, so choose the parking lot that best matches how you want to enjoy your visit.
