Author: travel shop

The Hiina Doll Festival of the Kitsuki castle town in Kitsuki City, Oita Prefecture, is a magnificent event. Various kinds of Hina dolls are put on display throughout the castle town, which has the air of a little Kyoto. The event is held from February to March every year. Only in Kitsuki can you see so many different Hina dolls in the 30 or so locations around the city. 

Surrounded by magnificent nature, “Autopolis” is well loved as Kyushu’s only international racing circuit. The main course, with a total length of 4,674 meters, is one of the largest in the country. It is a space for all to see, participate in, and enjoy, used for everything from big races such as the Super GT, Super Formula, Super Endurance, and All Japan Road Race Championship, to sports drives for people who want to enjoy driving the circuit, and participatory events such as pushbike races...

The Oike Springs are located in the Asono district of Shonai in the city of Yufu in Oita’s central-south region. Even though they are not very far from the popular tourist destination of Yufuin Onsen and they have been selected as one of Japan’s best 100 waters, this is a hidden scenic spot known only by a few.

Bungotakada, located on the western side of the Kunisaki Peninsula, is known for its delicious Bungotakada soba noodles. A unique feature of this local specialty is that the season for newly harvested soba (buckwheat) comes twice a year. In particular, the crop acreage of Harusoba, the soba planted in the spring, is the largest in the country. This is a staple dish you should definitely try when visiting Bungotakada.

Enjoy a wide variety of delicious fugu (pufferfish) dishes, from fresh sashimi to the fugu-chiri hot pot and smoky flavored hire-zake (hot sake with fugu fin). Fugu cuisine is one of Usuki's delicacies its merchants have cultivated over many years in this town that historically prospered from trade.

Innai in Usa, Oita, is famous for its stone bridges. The town has 75 stone bridges , including many arched bridges, more than any other locale in Japan. Several of these bridges, including Fujimi-bashi and Torii-bashi, were built by Shinnosuke Matsuda, a builder who was hailed as the king of stone bridges in the Meiji Period. They are a must-see not only for their imposing structures, but also for the sense of the passage of time they provide.

The highland's fresh air and gorgeous starry sky are the perks of staying at this campground located at an elevation of 950 meters. From sectioned sites complete with water and electricity to a hilltop site with an expansive view, or a reasonably priced un-sectioned site, Snow Peak offers great camping experiences for novices and veterans alike.

Hitoyoshi Onsen flourished as the castle town of the Hitoyoshi domain and preserves its picturesque historic townscape to this day. Along the Kuma River, there are many ryokan inns where you can enjoy the abundant hot spring from over 50 sources in the area. The weak alkaline carbonate spring water is known for its soft, moisturizing texture. There are also over 20 public baths in the city, still serving as popular places for gathering and relaxation for the residents.

The Yachiyoza playhouse was built in 1910. Once open, it was used for various types of shows, entertaining audiences in the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras, but fell into decline as television became more popular. Subsequently, however, a local campaign to restore the theater resulted in its designation as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1988, and even today, it hosts a variety of performances.

Shimoda Onsen is located just inland from the west coast of Amakusa, an area famous for its beautiful sunsets. The water in the hot spring baths is sourced entirely from the source spring and is said to be beneficial for healing cuts and for recovery from exhaustion. It has a long history, with the first hot spring baths believed to have appeared here some 750 years ago. There is also a legend that the spring burst forth from a spot where an injured egret was soothing its wounds.

Located in Oguni-machi, in Aso-gun, Kumamoto, Shimojo no Oicho is a giant Ginkgo biloba tree that is more than 1,000 years old. It is a sight not to be missed when lit up at night and when it is ablaze with its autumn colors.

Kumamoto Castle is one of the three premier castles in Japan. Built by Kiyomasa Kato, a great commander in the Sengoku period. It took seven years to complete, starting in 1601.