In which quarter house in Ôita?

Are you going to Japan to discover the islands of the Japanese archipelago? Discover our guide to find out where to stay in Oita!

Prefecture to the northeast of Kyushu Island in Japan, home to 1,166,066 inhabitants (2016), Oita – who will host some games of the Rugby World Cup to XV in 2019 – gathers a cord of several cities often unknown to the public, but still famous throughout Japan for its many onsen , hot water sources of volcanic origin (about 3000). As often in Japan, finding accommodation in Oita will result in a high bill. Located between the cities of Miyazaki, Kumamoto and Fukuoka, Oita has cities worthy of interest to see absolutely: Beppu, Yufu, Oita, Usuki, Kunitsaki.

Oita, open to the inner sea and surrounded by Tsurumi and Yufu Mountains, has a temperate climate in the north and tropical south. Each city brings its different atmosphere that will seduce all profiles. This is in which area to house in Oita.

Beppu

The largest city in the prefecture, Beppu is known all over the world to be the theatre of the famous onsen , these volcanic hot water sources producing more than 100,000 kl of water a day and plunging the city into a cloud of cataclysmic and apocalyptic smoke. Thus public baths are in the forefront of things to do. In Beppu, go to see the “8 hells” – Umi Jigoku, Oniishi Bozu Jigoku, Yama Jigoku, Jigoku Mushi, Shiraike Jigoku, Tatsumaki Jikogu -, colourful bouillon water wells of red or blue, giving rise to a geyser with a temperature of up to 98°C.

A 10-minute walk from the Beppu train station is a unique view of the city, at the top of the Beppu tower, 100 metres high. Don’t miss out on the slopes of the Yufu and Tsurumi Mountains, before going to the African Safari, the largest animal park in Asia where 1,300 species of animals (bear, lions, giraffes, elephants or zebras) are observed. This city where to stay in Oita can be stormed by Japanese or international tourists.

Yufu

A city surrounded by mountains between Beppu and Oita, in the interior of the land, Yufu is on the banks of the eponymous river and at the foot of the same name. It is a spa with a dozen Onsen, many ryokan and minshuku – typical Japanese hostels -, many museums, art galleries and restaurants where to taste the delights of Japanese cuisine. Don’t miss a getaway to Kinrin Lake: from there, most of the hotels to stay in Yufu will be concentrated.

Usuki

The village of Usuki is famous for its 60 statues of Buddha, dating from the Kamakura period (1185-1333) and dug in stone. There you will see many war buildings and military buildings of the Edo period (1603-1868), including the Inaba and Marumo residences. Staying in Usuki allows you to radiate in an open-air museum, an authentic testimony of what feudal Japan was and some remains remain today.

Main photo credit: Flickr – Thilo Hilberer