Kunisaki Peninsula & Usa
A stone’s throw from the Ajimu Winery is the pocket-sized Sonic Park, where karting enthusiasts speed up to 80km per hour around its tightly twisting 1,080 metre track.
At a glance
A fun introduction to the motorised sport world.
Ito began his career in Kiyonori Kikutake architectural practice, and he has employed younger leading architects Kuzuo Seijima and Ryue Nishizawa, who together created the SANAA…
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Another of Japan's top architects.
Makiodo is a repository for Buddhist statutes, which are all that remain from a grand temple, Makisan Denjo-ji, that once dominated the surrounding area. It burnt to the ground in…
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A temple housing some of the most impressive Buddhist statuary found in Japan.
The ‘Kyu’of Kyu-Sento-ji means ‘former’ and only the extensive grounds of what once was one of the greatest of Kunisaki’s temples remain. Today, a quiet lane leads to a forest…
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The evocative site of what once was one of Kunisaki's greatest temples.
Kunisaki and Usa was recognised as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the United Nations in 2013. Look at a map of the Kunisaki Peninsula and neighbouring…
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Beside being a spiritual and beautiful rural region, the Kunisaki Peninsula has also been recognised a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Himeshima is a homely island and, amongst other attractive qualities, sports one of the nicest and least visited beaches in all Oita. The ferry from Imi on the Kunisaki Peninsula’s…
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One of Oita's many attractive beaches on the quiet island of Himeshima.
Soba Yuhi Cafe takes its name from the glorious sunsets, which here bask the placid waters of the Seto Inland Sea, and also the soba buckwheat noodle dishes that crowns its menu.…
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Coffee and light meals whilke enjoying spectacular sunsets over the Seto Inland Sea.
The exterior clean, white modernist architectural lines of Sousou-An are an eye-catching anomaly in the rural Kunisaki Peninsula. Yet these walls delineate within a completely…
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A stylish and eclectically furnished cafe in rural Kunisaki.
Fuki-ji temple’s main hall is perhaps the simplest and most elegant Buddhist structure found anywhere
in Japan. Built in the 12th Century, it is also the oldest wooden structure…
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One of Japan's most serenely beautiful temples.
For anyone fortunate enough to be at Monjusen-ji at dawn, the deep, resounding sound of bell echoing across its tranquil setting, a remote valley deep in the heart of Kunisaki,…
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An atmospheric temple set in the deepest reaches of the Kunisaki Peninsula.
Kitsuki Terrace is a recent addition to the seafood barbecuing establishments, popular with locals and visitors alike, that are found strung out along much of Oita’s coastline.…
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A popular modern seafood emporium in Kitsuki aside the Seto Inland Sea.
Muira Baien (1723-1789), born into the family of a physician, spent most of his life in a small village in central Kunisaki and followed his father in also becoming a physician. A…
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One of Japan's earliest polymath who studied medicine, philosophy, economics and science.
The Art Museum of Nature and Human Non-Homogeneity is a grand title for a small but wonderfully immersive and interactive art space that explores and celebrates man’s universal…
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A fascinating immersive and interactive art installation.
The Kunisaki Peninsula is imbued with a placid spirituality embodied by 1,300 year-old Rokugo-Manzan, an esoteric Buddhist-Shinto religion now uncommon elsewhere in Japan. Quiet…
Few places in Japan offer the accessibility, privacy and glorious surroundings found at Sakura Beach Garden, an ocean-side rental villa with its own private beach. The owners, a…
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A beautifully located refuge ideal for families and workcation.
It is surprising to find a work of art by Anthony Gormley, the famed British sculptor, in the very depths of the Kunisaki Peninsula. “Another Time XX” – a life sized cast iron…
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Shakyamuni
Shakyamuni is the historical Buddha ‘of our times’. He was born into the noble Indian clan of the Shakyas. Shakyamuni literally means “sage of the Shakyas”.
Shakyamuni is the historical Buddha ‘of our times’. He was born into the noble Indian clan of the Shakyas. Shakyamuni literally means “sage of the Shakyas”.
At a glance
Kunisaki's pantheon of Buddhist deities.
The Showa-no-machi quarter in Bungo-Takada, a small city settled into the north-west shoulder of the Kunisaki Peninsula, seems to have been stopped in a retro time warp centred on…
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Bungo Takada's post-war retro feel makes it quite unique in Japan.
For bicycle touring aficionados, Japan, with its varied countryside is a great place to visit. Oita’s many quiet country lanes, lack of vehicle traffic on all but the major…
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Oita's mostly quiet country roads make it a great place to explore on a cycle.
Midoriso Nada Beach House has a fantastic location in a pine forest only a few steps from the extensive sands of Nata Beach aside the Seto Inland Sea. Its closest neighbour is the…
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Laidback comfortable accommodation aside a 2km-long sand beach and the pacific Seto Inland Sea.
Tashibu-no-sho, a charming district with some of the most picturesque countryside found anywhere in Japan, was once under the direct control of Usa Jingu, Oita's grand shrine.…
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One of Japan's most picturesque rural scenes.
