Sun Messe Nichinan
サンメッセ日南
Seven moai statues, recreated with Easter Island's permission, stand on a hill above the Nichinan Coast: a sight in southern Miyazaki worth seeing once.
Why are there moai in Miyazaki?
Sun Messe Nichinan is a visitor attraction on a hill along the Nichinan Coast in Nichinan city, Miyazaki Prefecture. Its symbol is a set of seven statues recreating the Ahu Akivi moai of Easter Island (Rapa Nui in the local language).
It all came about through a link between Japan and Easter Island. In 1988, the crane maker Tadano, the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, stonemason Sano Katsuji and others formed a Moai Restoration Committee, and over about three years from 1990 they stood the 15 fallen moai of Ahu Tongariki back up. To thank them for this help, the island's council of elders gave permission for moai to be recreated in Japan, and seven were set up at Sun Messe Nichinan. According to the official website, this was the first reproduction in the world made with the formal permission of the council of elders.
The site was originally a farm run by Ittoen, an organisation based in Kyoto. After the farm closed in 1987, the present attraction was created in response to local calls to revitalise the area.
The seven moai and other sights
Each of the seven moai has its own jinx (a local belief): from left to right, they are for work, health, love, world peace, marriage, money and study, and it is said that touching a statue makes that wish come true. Being able to touch the statues directly is something you can only do here.
The grounds cover about 20 hectares and include the World Insect Museum, with rare insects from around the world, 43 panels introducing UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a giant butterfly-shaped picture drawn on the ground. Popular photo spots include a swing that feels as if you are rowing out over the sea and the colourful Voyant statues, whose name means "one who sees" in French. The grounds are big, so you can also get around in a cart, which you can rent with an ordinary car driving licence.
Getting there and before you go
It is about 40 minutes by car from Miyazaki Airport, or about 55 minutes by car from JR Miyazaki Station. You can also go by bus from Miyazaki Station, which takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. There is a free car park.
There is a restaurant and shop, so you can take your time and stop for a meal. It has regular closing days, such as Wednesdays, and opening hours may change, so check the official website before you go.
Tips
- There are regular closing days (it opens on public holidays and during long holiday periods). A notice about changed opening hours was also issued in September 2026, so check the latest information on the official website before you set out.
- The grounds are large, about 20 hectares, so if walking is hard for you, a cart you can rent with an ordinary car driving licence makes getting around easy.
- Each of the seven moai is linked to a different wish. Find the statue that matches yours, then try touching it.
Sources
Updated 29 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
