Relaxing stay while experiencing Japanese culture, history and nature
Onsen (hot spring) inns (onsen-inns) are popular in Oita Prefecture. But that is not the only attraction of this prefecture. In this issue, we will introduce unique accommodations such as farm stays where you can enjoy the original Japanese landscape, stays in castle towns where Edo townscapes still remain, stays on trains that used to operate, glamping, guesthouses, and more.
Spending time in the rich natural environment and feeling close to Japanese culture and history will be a special experience that goes beyond mere sightseeing!
Why don't you go on a trip to leave your daily life behind and enjoy new discoveries and connections with people? Unforgettable memories await you.
* Please note that the text shown on this page includes machine translations.
Contents
- Let's stay in the countryside! Farm Stay Experience
- Taketa Machi Hotel, where the entire castle town is a hotel
- Suikomareso” where you stay like a local
- Let's stay at “Kisya-poppo,” a retro train.
- The best of nature and comfort! Glamping Life in Oita
- Enjoy meeting and interacting with locals and travelers! Oita Guesthouse Stay
Let's stay in the countryside! Farm Stay Experience
Would you like to experience real Japanese life?
Farm stays (called “nouhaku”) allow you to stay in private homes in farming, mountain, and fishing villages and experience the local lifestyle, nature, and culture.
By “living as if you were living” while enjoying unique experiences prepared by each family, such as farm work and making local cuisine, you will encounter a real Japan that you cannot experience through ordinary sightseeing.
It is also an attractive place for international exchange! The family gatherings and heartfelt “Omotenashi” will be a special place that will make you want to come back again.
Here are some of the experiences that await you with your friendly host family!
Farming experience: Try your hand at harvesting vegetables and rice!
Cooking: Enjoy the warmth of Japanese culture and exchange with your host family while cooking and tasting home cooking unique to the countryside.
Nature Experience: Refresh your body and mind with beautiful scenery and star-filled skies!
Cultural Experience: Learn about local crafts and culture, and experience Japanese traditions and charm by spending time in a Japanese-style room.
Why not take a step away from the main tourist routes and discover the charms of Oita Prefecture from a new perspective with a special experience?
Enjoy green tourism in Oita Prefecture, the birthplace of farm stays
Ajimu-machi in Usa City is known as a pioneer of green tourism, the first town in Japan to offer farm stays. Green tourism is a style of travel in which people enjoy sightseeing and hands-on experiences in areas rich in nature, and is widely spread in Europe. In Oita Prefecture, programs that combine “farm stays” and “green tourism” are abundant! You can enjoy hiking, visiting hot springs, bamboo crafts, rice harvesting, fishing village experiences, and more!
Taketa Machi Hotel, where the entire castle town is a hotel
Located in the castle town of Takeda City, Taketa Machi Hotel is an accommodation facility that rents out an entire building and is situated in the historical townscape. The guest rooms, renovated from old private homes and decorated with works by local artists, offer a quaint and comfortable atmosphere.
With cafes and hot springs scattered around the area, you can truly experience “staying in a castle town as if you were living there! The owner will be able to suggest a hot spring bath from among more than 20 in Takeda that best suits your preferences, allowing you to spend a relaxing time. It is also recommended to enjoy yourself while touring the bakeries and general stores in the area.
The nearby Hirose Shrine offers a panoramic view of the Takeda cityscape, and the Samurai residence street is within walking distance. In this beautiful landscape where nature and history are in harmony, you will surely be able to enjoy the atmosphere of the castle town while deepening your connection with the town!
Recommended spots nearby
- Oka Castle Ruins National Historic Site
- Oka Castle is said to have been built to shelter Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who had fallen out with his older brother, Minamoto no …
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- Samurai residence street
- Lined with samurai residences surrounded by white plaster walls and earthen fences, it is as if one has stepped back in time to the Edo period（1603–1868）. Nearby are Japan's only “hand-carved chapel” and a cave where a Christian priest is said to have lived in hiding, as well as a number of other historical spots.
- Taketa Onsen Hanamizuki
- This day-use onsen is located about a one-minute walk from JR Bungotakada Station and offers a Japanese atmosphere. It is fully equipped with a spacious large bath, sauna, open-air bath, family bath, and tatami rest area. The foot bath at the entrance (closed except on weekends and holidays) can be used while waiting for the bus.
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Go to Nagayu Onsen, a hot spring with carbonated spring water.
A short distance from the castle town is Nagayu Hot Spring, known as the best bicarbonate spring in Japan. The carbonic acid bubbles envelop the body and are said to be effective in promoting blood circulation, beautifying the skin, and relieving fatigue. There are many unique hot springs, including “Ramune Onsen,” where the carbonic acid bubbles are clearly visible, and “Gozenyu,” with its German-style architecture. In addition, there is a “drinkable hot spring” where visitors can drink hot spring water, which is expected to be effective in treating gastrointestinal disorders and diabetes. Footbaths are also popular for casual enjoyment!
Suikomareso” where you stay like a local
Suikomareso is an inn located on Mameda machi Shopping Street in Hita City. Upon entering, you will be greeted by a space that harmonizes traditional Japanese taste and modern comfort. Local materials such as Onta Pottery, Hita cedar, and Hita clay are lavishly used in the interior, and Hita craftsmen have created a refined finish. In addition, a stream flows right in front of the inn, and the pleasant sound of the stream will soothe the fatigue of your trip.