A sign at the foot of the short flight of steps leading up to an unassuming hut, the sole structure left in the grounds of this now sleepy but once much grander temple, indicates…
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A intriguing immersive experience of the Buddhist afterlife for man on earth.
Like many of Kunisaki’s temples, Futago-ji traces its founding back to Rokugo-Manzan’s founding monk Ninmon. Futago-ji became Kunisaki’s lead temple in the Warring States Period…
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The Kunisaki Peninsula's principal temple set in extensive grounds at the foot of a mountain.
Imi was an important port in the Edo Period (1603-1868), which is attested to by the impressive Hachiman Shinto shrine in extensive grounds adjacent to a small port. Today,…
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A quiet, attractive harbour town that has become home to a cotorie of artists from around Japan.
To cross the threshold of Tomaya in Kitsuki is to go back in time. The current building, a delightfully quaint tea emporium, dates to 1875 but the business was first established in…
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An atmospheric shop and cafe sepcialising in local green tea.
Oga Farm is a bit of a misnomer as it is really a garden and a very pleasant one to boot. Beautifully sited with a southern aspect on a bluff overlooking Beppu Bay, Oga Farm is a…
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A charming rose and herb garden to relax in and leisurely savour.
Golf has a long history in Japan with the first golf course established in Kobe in 1903 by a British expatriate yearning to play his favourite sport. Ever since the game’s…
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Enjoy Oita's natural scenic attractions from the fairways of 23 courses spread throughout the prefecture. An unrushed day's play for beginners and experienced players alike.
Petro Kibe (1587-1639), who is also known as Petro Kasui Kibe, was one of Japan’s earliest christians. Petro Kibe was born into an important samurai and first-generation christian…
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One of Japan's earliest Christians and a martyr, who is still celebrated in his hometown on the Kunisaki Peninsula.
At the largest wildlife park in west Japan an exotic and exciting experience is provided for children through to adults alike in the heart of Oita. Visitors come into close –…
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A great wildlife adventure for the family.
Tekizanso is a gracefully classic one story building that dates from the Taisho Period (1912-1925). Sited in a corner of what was once the grounds of Hiji-jo, the local daimyo…
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A grand villa, built by a gold mining tycoon for himself, that has become one of Oita's top restaurants.
Himeshima, with its very limited number of vehicles, relaxed and quiet lifestyle, limited hills to climb and very few vehicles, provides a delightful environment for a leisurely…
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Rental cycles are available to explore this charming island.
Kunisaki is a treasure trove of Buddhist artefacts and the twin Kumano Magaibutsu Buddhist relief carvings, depictions of Dainichi Nyorai and Fudo Myo-o, are the largest amongst…
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A little-known yet wonderful Buddhist site in the heart of the Kunisaki Peninsula.
Touinryo is an unexpected gem; an historic building from the 1880s that has been refurbished and repurposed as a delightful gallery and cafe. Located a short walk from the La…
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An unexpected but popular destination for art, food and good company on the Kunisaki Peninsula's north coast.
Visitors to Ota, a usually quiet village on the Kunisaki Peninsula, swell the local population by a factor of 30 or more over two days in mid-October when its popular Doburoku…
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A festival of raw sake that brings this sleepy village alive for two days each year.
Top grade grapes for the table are grown widely in Kyushu and are a staple fruit during the summer months. Grapes for viticulture, the production of wine, are, however, much rarer…
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Oita's first winery and a must visit for anyone wanting aquaint themselves with Japanese wines from the grape.
The scene on the deck of the USS Missouri at the signing of the Instrument of Surrender, when Japan formally yielded to the Allied forces on 2 September 1945, is a familiar scene…
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The boyhood home made into a memorial for a Japanese statesman who served his country through the turbulent years before, during and after the Second World War.
Good coffee is not uncommon throughout Oita Prefecture, but Kotori offers one of the most sublime locations to relax in and savour a delicious brew. Kotori serves up a variety of…
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Any journey around the Kunisaki Peninsula’s northern coast should include a stop at Kotori for its artisanal coffee and more.
Baien-no-Sato is a small, onsen hot spring resort atop a hill in the centre of the Kunisaki Peninsula. It also has the additional and very unusual attraction for a hotel of a 65cm…
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Accommodation, onsen hot spring baths and a giant telescope combine in a tribute to a local son who became one of Japan's Edo Period polymaths.
Hachiman Nada Shrine, located at on the south-east coast of Kunisaki, is one of the peninsula’s most atmospheric sites of Shinto worship. Secreted into a pine forest aside the…
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A simple shrine in a gorgeous setting aside the Seto Inland Sea.
Kunisaki’s quiet country roads through verdant countryside and aside the Seto Inland Sea are ideal for cycling and each year, over 2,500 cycle enthusiasts enter Oita’s largest…
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As much a tour of the beautiful Kunisaki Peninsula as a test of sporting prowess.
Kitsuki is a compact, quiet and genteel town that still retains the atmosphere it once had as samurai stronghold. The kitadai samurai quarter is reached via a flight of old…
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Once the strong hold of a samurai clan closely associated with the ruling shogun, this old seaside castle town retains a pleasant air of its past.
