Hidetaka Miyazaki was born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. He grew up in a relatively impoverished environment, fueling his imagination as books and fantastical stories became an escape and source of inspiration. His childhood fostered a strong interest in reading and exploring imaginary worlds, elements that would later become hallmarks of his game design philosophy.

Miyazaki attended Keio University, where he studied social sciences. While seemingly unrelated to game development, this academic background likely provided him with a broader understanding of human behavior, societies, and storytelling techniques, which subtly influenced his later creative endeavors. This foundation of study allowed him to view the world through a wide lens, granting him a wider scope for storytelling.