Ooita Prefecture

Ooita Prefecture — Where Hot Springs and Music Harmonize

Beppu city onsen

Ooita Prefecture is renowned as Japan’s premier hot spring destination, with Beppu and Yufuin onsen attracting visitors from across the country. The prefectural capital, Ooita City, is surrounded by historic temples and abundant nature.

A hidden gem for tourists is Futago-ji Temple, a historic temple on the Kunisaki Peninsula that blends Zen Buddhism and mountain asceticism (Shugendo). The atmospheric temple buildings standing at the top of steep stone steps create a mystical ambiance surrounded by mountains and forests. The entire Kunisaki Peninsula area in Ooita Prefecture is known as “Rokugo Manzan,” a sacred site of Shugendo that preserves a unique culture blending Buddhism and Shintou. Stone Buddhas and cliff-carved reliefs scattered throughout the mountains evoke a deep sense of spirituality and historical significance for visitors.

Futagoji Stone Niou zou

By Maculosae tegmine lyncis – Own work, CC0, Link

One of Ooita’s most significant musical contributions is “Koujyou no tsuki” (Moon Over the Ruined Castle) composed by TAKI Rentarou, who spent his childhood in Taketa City. The ruins of Oka Castle, which inspired this piece, can still be visited today. This hauntingly beautiful melody has achieved international recognition and is considered one of Japan’s most important musical compositions.

ooita okajyou

Another children’s song connected to Ooita is “Inu no Omawari-san” (The Dog Policeman) with lyrics by SATOU Yoshimi, who was born in Taketa City. Beyond these well-known works, Ooita preserves traditional songs like “Bungo Ondo” that reflect the region’s cultural heritage.
The prefecture’s natural beauty includes the magnificent limestone caves of Inazumi and the scenic Yabakei Gorge. In terms of cuisine, besides Bungo beef, kabosu citrus, and “toriten” (Oita-style tempura chicken), specialties include “Sekisaba and Sekiaji” (mackerel and horse mackerel from Saganoseki), which develop their exceptional flavor and texture from the unique current environment where the Bungo Channel meets the Seto Inland Sea. Another delicacy, “Shiroshita Karei” (Usuki flounder), is a specialty from around Usuki City, characterized by its delicate sweetness and crystal-like transparency due to the unique environment where freshwater springs mix with seawater on the ocean floor. With a history of being presented to the shogun during the Edo period, it remains a rare luxury fish with limited catches today, representing the local food culture and being closely tied to tourism and regional heritage.