city, Miyazaki ken (prefecture), Kyushu, Japan, on the upper Ōyodo River. The city developed around the castle built by the Shimazu family in the early 11th century. During the Tokugawa period (1603–1867), sericulture and silk manufacture were prominent activities. The weaving and textile industries developed after the Meiji Restoration (1868), and synthetic textiles were introduced after World War II.

Miyakonojō is now a railway hub and trading centre for southeastern Kyushu. Manufactures include textiles, dairy products, and lumber; agriculture produces sweet potatoes, rapeseed, tobacco, and tea. Pop. (2005) 170,955.