Oita is an interesting place to visit on the scenic southern island of Kyushu. Oita town is famous as a commercial spa town with many hot springs. A new soccer stadium and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University are part of Oita city’s plans to re-invent itself as a happening place for tourists. One can check into Oita hotels in Japan to experience the fun of hot sand baths and mud baths to ease aches and pains. The tracky as well as traditional hot spring baths of Oita are high on the list of things to do while on a visit to Oita town. A visit to the Umitamago (Sea Egg) Aquarium complex adjacent to the Takasaki Monkey Park on the seafront west of Beppu is generally a must on a tour of Oita city.
For the adventurous the area is complete with numerous trails and scalable peaks for hiking. There are log houses and campsites as well for the enthusiasts. In the outdoors while in Oita be careful of the sulphurous gas emissions while taking the ropeway to the top of Mt. Aso to peer into the steaming crater. The hiker’s will be blown by the dream island of Yakushima. As an integral part of the culture of Oita city one will see numerous stone Buddha statues carved into cliffs and rock faces all over the prefecture. Most important statues are to be found in Usuki where one can view about 60 well preserved 12th century carvings in rural atmosphere settings. |
