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As a National Geographic Journalist, I had the opportunity to visit Ōita, a city located on the eastern coast of Kyushu Island in Japan. The scenery of the city is a beautiful fusion of traditional and modern architecture. With an abundance of natural surroundings, the city is enriched with hot springs, waterfalls, and beaches, among others.
What I liked most about Ōita is that it offers a mix of both urban and rural experiences. The city has some of the best hot springs in Japan and the number of tourists visiting the city is a testament to that. Additionally, the city is not as crowded as Tokyo or Osaka, which is a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. However, the one thing that I disliked about Ōita is that it can be quite expensive compared to some other cities in Japan.
The average cost of living in a day in Ōita is around $70. This includes accommodation, meals, transportation, and sightseeing. This may vary depending on individual preferences.
Top 20 Points of Interest in Ōita:
1. Umitamago Aquarium – 5782-3, Nitanda, Takasaki, Oita 871-0045, Japan – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
2. Ōita Art Museum – 2 Chome-1-30 Ekimaechuo, Oita 870-0023, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
3. Takasakiyama Natural Zoo – 3098-1, Takasaki, Oita 870-0173, Japan – TripAdvisor 4/5
4. Funai Castle – 8-22 Nishihama-machi, Oita 870-0808, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4/5
5. Harmonyland – 5933 Fujioka, Hayami District, Oita 879-1502, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4/5
6. Oita City Art Plaza – 2-1 Kotobuki-machi, Oita 870-0037, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 3.5/5
7. Oita Prefectural Library – 1-1-14 Funaimachi, Oita 870-0807, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
8. Peace Museum of Naoetsu POW Camp – 288 Kiyokawase, Yufu 879-5201, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 5/5
9. Usa Shrine – 3056 Usa, Usa 872-0101, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
10. Takachiho Gorge – 3438 Mitai, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki 882-1103, Japan – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
11. Hells of Beppu – 782-10 Kannawa, Beppu 874-0044, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4/5
12. Beppu Rakutenchi – 634 Hoshino, Beppu 874-0802, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4/5
13. Nenbutsu-ji Temple – 3107 Ohaza Kanryu, Taketa 878-0205, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
14. Yufuin Onsen – Yufuincho Kawakami, Yufu 879-5102, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4/5
15. Tsukahara Onsen – 1054-4 Tsukahara, Yufu 879-5103, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
16. Yufuin Floral Village – 559 Yufuincho Kawakami, Yufu 879-5102, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4/5
17. Bungotakada Castle – 879-1502 ２７５, Kokonoe, Kokonoe-machi, Kusu-gun, Oita – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
18. Kintetsu Mimata Station – 1043 Kongoji, Mimata, Hita 877-1223, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
19. Suginoi Palace – 1-5 Kankaiji, Beppu 874-0000, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4/5
20. Meotoiwa – 4199-1, Oaza-Maki, Maki, Maki-machi, Higashimorokata-gun 879-6684, Oita Prefecture – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
Top 20 Popular Street Food in Ōita:
1. Tempura – $10 – Kappou Tōgyū (Beppu)
2. Yakitori – $4 – Fuku-chan (Beppu)
3. Takoyaki – $3 – Tako-chan (Beppu)
4. Nikumaki Onigiri – $3 – Fuchi (Beppu)
5. Nakamichi – $3 – Nakamichi (Beppu)
6. Oita Chicken – $15 – Kakuni Karakusa (Oita)
7. Yufuin Ramen – $7 – Ramen Gyokushō (Yufu)
8. Udon – $5 – Yufuin Udon (Yufu)
9. Edamame – $3 – Kizanro (Beppu)
10. Oden – $3 – Suginoi (Beppu)
11. Shoyu Ramen – $6 – Nakatsu Ramen (Nakatsu)
12. Sashimi – $10 – Misoichi (Beppu)
13. Curry Rice – $5 – Curry Club (Beppu)
14. Takana Rice – $5 – Fushin no Ichi (Oita)
15. Tonkatsu – $8 – Yukimina (Oita)
16. Castella – $4 – Ogura (Beppu)
17. Chestnut Sweet Potato – $4 – Nararoku (Beppu)
18. Black Soybean Soft Serve – $2 – Beans Reito (Beppu)
