Travel Guide of Scenic Byway Kyushu

Q-⓬ Scenic Area of Beppu Bay and Kunisaki
Peninsula

Oita City, Beppu, Kitsuki, Kunisaki, Bungo-Takada, and Hiji-machi Town (Oita Pref.)―Unique Buddhist Culture, Hot Spring, and Beppu Bay－(1) & (2) Showa Town and Seaside Area of Kunisaki
Peninsula

As shown on the map, the scenic area of Beppu Bay is given by thepeninsula and coastal area from the north to center of OitaPrefecture. It has an interesting content of rich nature, history &heritage since ancient ages, and a unique mountain religion.
(Access). Oita Airport offers direct access to this scenic area. By train,
there are many stations on the Nippo Main Line, Kyudai Line andHohi Line, but basically they are Oita Station and Beppu Station.
(Scenic Route). The main routesof scenic spots are National
Routes 213, 10, 197 and 217,
including the industrial road ofOita City. The total length ofthese roads is about 160km. This
scenic area is roughly divided
into the Kunisaki Peninsula andthe urban area of Beppu & Oita,
but as shown in the map, it isdivided into 7 zones in detail.
(ScenicResaources).
TheKunisaki Peninsula consists ofan upside-down bowl-shaped oldvolcano (721m above sea level)
and many V-shaped valleys, asshown in the photo. Many
ascetic Buddhists have settled inthis steep area for the uniquefaith that combined Shinto andBuddhism, and have developed
local cultures rooted there.
In other words, the Kunisaki
Peninsula consists of Hiji- town,
Bungo-Takada City, Kunisaki
City and Kitsuki City. It is thelargest sacred place on the mainisland of Kyushu. Usa Shrine inUsa City is adjacent to the
Bungo-Takada city and is deeply
involved in the creation of local
culture along with many
temples on the peninsula.
Meanwhile, Beppu Bay faces
the Seto Inland Sea, and islocated in the center of Oita
Prefecture, on the north side of
the Chuo Tectonic Line. In
coastal areas, many small andmidium-sized rivers run into thebay, forming a coastline.

Proceeding about 5 km from National Route 10 to National Route213, you will reach the center of Bungo-Takada City and find a
shopping mall with a motif of Showa half a century ago. There is aretro bonnet bus service, and you can enjoy the retro cityscape,classic cars, unique shopping outlets, and modern restaurants.

Beppu BayQ-⓬ Scenic Area of Beppu Gulf and Kunisaki Peninsula.
1

National Route 213, whichconnects Bungo-Takada City andKitsuki City, runs along the coastlineof Kunisaki Peninsula and is a
comfortable drive course that runs
between Kunisaki City and Oita
Airport. About 75 km long , it offers
beautiful coastal landscapes, peacefulfishing villages and a world heritage
agricultural area.
MatamaKaigan Coast is one of themost beautiful sunsets in Japan, withtidal flats. Also, NagasakiBana Capeis on the north side of the peninsula.
In spring, carpet-like rape blossoms
bloom, and in summer, sunflowers
bloom all at once.

Therefore, all the temples here arecollectively called “Rokugo Manzan (sixsanctuaries)”.
Ninmon Bosatsu (Bodhisattva) is said
to be the incarnation of Hachiman Okami(God). Therefore, "Rokugo Manzan" is afaith that combines the Tendai Buddhism
and Hachiman God of Usa shrine. There
were up to 65 temples, but even today,
there are still around 30 including UsaShrine. All temples are the world of
Buddha surrounded by forests.
For reference, some temples can be
introduced as follows:a) Usa-jingu shrine is the headquarters ofHachiman shrines.
b) Odo (Big Hall) of Fuki-Ji Temple is the(1)Town in Showa Era (Bungotakada City)
oldest wooden building in Kyushu,National treasure, built in the 8th century.
c) Choan-Ji Temple supervised many
temples in the Kamakura period.
d) Futago-Ji Temple was the best praying
place for the Kitsuki clan during the Edoperiod.
Fox Dance in HimeIn modern times, there are 10 routes
Shima Island.
prepared to go around the temples of
A ferry is operated from Imi Port on"Rokugo Manzan" with an average
the peninsula to the small island ofdistance of 10km. They are mountain
Himeshima. This island is one ofpaths or roads with unique landscape that
(1)Usa-Jingu (Usa City)
many described in the myth of land
you cannot experience elsewhere. Many
(2) Cape of Nagasaki Banacreation in Japan. Outdoor fishingstone statues of Buddha or Nio (Devaand aquaculture are popular, and youKing) are watching over you on thecan enjoy fresh fish dishes. In August,roadside.
Bon-Odori (Dance) of fox performed
Another important landscape of theby children is famous and humorous.
Kunisaki Peninsula is the world's
Please visit once.
agricultural heritage. The Osaki districtin Bungotakada City, and the Tsunai area
(3) Rokugo Manzan in Kunisaki
in Kunisaki City are registered. ThePeninsula.
former is a village and paddy field thatretains the image of the Heian andThe mountainous part of theKamakura eras, and is a rural landscapeKunisaki Peninsula is Futago-yama
that draws curves along the terrain. The latter is an irrigation
Mount. There are many radial valleys and hills on the rocky summit.
system that connects six ponds from the highlands to the lowlands,
Under such circumstances, Ninmon Bodhisattva establishedand has been inherited since the Edo period.
Mountain Buddhism in 718. After that, from the end of the 11th
The above is the world’s agricultural heritage registered as thecentury to early 12th century, monks of the Tendai sect built a
agriculture, forestry and fisheries circulation system of the “Kunugi
mound to fill the scriptures. As a result, many temples have been(Oak) Forest and Pond in Kunisaki Peninsula and Usa Region".
built in about 30 valleys, and dispersed into six sanctuaries.

