Relaxation
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…
At a glance
Locals and visitors alike flock to these wayside stations for local good-value produce and meals.
Ranging from the thrilling to the benign, the entertainment at Kijima caters for all the family. The park’s 25-hectare site is dominated by Jupiter, a 1,600 metre long wooden…
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The Jupiter wooden roller coaster is just one of many thrilling attractions at Kijima Kogen, which also provides amusements suitable for all ages.
The Tsurumisaki peninsula is, at its furthest extent, the most easterly point in Kyushu. A quiet 30 kilometre road gently winds its way aside the sea, past bays and through one…
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An intriguing rural peninsula that is ideal for a day trip by car or cycle,
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.
Nagayu is one of the most charming onsen resorts anywhere in Japan. A small town aside a river, it has a lovely and particularly unspoilt charm. While most visitors bathe in the…
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One of the nicest onsen resorts, which is really a village, in Japan. Here, a wonderful example of contemprary Japanese architecture houses a carbonated hot spring.
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.
Rakutenchi is a children’s paradise, a theme land of innocent playfulness and excitement. First opened in 1929, Rakutenchi has long held a special appeal and nostalgia for the…
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Beppu's delightful theme park for younger children and the young at heart.
For a truly unique experience, head to Creole Cafe which is easily found immediately below the towering and iconic Beppu Tower.
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Eclectic restaurant by day and in the evenings a popular nightclub.
Azul, found in Oita City’s central Takemachi shopping arcade, generally caters to clubbers with an appetite for left of field electronic music, but depending on the night can also…
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A popular night club with one of the best sounds systems in west Japan.
At the very southern limit of Oita’s coastline, just on the boarder with Miyazaki, is Hatotsu Kaigan, a sandy beach settled into a lovely, secluded bay fringed with pine trees.…
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An idyllic beach at Oita's furthest southern reach.
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.
Yufuin, is a refined, up-market, onsen hot spring town in wonderful rural setting towered over by Mt. Yufu-dake, an extinct volcano. The town boast a wealth of cafes, restaurants,…
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A chic onsen hot spring resort in a beautiful rural setting.
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.
Ume Hibiki draws its name from the ume plum orchards it is surrounded by and the glorious views it affords over the Hibiki Gorge. Located deep in the mountains in the south of…
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A beautifully designed and very comfortable onsen hot spring hotel overlooking a gorge.
With more onsen hot springs than anywhere else in Japan, Beppu takes the crown as the nation’s top onsen hot spring destination. So much hot water wells up from beneath the ground…
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Legendary onsen hot spring town aside the Seto Inland Sea. Great views, thriving arts scene, great dining and nightlife.
A visit to Yunohira Onsen is a step back into an older time. Hidden in the mountains outside Yufuin on an mountainside beside the tumbling Kagono-gawa river, this tiny, atmospheric…
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An olde-worlde feel permeates this quiet hillside onsen hot spring village.
Step through the doorway of Kamoshika Shoten, in central Oita City, and it is apparent that the owner, Shinsaku Iwao, has a passion for the printed word and a knack of creating…
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A discreet gem of a bookshop and cafe.
A satellite marine-life of Oita’s highly regarded Umitamago Aquarium, Tsukumi Iruka-jima specialises in dolphins, which live in the semi-wild here. Their performances wow the…
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Dolphins in a semi-wild environment are the principal attraction at Oita's second largest aquarium.
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.
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.
CMVC is a contemporary live music and arts space situated in the heart of Hita, a regional town well-known for its historic atmosphere that is also home to a small but well…
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Hita's nightclubbing soul.
Kuroshima is an unassuming island off the coast of Usuki. Most visitors make the short boat journey in summer months to enjoy Kuroshima’s sandy beaches and to fish. However, here…
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The island where William Adams, the British sailor who became confident of Japan's greatest shogun, was shipwrecked in 1600.
Hidden within the myriad collection of izakaya restaurants and karaoke parlours at the core of Beppu’s nightlife district is The Hell Bar, a name being a hat tip to the city’s…
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Beppu's other hell, an intimate nightclub in the centre of Beppu.
Introduced to Japan in the 19th Century, beer has long been the nation’s favourite tipple and today accounts for approximately two-thirds of alcohol consumption.
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Visit Sapporo's Hita brewery to learn about the origins of the company and to savour some of Japan's classic beers.
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.
The quest for beauty often requires an effort, and the journey to one of Oita’s sublimely scenic sites is no different. Found literally at the end of a long and winding road, at…
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A remote beautiful gorge that fully rewards those who make the journey.
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.