19. Matcha Ice Cream – $5 – Akazawa (Oita)
20. Daifuku – $3 – Shōhōkai (Beppu)
Top 10 Hotels in Ōita:
1. Suginoi Hotel – Yuhuinnishihara 1-1, Yufuincho Kawakami, Yufu 879-5102, Oita – Starting from $150/night – TripAdvisor 4/5
2. Yufuin Onsen Ryotei Tanokura – 2538-7 Kawakami, Yufuincho, Yufu 879-5102, Oita – Starting from $200/night – TripAdvisor 4.5/5
3. Beppu Kaihin Sun Valley Hotel – 4-27 Shoningahama, Beppu 874-0000, Oita – Starting from $100/night – TripAdvisor 4/5
4. Nishitetsu Resort Inn Beppu – 3-3-9 Kitahama, Beppu 874-0920, Oita – Starting from $80/night – TripAdvisor 4/5
5. Oita Regal Hotel – 1-3-14 Funaimachi, Oita 870-0807, Oita – Starting from $70/night – TripAdvisor 3.5/5
6. Kyushu Hotel Beppu – 5-45 Kitahama, Beppu 874-0920, Oita – Starting from $50/night – TripAdvisor 4/5
7. Wanninya Onsen – 636 Hari, Beppu 874-0813, Oita – Starting from $180/night – TripAdvisor 4/5
8. Route Inn Grand Oita Ekimae – 2-4-23 Ekimae-cho, Oita 870-0037, Oita – Starting from $80/night – TripAdvisor 4/5
9. Hotel AreaOne Oita – 2-1-7 Funaimachi, Oita 870-0807, Oita – Starting from $60/night – TripAdvisor 4/5
10. Nikko Hotels International Yufuin – 1188-1 Yufuincho Kawakami, Yufu 879-5102, Oita – Starting from $150/night – TripAdvisor 4/5
Top 10 Airbnb Listings in Ōita:
1. Yutaka’s Homestay – Entire Home – $50/night – 4.93/5 – (Beppu)
2. Yoda’s Kominka – Entire Home – $60/night – 4.8/5 – (Oita)
3. Hiroshi’s Private Room – Private Room – $30/night – 4.75/5 – (Beppu)
4. Zyrus’s Home Away From Home – Entire Home – $45/night – 4.67/5 – (Beppu)
5. Traditional Machiya Townhouse – Entire Home – $100/night – 5/5 – (Beppu)
6. House with Beautiful Garden – Entire Home – $50/night – 5/5 – (Oita)
7. Akahara’s Guest House – Private Room – $40/night – 5/5 – (Beppu)
8. Private Room with Ocean Views – Private Room – $30/night – 5/5 – (Beppu)
9. Cozy Apartment in Beppu – Entire Home – $50/night – 4.67/5 – (Beppu)
10. Vintage House in Yufuin – Entire Home – $80/night – 4.8/5 – (Yufu)
Top 5 Worth and Reasonable Cost-Effective Hotels:
1. Kyushu Hotel Beppu – Centrally located, reasonably priced (starting from $50/night), and with great ratings on TripAdvisor (4/5), this hotel is perfect for budget travelers.
2. Hotel AreaOne Oita – With rooms starting at just $60, the hotel is located in the heart of the city and has been rated 4/5 on TripAdvisor.
3. Nishitetsu Resort Inn Beppu – This hotel offers excellent value for money, with rooms starting at $80/night. It has been rated 4/5 on TripAdvisor and is close to many popular spots in Beppu.
4. Yufuin Onsen Ryotei Tanokura – While it may be a bit pricier with rooms starting at $200/night, it offers excellent value for money and is located in a serene location in Yufuin.
5. Route Inn Grand Oita Ekimae – This hotel offers affordable rooms starting from $80/night and is conveniently located near the main train station. It has been rated 4/5 on TripAdvisor.
Overall, Ōita is a beautiful city with numerous tourist attractions, cultural experiences, and an abundance of natural beauty. The mixture of traditional and modern architecture, coupled with the warm hospitality of the locals, makes Ōita an ideal destination for visitors looking for a unique experience in Japan.
3 Days Trip Itinerary in Ōita:
Day 1:
1. Umitamago Aquarium
2. Ōita Art Museum
3. Funai Castle
4. Harmonyland
5. Beppu Hells
Food Near By:
– Ramen Gyokushō (Yufu)
– Fuchi (Beppu)
– Curry Club (Beppu)
Day 2:
1. Takachiho Gorge
2. Takasakiyama Natural Zoo
3. Beppu Rakutenchi
4. Tsukahara Onsen
5. Suginoi Palace
Food Near By:
– Misoichi (Beppu)
– Tako-chan (Beppu)
– Kizanro (Beppu)
Day 3:
1. Yufuin Onsen
2. Nakamichi
3. Yufuin Floral Village
4. Bungotakada Castle
5. Meotoiwa
Food near by:
– Fushin no Ichi (Oita)
– Beans Reito (Beppu)
– Shōhōkai (Beppu)
Overall, I recommend Ōita as a must-visit destination in Japan for travelers who want to explore the cultural richness of Japan and indulge in the natural beauty of the city. I give Ōita an overall rating of 8 out of 10 stars for its historical and cultural significance, natural beauty, and delicious cuisine.
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