Mameda-machi, where the inn is located, is a castle town that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period (1603-1868). The townscape has been so carefully preserved that it has won the “Beautiful Townscape Award,” and you can experience its history just by strolling around. Stay at “Suikomareso” and spend a special time in Hita while enjoying food and sightseeing!
Recommended spots nearby
- Hita Mameda Machi Shopping Street
- Located in Hita City, this charming shopping street features an elegant and tasteful townscape lined with buildings that date ba…
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- Hita Yakisoba
- Try Hita Yakisoba, a well-known local delicacy. By charring a portion of the noodle just right on the griddle, you can taste two different textures: crispy and soft. Enjoy it with sweet and spicy sauce.
- Hita Soy Sauce Hina Doll Museum Hina Palace
- The Hina Doll Museum, operated by Hita Soy Sauce, displays about 4,000 hina dolls collected by the fifth generation head of the family. The overwhelming scale and diversity of the collection, which includes Japan's tallest hina dolls (60 cm tall), character hina dolls, valuable dolls from the Edo period, and modern dolls, is well worth seeing!
- Official tourist website (Japanese)
Traditional products that Hita City takes pride in
Onta Pottery
Onta Pottery is a traditional pottery of Hita City, and is designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Japan. It has a history of about 300 years, and the technique of doing the entire process by hand has been passed down through the generations. Using local clay, the banded patterns and warm designs on the surface are appealing.
Hita cedar
Hita cedar is one of the three most beautiful cedars in Kyushu. It is valued for its beautiful grain, pleasant aroma, durability, and ease of processing. Hita geta (traditional Japanese shoes), a traditional handicraft made from Hita cedar, is also well known, and the woodworking techniques of the region are alive and well.
Let's stay at “Kisya-poppo,” a retro train.
"Kisya-poppo" is a unique lodging facility in Nakatsu City that uses carriages from the Yabakei Railway, which ran through Yabakei from 1913 to 1975. Three carriages, the Kawasemi, Shiokaze, and Sekirei, can be rented for one building and one carriage exclusively. While the exterior has been left as it was at the time, the interior has been renovated to a modern style.
You can see the structure of the carriages through the transparent glass floor, and the equipment from that time remains in the driver's cab space, so it's full of ideas that will delight railway fans and children! The train is set up on the tracks, giving you a special feeling like you're staying on a train parked at a station. Enjoy a nostalgic stay at Kisya-poppo, where you can stay in a retro train!
Recommended spots nearby
- Yabakei Onsen
- Yabakei, one of Oita Prefecture’s most renowned scenic spots, is celebrated for its seasonal landscapes. This area is home…
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- Nakatsu Castle
- Nakatsu Castle, located near the border of Oita and Fukuoka Prefectures, is a beautiful water castle situated along the mouth of…
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- Former Residence of Fukuzawa Yukichi & Fukuzawa Yukichi Memorial Hall
- Fukuzawa Yukichi was a prominent thinker and educator of the Meiji era (1868-1912), widely known for his influence on modern Jap…
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Don't miss the autumn leaves in fall!
The autumn leaves in Yabakei begin to change color in late October and are at their best in November. Driving or cycling along the “Maple Yaba Bicycle Path” is recommended to fully enjoy the vivid autumn leaves and refreshing autumn breeze!
At night, Keiseki-en Garden is illuminated, creating a fantastic atmosphere in the vast Japanese garden. At the representative scenic spot “Hitome-hakkei,” the autumn leaves stain the rock faces, creating a spectacular view like a landscape painting.
Why not spend a special time in Yabakei this fall?
The best of nature and comfort! Glamping Life in Oita
For those who want to enjoy a slightly richer stay in the great outdoors, glamping is a great option!
Unlike camping, you can enjoy the feeling of a resort while feeling the great outdoors in a comfortable space with soft beds and air-conditioning. Some tents are designed with transparent materials, so you can enjoy a sense of oneness with nature, which is also a big attraction.
There is no need to set up and clean up the tents, so even beginners can enjoy them with ease. Furthermore, there is a full range of activities available, including BBQ, campfire, and stargazing. In particular, glamping with hot springs, which is unique to Oita, allows you to spend a special time soaking in hot springs and enjoying nature!
Why not enjoy a luxurious outdoor experience while soaking in Oita's beautiful scenery and hot springs?
Enjoy meeting and interacting with locals and travelers! Oita Guesthouse Stay
Guesthouses are the perfect place to stay for those who want to enjoy socializing with other travelers and locals on their trip to Oita!
Unlike hotels, our guesthouses offer a homelike atmosphere, where conversations naturally take place in the shared space. You can exchange travel information and find new friends and sightseeing companions. This warm exchange is one of the main attractions of a guesthouse!
Also, the staff and owners, who are well versed in the local area, can tell you about hidden spots not listed in guidebooks and delicious local food. Many of the guesthouses have been renovated from traditional Japanese houses, so you can experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle with tatami mats and sunken hearths.
Because of the reasonable accommodation rates, you can use that budget to visit famous hot spring resorts or enjoy Oita's gastronomic delights. Enjoy the charms of Oita to the fullest at a guesthouse where special experiences and wonderful encounters await you!
