Mitama Matsuri, first held in 1947, takes place annually at Yasukuni Shrine, and features around 30,000 lanterns. The purpose of this festival is to pray for the fallen soldiers of the past and for a more peaceful world. [...]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Also known as Usa Hachimangu or 宇佐八幡宮 in Japanese, is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Usa in Oita prefecture. Founded during the Nara period Usa Jingu has a complex history. Indeed it is believed that the first foundation of the shrine took […]

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Located in the small streets of Usa city in Oita prefecture, Gogan-Ji temple has been made famous by opposing the sitting lord and Samurai Utsunomiya Shigefusa, who died during the battle between Kuroda Kambei the newly appointed lord of the nearby Nakatsu castle. [...]

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Located in Kinsusaki peninsula, Maki Odo used to be the largest Makisan-Denjoji temple of the Tendai sect in the area. It's said that it was a lecture place where Buddhist priests practiced asceticism and do training in. On the temple grounds […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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. [...]

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