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. [...]

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Located a few minutes away by walk from Kitsuki Castle in the heart of Kitsuki City in Oita, Ohara-Tei is the residential building used during the Edo period to house karo top-ranking officials of the Matsudaira Domain. [...]

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First built in 1394 by the fourth daimyo Kizuki Yorinao and located in the city of Kitsuki in Oita prefecture, the Kitsuki Castle is, believe it or not, Japan’s smallest and obviously cuttest caste! [...]

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Less “violent” than the Okoshi Daiko, the first part of the Hida Furukawa Matsuri, the festival floats parade, known as Yatai, includes the display of nine beautifully decorated festival floats moving through Furukawa. Each Yatai is carried and taken care of by each of the Hida Furukawa city factions […]

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Held each year during a three day period with its peak on April 19th and 20th, the Hida Furukawa Matsuri is not only an national treasure since it has been designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the government, but also an amazing festival (Matsuri) strong in color […]

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Yokaichi is roughly a 1.5km long street in the City of Uchiko (Ehime) and the center of what used to be a city named Yokaichi. There you will find time almost frozen. If you ignore of course the few cars passing by, as well as many beautiful houses, gardens […]

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Obuchi Sasaba is one of the most famous green tea fields in the world. Thanks to its unique scenery, Obuchi Sasaba attracts millions of visitors every year and also happens to be the location of choice for many TV, movie, and the advertising crews. [...]

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Oomiya Jinja is a nice little Shinto shrine located on the west side of Oshima Island. While not a lot of information is available on this shrine, it is said that it used to be located on the northern part of the island [...]

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Located in Kamogawa City in Chiba prefecture, Oyama is an hour and a half drive from the center of Tokyo. Oyama is the closest terraced rice field to Tokyo, and also the only one of its kind in Japan! [...]

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Just a few minutes walk from Kyujinnomaru Tei, a traditional Japanese ryokan turned into an open museum (See previous video), Odoriko no Sato is another free and open to all museum. It’s dedicated to Oshima Islands famous Odoriko or “Dancing girls”. The profession was popularly depicted in the past […]

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Located along the east side of the Izu peninsula, Jogasaki is a small yet beautiful coast. Famous for its lighthouse and suspension bridge, Jogasaki also offers a nice 1-hour long hiking trail that gives you a beautiful view of the area, including the huge Oshima Island. [...]

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Kyujinnomaru Tei used to be the estate of the head of the Oshima island fisherman’s union during the Meiji period, today it’s an open and free to the public house turned into a small museum giving the chance for anyone to get a look at […]

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