Beppu is by far the most well-known place in Oita and basically the whole of Japan for its many Jigoku or Hell, which are actually hot springs. But, in the heart of Oita prefecture, far from the crowds and in the middle of what is possibly one of […]
Read more
Hello Kitty may not actually be the most famous Japanese cat after all! It all started in 1697 according to the legend. At that time, before the Gotokuji Temple was what it is now, a poor and lonely priest was living alone with his cat. One day, during a […]
Read more
Located in the city of Nakatsu, this castle, also known in Japanese as Nakatsu-Jo, was founded in 1587 under the rule of the Daimyo Kuroda Yoshitaka. Completely destroyed by the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, which opposed disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, Nakatsu castle was rebuilt […]
Read more
Located in Kinusaki peninsula, Kumano Magaibutsu is the largest Buddha image carved into a rock face in Japan. It is said that this statue was carved in a single night by goblins living nearby during the late Heian period. Two statues were built with a 8M tall Fudo Myoo […]
Read more
Oita prefecture is unique in many ways. It offers some of Japan’s most beautiful landscapes, with Kunisaki peninsula being our favorite! But Oita is also famous for its approach to religion with the Rokugo Manzan that contains elements of Buddhism, Shinto and mountain worship. It’s where both Buddhist and Shinto […]
Read more
Located in the heart of the amazingly beautiful Kinusaki peninsula in Oita, Fuki-ji temple is the oldest wooden structure existing in all of Kyushu. National Treasure Fuki-ji Temple is one of the nation's three major Amida-do sanctums along with Byodo-in in Uji and Chuson-ji […]
Read more
Tsuka No Ma Onsen, formerly Shoya No Yakata, is a gorgeous Onsen Ryokan located in the spring resort area of Yufuin in Oita prefecture and renowned for its natural blue hot springs. Overlooking both Mt. Yufu Dake and Mt. Kuju this roughly 16500m2 area offers […]
Read more
Located in the Kinusaki Peninsula of Oita Prefecture, one of Japan’s most beautiful areas, Monjusenji Temple is believed to have been founded in 648 by the Father of Shugendo, En no Gyoja, acclaiming Monju Bodhisattva as the temple’s main idol of worship from Godaisan, China. [...]
Read more
Maybe one of Oita’s best-known temples, Futago-ji, is located in the Kunisaki Peninsula and was built in 718 A.D. by Ninmon. Futagoji is also famous for its two Nio Guardian figures build in hard stone and capable of withstanding whatever mother nature can throw them at. [...]
Read more
