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Travel Guide of Scenic Byway Kyushu

Oita City, Beppu, Kitsuki, Kunisaki, Bungo-Takada, and Hiji-machi Town (Oita Pref.)

―Unique Buddhist Culture, Hot Spring, and Beppu Bay－ As shown on the map, the scenic spots of Beppu Bay are

distributed on the peninsula and coastal areas to the central part

from the northern part of Oita Prefecture. It contains interesting

contents such as rich nature, history & heritage since ancient ages,

and unique mountain religions.

[Access] You can directly access this scenic spot from Oita Airport.

In the JR railway, there are many stations on the Nippo, Kyudai,

and Hohi Main Lines, but basically Oita and Beppu are the main

stations.

[Scenic Route] The main routes of

scenic spots are given by national

roads No.213, 10, 197 and 217, as

well as the industrial road in Oita

City. The total length of these

roads is about 160 km.

This scenic areas are roughly

divided into the Kunisaki

Peninsula and the urban area of

Beppu & Oita, but as shown in

the map, it can be divided into

seven zones in detail.

[Scenic Resaources] As shown in

the photo on the right, the

Kunisaki Peninsula in the

northeastern part of Oita

Prefecture has Futagoyama

(721m) located upside down in

the center of the peninsula, and

many V-shaped valleys are

carved on the surface.

In this harsh region, various

ascetics settled down in search of

a unique faith that fused Shinto

and Buddhists, and developed a

local culture rooted in it. In other

words, the Kunisaki Peninsula is

composed of Hijimachi Town,

Bungo-takada City, Kunisaki

City, and Kitsuki City, and is the

largest sacred place on the main-

island of Kyushu. And, Usa

Shrine in Usa City is adjacent to

the Bungo-takada city, and is

deeply involved in the creation of

local culture along with many

temples of the peninsula.

Beppu Bay, on the other hand,

faces the Seto Inland Sea and is

located in the central part of Oita

Prefecture, the north side of the

Median Tectonic Line. Along the

coast, many small and medium-sized rivers flow into the bay and

form the coastline.

(1) & (2) Showa Town and Seaside Area of Kunisaki Peninsula

Proceeding about 5 km from the intersection of National Road 10

and 213, you will reach the center of Bungo-Takada City, where you

will find a shopping mall with the motif of Showa period half a

century ago. With a retro bonnet bus service, you can enjoy the old-

Q-⓬ Scenic Area of Beppu Bay & Kunisaki Peninsula

Q-⓬ Scenic Area of Beppu Gulf and Kunisaki Peninsula.

Beppu Bay

Usa

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fashioned cityscape, classic cars, unique shopping outlets, and

modern restaurants.

National Road 213, which connects Bungo-Takada City and

Kitsuki City, runs along the coastline of Kunisaki Peninsula, and

is a comfortable drive course that runs to Oita Airport via Kunisaki

City. About 75 km long, it has beautiful coastal landscapes,

peaceful fishing villages, and a world heritage agricultural area.

The Matama Kaigan (coast) has tidal flats and is known as one

of the most beautiful scenery of sunsets in Japan. In addition, Cape

Nagasakihana is on the north side of the peninsula. Rape blossoms

bloom like carpets in spring, and sunflowers bloom all at once in

summer.

A ferry is operated from “Imi” Port on the peninsula to the small

island of Himeshima. This island is one of many described in the

myth of land creation in

Japan. Outdoor fishing and

aquaculture are popular,

and you can enjoy fresh fish

dishes. In August, Bon-

Odori (Dance) of fox

performed by children is

famous and humorous.

Please visit once.

(3) Rokugo-manzan in Kunisaki Peninsula. As mentioned above, the mountainous area of the Kunisaki

Peninsula is a steep terrain with many radial valleys centered on

Mt. Futagoyama. Under these circumstances, Ninmon Bosatsu

(Bodhisattva) of legendary monk, established Mountain Buddhism

in 718, and from the end of the 11th century to early 12th century,

monks of the Tendai sect built mounds to bury sutras. As a result,

many temples were built in about 30 valleys and dispersed into six

sanctuaries, and they are collectively called “Rokugo-Manzan

(mountain in six sanctuaries) ”.

Ninmon Bosatsu is said to be the incarnation of Hachiman

Okami (God). Therefore, "Rokugo-Manzan" is a religion that

combines the Buddhist Tendai sect, and the Hachiman God

worship of Usa-jingu shrine at the root of the peninsular (See Q-❿).

There were up to 65 temples, but even today, there are still around

30 temples including Usa Shrine, all of which is the world of

Buddha surrounded by forests.

For reference, some temples can be introduced as follows:

a) The Usa-jingu shrine is the headquarters of Hachiman shrines.

b) Odo (Big Hall) of Fuki-ji Temple is the oldest wooden building in

Kyushu, National treasure, and was built in the 8th century.

c) Choan-Ji Temple supervised many temples during the

Kamakura period (around the 12th to 13th C).

d) Futago-Ji Temple was the best praying place for the Kitsuki clan

during the Edo period.

(1) Usa-Jingu (Usa City)

(1) Town in Showa Era (Bungotakada City)

(2) Cape of Nagasaki Bana

(3) Okunoin of Futagoji-temple Stone Buddha on the Roadside Statue of Nio

Fox Dance in Hime-Shima Island.

