Ōita Prefecture

is a prefecture in the Kyūshū region of Japan on the island of Kyūshū.  The capital city is Ōita. Ōita is well known in Japan for its many hot springs.

## History

In the 6th century, one of the regions of Kyushu was divided into  Bungo Province and Buzen Province.

After the Meiji Restoration, districts from Bungo and  Buzen provinces were combined to form Ōita Prefecture.

### Timeline

- **1184** (_Juei 3_):  Usa Shrine was destroyed by fire in Gempei War.
- **November 19, 1274** (_Bun'ei 11, 20th day of the 10th month_): Battle of Bun'ei
- **August 15, 1281** (_Kōan 4, 30th day of the 7th month_): Battle of Kōan
- **2002** (_Heisei 15_): FIFA World Cup in Ōita

## Geography

Ōita Prefecture is on the north-eastern section of the island of Kyūshū.

Ōita is faces the Suo Channel and Honshū Island to the north.  The prefecture looks towards the Iyo Channel and Shikoku Island to the east.  It is bordered by Miyazaki Prefecture to the south. Fukuoka Prefecture and Kumamoto Prefecture are to the west.

### Towns and villages

- Hayami District:
    - Hiji
- Higashikunisaki District:
    - Himeshima
- Kusu District:
    - Kokonoe
    - Kusu

### National Parks

National Parks are established in about 28% of the total land area of the prefecture.

## Shrines and Temples

_Sasamuta-jinja_, _Usa-jinjū_ and _Yusuhara Hachiman-gū_ are the chief Shinto shrines (_ichinomiya_) in the prefecture.

Fukiji Temple has the oldest wooden structure in Kyushu.

The Usuki Buddhas include 60+ cliff carvings from Heian period.

## Related pages

- Provinces of Japan
- Prefectures of Japan
- List of regions of Japan
- List of islands of Japan
- Oita Trinita

## Other websites

- http://www.pref.oita.jp/english/index.html , [http://www.pref.oita.jp/ ]
- O-net Magazine
- Oita International Wheelchair Marathon Site

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Ōita
- **native name**: 大分県
- **native name lang**: ja
- **settlement type**: Prefectures of Japan, Prefecture
- **translit lang1**: Japanese
- **translit lang1 type**: Romaji
- **translit lang1 info**: Ōita-ken
- **image flag**: Flag of Oita Prefecture.svg
- **image seal**: Symbol of Oita Prefecture.svg
- **seal type**: Symbol
- **image map**: Map_of_Japan_with_highlight_on_44_Oita_prefecture.svg
- **map caption**: Location of Ōita in Japan
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision type1**: Regions of Japan, Region
- **subdivision name1**: Kyūshū
- **subdivision type2**: Island
- **subdivision name2**: Kyūshū
- **seat type**: Capital
- **seat**: Ōita, Ōita, Ōita
- **leader title**: Governor
- **leader name**: Kiichirō Satō
- **area total km2**: 6,338.82
- **area rank**: 24th
- **population as of**: Oct 1, 2005
- **population total**: 1,209,587
- **population rank**: 34th
- **population density km2**: auto
- **iso code**: JP-44
- **blank name sec1**: Prefectural flower
- **blank info sec1**: Ume, Bungo-ume blossom (_Prunus mume_ var. _bungo_)
- **blank1 name sec1**: Prefectural tree
- **blank1 info sec1**: Bungo-ume tree (_Prunus mume_ var. _bungo_)
- **blank2 name sec1**: Prefectural bird
- **blank2 info sec1**: Japanese white-eye (_Zosterops japonica_)
- **blank3 name sec1**: Prefectural bird
- **blank name sec2**: Number of districts
- **blank info sec2**: 3
- **blank1 name sec2**: Number of municipalities
- **blank1 info sec2**: 18
- **website**: [http://www.pref.oita.jp/english/ www.pref.oita.jp/english/]