The 13 essential things to do in Oita

Would you like to discover authentic Japan? Take the direction of the island of Kyushu and discover the 13 essential things to do in Oita.

Located northeast of Kyushu Island, the third largest of the Japanese archipelago, the city of Oita remains little known to foreign tourists. Although she does not know the same shifty and lively atmosphere of other Japanese cities, she is the ideal place to relax and immerse herself in the culture, tradition and history of Japan . Located in Tsurumi and Yufu, Oita is famous throughout Japan for its many waves, hot water sources of volcanic origin. The city offers its visitors a wide variety of points of interest.

You don't know where to start your visit? Here are the 13 essential things to do in Oita.

1. Discover the ruins of the castle of Funai

Start your visit to the city of Oita by discovering the ruins of the castle of Funai, also known as the castle of Oita. Built between 1597 and 1599 by Fukuhara Nagataka, the castle has been destroyed many times. Today, there are only the enclosure walls and the park around. In the spring, it appears from the pale rose of the cherry trees in flowers. The Shinto shrine of the park is also worth a visit.

2. The Shrine of Gokoku

As elsewhere in Japan, the visit of shrines is one of the most important activities to be done in Oita. Do not miss Gokoku, located near the castle park of Sendai. This sanctuary, whose name means “to protect the nation”, was originally built to house Japanese soldiers fallen during the various civil wars. Today, the shrine dedicates the spirit of dead police officers and firefighters in the exercise of their functions. He pays tribute to those who have sacrificed themselves for their country. And if you enjoyed this visit, complete your tour of the Oita shrines by those of Yusuhara Hachiman-gū and Sasamuta-jinja.

3. Prefectural Museum of the Arts

Directed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, creator of the Centre Pompidou de Metz, and inaugurated in 2005, the Prefectural Museum of the Arts of Oita is a must. It offers permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, presenting the works of local artists. Think about making a tour in the museum shop while leaving. You will find beautiful memories to bring back in your luggage.

4. Umitamago Aquarium

Umitamago Aquarium is the ideal activity to do in Oita with family! It is one of Japan’s largest aquariums. In a clever mix between a modern art museum and the traditional style of an aquarium, you will discover penguins, seals, otters, dolphins, exotic fish and many other marine species.

5. The City Art Museum of Oita

If you would like to take some height to admire the city, go to the City Art Museum in Oita. The museum built at the top of a hill offers a splendid view of Beppu Bay. It also has a nice collection of works by local artists and a beautiful garden, in which many creations are disseminated.

6. Discover the village of Usuki

Dive into the Edo era by discovering the wonderful little village of Usuki. The ruins of the castle, the ancient houses of the Samurai, or the large wall of enclosure, testify to the fabulous military past of the village. Do not miss, in the peaceful countryside, the discovery of the sixty Buddhas carved in the rock between the 12th and the 14th century.

7. The Botanical Garden of Sano

Open almost every day of the week, the Botanical Garden of Sano is a wonderful place to visit in Oita. Ideal for family walking, the park is particularly popular in spring, when cherry trees are in bloom.

8. Kamezukakofun Park

Without hesitation, Kamezukakofun Park is a visit to Oita. You will discover a fully renovated funeral home that gives an overview of Japan's rich cultural past. Take the time to discover the small museum in the park, ideal to better understand the history of the region. Stay in this sumptuous park and enjoy, in the spring, cherry trees in bloom.

9. Takasakiyama Nature Animal Park

This wildlife park is an indispensable place to visit in Oita, not only if you have children. More than a thousand monkeys live here in a beautiful natural environment. Every half hour, the park’s staff offers food to the park’s residents, allowing visitors to approach these adorable animals more closely.

10. Discover the Yusuhara Hachimangu

Yusuhara Hachimangu is a magnificent shinto sanctuary located in the foothills, west of the city of Oita. Many tourists its existence and for cause! To get there, you have to take a long staircase through the stunning and dark forest, before reaching the large southern gate of the sanctuary. An absolutely unforgettable journey! In addition to its impressive architecture, you can enjoy an amazing natural environment. For archery lovers, a space is entirely dedicated to this practice next to the sanctuary.

11. Tasting local specialties

Visit the covered shopping malls, near the train station. Here you can taste the local specialties in the many isakaya The neighborhood. These typical restaurants offer Toriten , a tasty fried chicken, ryukyu , raw fish marinated in a soy sauce with onion and sesame seeds, and dango jiru , a miso soup based on pork, thick noodles and vegetables. And if you're a meat lover, let yourself be tempted by Bungo's succulent beef. A delight!

12. The volcanic sources of Beppu

It is impossible to visit Oita, without visiting the volcanic sources of Beppu, located only five minutes by train from the city centre. ♪ Hells of Beppu consists of eight smoking thermal basins, including the Chinoike Jigoku with its red water, and the Tatsumaki Jigoku and its geyser. Make a stop at the onsen Takegawara, the most famous spa in Beppu, and let yourself be tempted by a hot sand bath.

13. Yufuin Spa

To conclude your discovery of Oita and its region, take the direction of the very chic Yufuin spa. Located at the foot of the Yufu Mountain, which peaks at 1,583 meters, Yufuin offers luxury hotels and many roykans traditional, in a refined and serene atmosphere. Enjoy the charm of the city during a walk in a carriage, or go hiking in the surroundings.

To see and do around Oita

If you have any time left, think of a trip to the African Safari or let yourself be tempted by a hike on the slopes of the Yufu and Tsurumi Mountains.

How to get to Oita

To get to Oita, you will have the choice between the plane or the combination of air and train.

By plane from Tokyo or Osaka.

To get to Oita by plane, you can make a stopover in Tokyo or Osaka.

Take 12 hours from Paris to reach the capital of Nippone and about 1h30 to get to Oita by plane. The national companies, Japan airlines and ANA, provide 14 daily connections between the two cities, starting from Tokyo-Haneda and Tokyo-Narita. Companies low cost Solaseed Air and Jet Star Japan offer flights at more attractive prices.

You can also prefer to call Osaka. Air France offers a direct flight from Paris to Osaka in less than thirteen hours. You can then reach Oita by plane in about an hour. Here again, Japan airlines and ANA are the main companies to operate flights between these two cities.

To know the price of flights and schedules, search this flight comparison. And as always with the plane, book your flights at least two months in advance, in order to get the best rates and avoid it surbooking .

To find cheap flights to Oita, you can search our partner's website Skyscanner

By train from Osaka

From the city of Osaka, it is easy to reach Oita by train. Take the JR Sanyo Shinkansen for about two fifteen hours from Shin-Osaka Station to Kokura Station. Then change for a Sonic Express train on the JR Nippo line, which joins the Oita train station. Take a little less than 1h30 to make the last journey. Note that the package is covered by the JR Pass, provided the Hikari or Sakura trains are used on the JR Sanyo Shinkansen line.

Where to stay in Oita?

As often in Japan, finding accommodation in Oita is synonymous with salted invoice. The ideal to fully enjoy the city of Oita is to book a hotel near the train station and the transport. For tighter budgets, many housing units AirBnB and hostels are at your disposal. If you want to spend a night in Beppu or Yufuin, think about booking your stay well in advance and compare prices on this hotel comparison.

You can find a cheap hotel in Oita by searching for this Compare hotels