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e) Monjusen-ji Temple is located

on the hillside of Mt. Monju and

is one of the three major Monju

in Japan to receive wisdom.

In modern times, there are 10

routes prepared to go around the

temples of "Rokugo-Manzan"

with an average distance of

10km. They are mountain path

and pilgrimage route with

unique landscape that you

cannot experience elsewhere.

Many stone statues of Buddha or

Nio (Deva King) are watching

over you on the roadside, as in

Photo.

Another important landscape

of the Kunisaki Peninsula is the

sites of Globally Important

Agricultural Heritage System

(GIAHS). "Kunisaki Peninsula

and Usa Area Integrated

Forestry, Agriculture and

Fisheries System" is registered

and includes the Osaki district

of Bungotakada City and the

“Tsunai” district of Kunisaki

City.

The former is the landscape of

village and paddy fields with

the image of the Heian and

Kamakura eras (8th to 13th

centuries), and rural landscapes

that draw curves along the

terrain. The latter is an

irrigation system that connects

six ponds from highlands to

lowlands and has been passed

down since the Edo period.

(4) Castle Town in Kitsuki

City and Hiji City

Kitsuki City developed from a castle town in the Edo period at

the mouth of the Yasaka River, which flows into Beppu Bay. A

castle was constructed in Shiroyama Park, which juts out into the

sea, a samurai residences were built on two hills, and a shopping

street was placed in the valley between them. The thatched-roof

samurai residence was built 200 to 300 years ago, and the outer

walls of the dwelling are still surrounded the mud walls. As shown

in Photo (4), the long stairs connecting the valley and the hills are

called as the slope of Suya (vinegar shop) or Shioya (salt shop) in

(3) Kumano Magaibutsu (Bungo Takada City)

(3) Deva Gate, and Odo (Hall) in Fuki Ji Temple (Bungo-Takada City)

(4) Long Steps for Everyday Life between the District of Samurai Residents and the Town for Tradesmen.

(4) Kitsuki Castle (Shiroyama Park of Castle Ruins)

(4) Park of Training Base Ruins of Human Torpedo, “Kaiten” (Hiji Town)

(4) Moat and Kimon Yagura Building of Hiji Castle

(3) Osaki District in Bungo-Takada City (World’s Agriculture Heritage)

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accordance of the shops in

the valley. These are still

used on a daily basis, and

children are going up and

down the hill to school as

in the Edo period.

Hiji Town is on the west

of the Kitsuki City. In the

Edo period, it was the

territory of Kinoshita

clan, a relative of

Hideyoshi Toyotomi, and

the castle was built on the

coastal terrace facing

Beppu Bay. The ruins of

castle are now an

elementary school, but

facilities such as moats,

stone walls, Yagura

(watchtower), and the

slope that allow ships to

enter and leave the sea,

are remained.

In addition, fresh water

springs from the seabed

near the coast under Hiji

Castle, which is a

brackish water area with

low salinity. For the reason, Marbled flounder grows in seawater

and freshwater plankton and is called castle flounder, and its

taste is light and elegant.

(5) Spa Town of Beppu City (See Q-❽)

Beppu City is famous for having the largest number of hot springs

in Japan, which is 2,300. According to your physical condition and

preference, you can enjoy eight types of hot springs. Of course, there

are also hells that spouts various hot water from the deep part of

the earth, and you can hear the beat of the earth.

In addition, if you follow National Road 10 from Beppu City to

Oita City, you will find an aquarium and an artificial beach along

the road. Takasaki Nature Zoo for a wild monkey, is also famous.

Beppu City is a resort town with plenty of hot springs, hells, and

recreational facilities.

(6) CBD Zone in Oita City.

Sorin Otomo (1530-1587) was the lord of the Oita region during

the Warring States period, which ruled a large area in northern

Kyushu. He was a Christian and invited Xavier (Spanish monk)

and others. For these reasons, he is the most familiar person to the

citizens of Oita and is proud of him (see Photo (6)).

On the other hand, if you head toward the center of Oita City on

National Road 171, you will find the Funai-jo castle on the right

side of the road. This place was originally a place for loading and

unloading cargo. Construction of the castle began in 1597 and was

finally completed after the new daimyo took office in 1602,

following the Battle of Sekigahara. But currently, only parts such

as the castle gate, stone walls, and moats remain.

(7）Saganoseki District in Oita City

The Saganoseki Peninsula, located at the western end of Oita City,

is famous for mackerel and horse mackerel fishing. The lighthouse

is at the tip of the peninsula, from which the direction of National

Road 197 turns along Usuki Bay, where you can enjoy two different

beaches, one with: black serpentine and the other with white sand.

If the weather is good, you can also see Shikoku Main Island from

the observatory deck of Sekizaki-kaiseikan, an observatory and

observation facility.

(5) Ponds of Blood Hell and Yama Hell, where water vapor is blowing up

from near the mountain skirt.

(6) Statue of Otomo Sorin in Oita

Station Square.

（5）Beppu Spa Town (Beppu City)

(6) Funai Castle fortified in 1597

(7) Saganoseki Fishing Port

Publishing and Copy right: Promotion Council of Scenic Byway Kyushu ○Ｃ Copy right 2021. All rights reserved)