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Our plane lands at Oita Airport after a short, 90-minute flight from Tokyo. We're now in Oita Prefecture on Kyushu, Japan's southernmost major island—with the exception of the Okinawa chain. Oita is situated in northern Kyushu,enveloped by mountains to the south and west, and by the Seto Inland Sea to the north and east. Its capital is Kyushu's fifth largest city,also called Oita; and that's where we're headed, just across Beppu Bay.
The city spreads out from the central railroad station against a back-drop of south-seas blue skies and lush greenery. Vibrant shoppingarcades line its seaward side, and modern buildings housing municipal and prefectural government offices stand near the ruins of Funai Castle, with its hints of prosperous times stretching back to Japan's middle ages.
Oita Prefecture was known as Bungo Province prior to the Meijiera. Oita was made a provincial government seat when Japan was first unified by the Yamato Court(A.D. 4th-mid. 7th century), and frequent maritime exchange took place between Oita and the central capital.
The Ohtomo clan ruled the area beginning in the Kamakura Period(1185–1333). It's 21st patriarch,Sohrin Ohtomo, actively embraced foreign culture and is known for promoting trade with Portugal and Ming China. In addition to inviting Christian missionary Francisco Xavier to Japan in 1555 and converting to Christianity, he is also famous for dispatching the Mission to Europe of 1582, a goodwill envoy,including four boys, to visit the Pope. Oita flourished during this period in large part thanks to its position as a point of contact with European culture. |
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The area in front of Oita Station
bustles with activity at lunchtime |
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| The Oita Prefecture Noh Hall occupies a corner of Peace Memorial Park and boasts a Japanese garden and multipurpose plazas |
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| position as a point of contact with European culture. Oasis Plaza 21 combines hotel, shopping, and cultural facilities |
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