Like so much to be found in Kunisaki, nothing fully prepares one for Tennen-ji temple, a beautifully rustic and understated thatched structure protruding from a cave at the base of…
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Another of Kunisaki's serenly atmospheric temples. This one is famed for its rubustious Shujo-onie festival.
Electric-assist cycles are available to rent at Innai’s Michi-no-eki wayside station to explore the surrounding picturesque countryside, which boasts the greatest concentration of…
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A charming region to cycle arouund centred on the local Michi-no-eki.
The picturesque and verdant Kunisaki Peninsula is a haven of rural life that today belies its history as one of the greatest centres of Buddhism in Japan. The powerful religious…
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The ancient Buddhist-Shinto spiritual tradition of the Kunisaki Peninsula.
Oita’s 775 kilometre (482 mile) long coastline is intricately varied and strung with myriad highlights including tremendous sea views, one remote beach after another, and unique…
Oita has long been a popular destination for Japanese visitors and, as a consequence, the choice of accommodation found around the prefecture is plentiful and varied. These include…
Onsen are a feature found throughout the length and breadth of Japan. Oita, however, boasts the largest concentration of hot springs and they in turn are fed by the greatest volume…
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The onsen hot spring capital of the world.
Itsutsuji Fudo marks the furthest and highest extent of Kyu-Sento-ji’s grounds. A small shrine clings to the sheer rock face, from which panoramic views across Kunisaki over the…
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A sacred site that affords great views across the surrounding area. An artwork by Anthony Gormley sited here adds an extra frission to the natural beauty.
There are many producers of alcoholic beverages dotted throughout Oita Prefecture, a result of the qualities of spring and well waters found here. Its is particularly famed for its…
Oita’s 774km long coastline is lined with fishing ports, both great and small, but only a few have a fish market. One exception is at Fukae, in Hiji on the Kunisaki Peninsula, a…
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Early risers can enjoy the bustle of a local fish market and buy the freshest fish at the lowest price.
On the north side of Kunisaki betwixt Matama Sunset Café and Imi lies Nagasakibana, a long, finger-like peninsula jutting out into the Seto Inland Sea. Here the locals first took…
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A small peninsula that attracts families and art lovers alike.
The husband and wife proprietors of Pokala relate how the locals thought they were crazy to open a curry restaurant in Usa’s rural hinterland some 30 years ago. After all, who on…
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Although out of the way this curry restaurant is well-worth the journey.
In years past, it was common to see the professional Keirin athletes from the velodrome in Beppu training in pelotons on the roads of Kunisaki until fixed-wheeled bikes, which they…
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A haven for cyclists, from the novice to experienced, to explore.
Mamenomonya’s wife and husband team moved from Oita City to pursue their dream of owning a restaurant in the bucolic countryside of Ota village in Kitsuki. They brought life back…
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A rustic and delicious cafe in the countryside of the Kunisaki Peninsula.
Michi-no-eki wayside stations are a popular institution in Japan and, with 24 of them, Oita Prefecture has more than its fair share. Locals proudly run these shops, akin to…
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Locals and visitors alike flock to these wayside stations for local good-value produce and meals.
Iwato-ji is one of the three temples on Kunisaki that still hold Shujo-onie. As with nearly all the temples on Kunisaki, two fearsome Nio guard the path to the temple. This couple,…
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The third of the three temples in Kunisaki where the extraordinary Shujo-onie festival is held every lunar new year.
The Oita Kotsu bus company runs two regular, scheduled tours to Kunisaki and Yabakei. Both are convenient ways to explore both areas with start and finish points at Oita and Beppu…
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A convenient way to explore two of Oita's most attractive regions.
Choan-ji was, for a while, the principle temple of Kunisaki. It grew in power in the Heian Period when it became the centre of a Buddhist cult - the bronze plagues, which were…
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Once the most powerfull temple in Kunisaki, it is now mostly known for its beautiful grounds.
Usa Jingu retains an atmospheric grandeur befitting its status as the principal shrine of Hachiman, the Shinto protector god of Japan. The recipient of imperial patronage since the…
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One of Japan's most important Shinto shrines.
The colourful banners fluttering in the sea breeze will draw anyone’s attention to the quiet and unassuming building that serves as home, studio and gallery for the original and…
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Vibrantly coloured designs closely reflect the cheerful personalities of the husband and wife artists who have set up their studio and shop in Imi.
Although its name may suggests otherwise, Gallery Kan provides exclusive private gourmet experiences. In a village on a rise overlooking Beppu Bay, the owners have turned a wing of…
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Discreet and attentive private dining.
Harmony Land’s ferris wheel is hard to miss as it towers over the surrounding countryside and only heightens the excitement that fans of Sanrio’s characters entertain when visiting…
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Fun for the family with younger children and the young at heart.
Throughout the ages there are some athletes so accomplished they transcend their sport and establish records so substantial that they are considered unbreakable. Futabayama…
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The boyhood home of Japan's greatest ever sumo wrestler.
Travelling on a cycle, motor bike or car and then pitching a tent for the night or exploring in a recreational vehicles have never been major leisure activities in Japan on the…