The air is cleaner and the cost of living is lower. For hard-core urbanites, a move to Miyazaki may seem like a move to the boondocks. Miyazaki is not, however, one big farm. Within the prefecture are several large cities including the heavily industrial Nobeoka, central Miyakonojo and coastal Nichinan. Larger cities and towns do carry English films in theaters, although about a month behind Tokyo.
English newspapers are available by subscription.
The four TV stations carry some bilingual broadcast western programs, and a handful of radio stations play a surprising quantity and mix of non-Japanese music. Miyazaki City is the prefecture's center of urban sophistication. The collection of foreign food restaurants includes good Italian, Thai, and pizza. The prefecture's foreign population is small, but growing. The residents of Miyazaki City are gradually becoming somewhat accustomed to and less dumbfounded by the sight of a foreigner on the streets.