Nakatsu, Ōita
Geography. Nakatsu is in the northwest corner of Ōita Prefecture, Kyushu. To the east of Nakatsu is Usa and to the southwest is Hita. Nakatsu touches the border of Fukuoka Prefecture on its west. To the northeast is the Suohnada Sea. The city covers an area of 491.09 square kilometers, 80% of which is mountainous. There is a wide stretch of flat, agricultural land which begins at the mouth of Yamakuni River and extends to Mt. Hiko. Climate. Nakatsu has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification "Cfa") with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout  the year, but is somewhat lower in winter. The average annual temperature in Nakatsu is . The average annual rainfall is with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Nakatsu was on 25 July 2013; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 24 January 2016. Demographics. Per Japanese census data, the population of Nakatsu in 2020 is 82,863 people. Nakatsu has been conducting censuses since 1920. Tourism. Nakatsu is a castle town centered on Nakatsu Castle, which is open to visitors . The modernised interior comprises a museum with samurai armor, old maps and information about Rangaku (Dutch studies), for which Nakatsu was an important center in the Edo period. There are views from the top of the castle keep. Visitors can see the residence of the most celebrated member of the Okudaira clan of Nakatsu, Fukuzawa Yukichi, and the memorial hall there. It is close to the castle and a 15-minute walk from the station. Nakatsu's Mt. Hachimen was home to the popular music festival, Concert on the Rock.