Ōita

Day Trips

Arrive at Ōita Airport and transfer to your downtown accommodation. Settle in and enjoy a cup of locally grown green tea while soaking in the hotel’s garden view. Take a leisurely stroll along the Asaji River to stretch your legs.

Head to Beppu for a first taste of Kyushu onsen culture by visiting the scenic Takegawara Spa. Delight in a delicious lunch of Bungo beef at a nearby eatery. Wander the bathhouse gardens and footpath for a relaxing atmosphere.

Return to Ōita City and indulge in a traditional izakaya dinner, sampling local toriten and fresh seafood. Explore the illuminated riverside promenade and the vibrant downtown arcade. End your night with a soothing soak in a communal onsen within the city.

Catch the morning train or bus to Beppu and drop off your luggage at a traditional ryokan. Begin your onsen adventure at Hyotan Onsen, soaking in its historic communal bathhouses. Explore the rustic Myoban Yunosato mud baths framed by steaming terraces at the foot of the mountain.

Savor a kaiseki lunch crafted from fresh local produce and Bungo beef at a nearby restaurant. Meander through the city’s footbath circuit, dipping your feet into steaming public onsen scattered across town. Take a quick ride up Beppu Tower for panoramic views over bubbling vents and the bay.

Return to your ryokan and indulge in a private rotenburo nestled among cedar trees. Bask in the glow of lanterns as you soak under the stars in an open-air onsen. Drift off to sleep to the gentle murmur of hot spring waters, experiencing authentic Japanese tranquility.

Embark on the Jigoku Meguri tour, visiting Umi Jigoku, Oniishibozu Jigoku, and Shiraike Jigoku. Photograph the otherworldly steaming ponds in hues of azure blue and bubbling mud. Learn about the unique geothermal phenomena at each site’s interpretive center.

Enjoy a casual lunch of donburi at a street-side stall near Kannawa Terminus. Experience a traditional sand bath at Beppu Beach Sand Bath, feeling warm volcanic sand envelop your body. Relax in the adjacent seaside footbaths with a view of Usuki Bay.

Browse the night market stalls at Kannawa, sampling local sweets like onsen manju. Sip on a mug of rich local sake under red lanterns. Return to Beppu for a serene onsen soak before bedtime.

Catch the scenic morning train from Beppu to Yufuin, admiring pastoral vistas along the way. Rent a bicycle near the station and pedal through rice paddies and wooden farmhouses. Stop at Kinrinko Lake to enjoy a quiet lakeside vista with mist rising from the water.

Savor a handmade soba lunch at a local noodle shop overlooking Mount Yufu. Explore the quaint streets filled with art galleries, boutique bakeries, and craft shops. Visit the Yufuin Floral Village for a whimsical taste of European-inspired gardens.

Return to your ryokan for a kaiseki dinner featuring seasonal mountain vegetables. Soothe tired legs in the private rotenburo, listening to the nocturnal forest chorus. Stroll through the softly lit town center before retiring to a futon on tatami mats.

Rise early and pack a light backpack for a guided hike up Mount Yufu. Ascend winding forest trails framed by cedar and bamboo groves. Reach the summit by midmorning to behold panoramic views over Beppu Bay and Yufuin below.

Descend to Yufuin and refuel with a hearty lunch of grilled mountain chicken and rice. Treat your legs to a soak in a natural onsen spring beside Kinrinko Lake. Browse local souvenir shops for handcrafted pottery and artisan tea canisters.

Enjoy an informal meal at a family-run soba house, sampling regional sake pairings. Wander through the lantern-lit streets to admire illuminated town sculptures. Relax in your ryokan’s communal bath and chat with fellow travelers before bed.

Spend the morning at Ōita Prefectural Art Museum to see contemporary and traditional Japanese works. Visit the historic Takasaki Kan to learn about Taisho-era architecture and exhibits. Enjoy a matcha tea break in the museum garden’s tea house.

Head to the lively Yanagigaura Market to sample fresh seafood and pick up local snacks. Participate in a hands-on ceramic painting workshop at a nearby pottery studio. Try your hand at molding your own Yunomi tea cup under expert guidance.

Dine at a riverside barbecue restaurant grilling Bungo wagyu beef and local vegetables. Take a sunset cruise along the Oita River for a gentle view of the city skyline. Conclude your day with a nightcap at a rooftop bar overlooking the city lights.

Drive or take a bus to the Kunisaki Peninsula, renowned for its sacred mountain temples. Explore Futago-ji Temple, nestled among cedar forests and moss-covered stone steps. Discover ancient Buddhist carvings and statues scattered across the hillside.

Enjoy a vegetarian shojin ryori lunch at a temple guesthouse amid tranquil gardens. Visit Maki Ōdō and its exquisite Heian-period murals depicting Buddhist cosmology. Wander quiet mountain trails lined with moss and miniature shrines.

Check into a countryside minshuku with views of terraced rice paddies. Savor a home-cooked dinner featuring local mountain vegetables and pickles. Fall asleep to the sound of cicadas and the faint glow of fireflies in the fields.

Travel to Usuki to explore its well-preserved samurai district of Kougoe. Wander along stone-paved streets lined with elegant samurai residences and gates. Visit the Usuki Castle Ruins park for a bird’s-eye view over the town.

Dine on fresh seafood at a waterfront café overlooking Usuki Bay. Tour the Usuki Stone Buddhas, ancient rock-carved statues dating back to the 12th century. Learn about stone carving techniques at a nearby studio with a live demonstration.

Return to your historic guesthouse and enjoy a dinner of tempura made from freshly caught fish. Join a lantern-lit walking tour through the samurai quarter, hearing stories of feudal lords. Unwind in an open-air bath fed by natural spring water under a sky full of stars.

Head north to Bungotakada and visit Fukiji Temple, the only Pure Land sect temple built in the Heian era. Walk through its serene gardens and admire the painted sliding panels in the main hall. Take a peaceful boat ride along the Maki River, passing under willow-lined banks.

Enjoy a shojin ryori lunch at a temple teahouse overlooking lotus ponds. Stroll through the charming shopping street, browsing sake breweries and artisan craft shops. Visit the old Sukunahiko Shrine to glimpse its ornate architecture and interior paintings.

Relax with a seafood dinner at a riverside restaurant, feasting on local yellowtail. Take a dip in a nearby onsen under lantern light on the riverbank. Share stories with locals in an intimate izakaya before retiring to your ryokan.

Depart Bungotakada and head back toward Ōita via the scenic coastal road. Stop at pebble beaches and seaside cliffs along Saiki Bay for morning photography. Sample fresh oysters or scallops at a roadside vendor overlooking the sea.

Enjoy a final lunch at a seaside onsen town like Tsukumi, combining hot springs and fresh seafood. Relax in a coastal rotenburo with expansive ocean views and a salty sea breeze. Make your way to Ōita Airport or Station, soaking in the last panoramas of Kyushu’s coastline.

Transfer to Ōita Airport for your flight home, arriving early enough to browse the airport gift shops. Reflect on the ten days of onsen soaks, temple visits, and mountain vistas as you savor a last cup of local sake. Look forward to your return to Ōita, carrying souvenirs and stories of Kyushu’s hidden gems.