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The 628-meter Mount Takasaki is home to some 2,000 Japanese macaques, residents of the Mount Takasaki Park. These monkeys were originally lured to the park in 1952 in an effort to limit local crop damage; many visitors are now lured as well by the prospect of being able to get a close look at Japanese monkeys in their natural habitat. Many of these visitors stay in Beppu, just west of the park. With its unparalleled abundance of hot spring water, Beppu is known far and wide for its spas; and the Yufuin Hot Springs, just south of Beppu, are known for one of the most spectacularly scenic views in all Japan.
Oita City, surrounded by such popular tourist sites, in 1993 embarked on an ambitious campaign to encourage tourism. The compaign includes the development of scenic hiking trails and historic sites, including ancient burial mounds. Unique among the ideas for this purpose has been the promotion of local seafood dishes. The expanse of sea—called the Bungo Channel—between Oita Prefecture and Shikoku Island, which lies to the east, is known for its strong currents. Since ancient times it has been renowned as a prime breeding ground for some of Japan's tastiest fish. Oita is actively exploiting the channel as a tourism resource by promoting local delicacies including blowfish, spanish mackrel, and mackrel.
Oita City is thus vigorously developing tourist parks and engaging hiking trails that offer visitors a chance to meet the region's locally rooted culinary tradition, merged with a historical look at ancient sites. |
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| Yusuhara Hachiman Shrine was built in 827. The main hall was rebuild and restored in 1860. The buildings and site, some 17,000 square meters in size, retain an awe-inspiring ambience of centuries past. |
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