The area along the coast has been designated as the Nichinan Kaigan Quasi-National Park, and there are tourist spots such as Koshima and Cape Toi.

Following the Meiji restoration, the village of Fukushima was established within Minaminaka District, Miyazaki on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system.

On November 3, 1954 - Fukushima Town, merged with the villages of Otsuka, Honjo, Toi, and Ichiki in Minaminaka District to form the city of Kushima.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Miyazaki 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

In addition to tourism, the primary industries of Kushima are agriculture, including livestock, commercial fishing and food processing.