(3) Okunoin of Futagoji-temple

Stone Buddha on the Roadside
2Statue of Nio

(3) Kumano Magaibutsu(Bungo Takada City)(3) Kumano-Magaibutsu(3) Deva Gate, and Odo (Hall) in Fuki Ji Temple.
Hiji Town is located west of Kitsuki City. In the Edo period, it was
the territory of Kinoshita clan, a relative of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, andthe castle was built on the coastal terrace facing Beppu Bay. Theruins of castle are now an elementary school, but facilities such asmoats, stone walls, and Yagura (watchtower) remain, and you canalso see the slope that enter and out of exit the sea.
In the Beppu Bay near the castle where seawater and freshwatermix, flatfishes called "Shiroshita-Karei" can be caught. It is a very
delicious gem among fish dishes.

(4) Castle Town in Kitsuki City and Hiji CityKitsuki City was developed from a castle town in the Edo period,
but the castle site is Shiroyama Park at the mouth of the Yasaka
River that pours into Beppu Bay. Taking advantage of the terrain,
samurai residences were built in two hilly areas in front of
Shiroyama Park, and a merchant town was placed in the valley
between them. Samurai residences with thatched roofs were built
from 200 to 300 years ago, and the outer mud walls are stillsrounded. In addition, the gate of the clan’s school is left.
As shown in photo (4), the valley and the hill are connected by longstairs, and named after stores in the valley such as " Suya-no-saka(slope of vinegar shop)" and " Shioya-no-saka (slope of salt shop)".
These are still in daily use.

(5) Spa Town of Beppu CityBeppu City is famous for hot springs. The number of hot springs
is 2,300, the number one in Japan. According to your physicalcondition and preferences, you can enjoy 8 types of hot springs. Of(4) Kitsuki Castle (Shiroyama Park of Castle Ruins)(4) Moat and Kimon Yagura Building of Hiji Castle(4) Park of Training Base Ruins of Human Torpedo,“Kaiten” (Hiji Town)(4) Long Steps for Everyday Life between the District ofSamurai Residents and the Town for Tradesmen.

3(5) Public Bath of Hot Spring ,Takegawara Onsen.

(5) Bouzu Hill (Pond where heat mud blows up like a shaved head)(6) Funai Castle fortified in 1597

(5) Hell of Blood Pond.

(5) Yama Hell (Pond where water vapor isblowing up from near the mountain skirt).

completed in 1602 by Takenaka Shigetoshi, the first lord of theFunai clan.
The times go back and forth, Otomo Sorin (1530~1587), a feudal
lord in Sengoku ages, is the most famous and familiar daimyo for
Oita citizens. Sorin, a Christian, invited Xavier (a Spanish priest).
His statues have been installed in several places, one of which is in
the square of JR Oita Station (see the photo (6)).
(7) Saganoseki Fishing Port

(7）Saganoseki District in Oita City

course, there are hells that spouts various
hot water from the deep part of the earth,and you can hear the heartbeat of the earth.
In addition, if you follow National Route10 from Beppu City to Oita City, you willfind an aquarium and artificial beach along
the road. Takasaki Nature Zoo, a wildmonkey, is also famous. In short, Beppu
City is like a resort town full of hot springs,
hell, and recreational facilities.

The Saganoseki Peninsula is located at
the western end of Oita City and is famous
for mackerel and horse mackerel fishing.
The lighthouse is on the tip of the peninsula,from which the direction of National Route197 changes along Usuki Bay, where you
can reach two different beaches: blackserpentine and white sand. If the weather isfine, you can see Shikoku at the observatory
deck around Sekizakikan.

(6) CBD Zone in Oita City.
Proceeding National Route 171 toward
CBD of Oita City, Funai-jo Castle is rightnext to the road. It used to be a place forloading and unloading cargo, but the castle
was built by Fukuhara Naotaka in thosedays between 1597 and 1599, andPublishing and Copy right:
Promotion Conference of Kyushu
Scenic Byways ○Ｃ Copy right 2020.
All rights reserved)(6) Statue of Otomo Sorin in Oita
Station Square4