Oita prefecture

Encyclopedia : O : OI : OIT : Oita prefecture

is located on Kyushu Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Oita.

Contents

1 History
2 Geography

2.1 Cities
2.2 Towns and villages
2.3 Mergers

3 Economy
4 Demographics
5 Culture
6 Tourism
7 Prefectural symbols
8 Miscellaneous topics
9 External links

History

After the Meiji Restoration, Bungo and southern Buzen Provinces were combined to form Oita Prefecture. These provinces were divided among many local daimyo and thus a large castle town never formed in Oita.

Geography

Oita Prefecture is located on the north-eastern coast of the island of Kyushu. Surrounded by the Suo Channel and Honshu Island to the north, the Iyo Channel and Shikoku Island to the east, it is bordered by Miyazaki Prefecture to the south, and Fukuoka Prefecture and Kumamoto Prefecture to the west.

Oita Prefecture is almost entirely covered by mountains and has only narrow coastal plains.

Cities

14 cities are located on Oita Prefecture.

Towns and villages

These are the towns and villages in each district.

Mergers

(as of March 31, 2006)

On January 1, 2005 the city of Usuki and the town of Notsu from Ono District merged to form the city of Usuki.
On January 1, 2005 the towns of Notsuharu from Oita District and Saganoseki from Kitaamabe District merged into the city of Oita. Kitaamabe District was dissolved with this merger.
On March 1, 2005 the municipalities of Honyabakei, Sanko, Yabakei and Yamakuni from Shimoge District merged into the city of Nakatsu. Shimoge District was dissolved with this merger.
On March 3, 2005 the city of Saiki and the municipalities of Honjo, Kamae, Kamiura, Naokawa, Tsurumi, Ume, Yayoi and Yonozu (all from Minamiamabe District) merged to form the city of Saiki. Minamiamabe District was dissolved with this merger.
On March 22, 2005 the municipalities of Amagase, Kamitsue, Maetsue, Nakatsue and Oyama (all from Hita District) merged into the city of Hita. Hita District was dissolved with this merger.
On March 31, 2005 the municipalities of Asaji, Chitose, Inukai, Kiyokawa, Mie, Ogata and Ono (all from Ono District) merged to form the new city of Bungo-ono. Ono District was dissolved with this merger.
On March 31, 2005 the city of Usa and the towns of Ajimu and Innai (both from Usa District) merged to form the city of Usa. Usa District was dissolved with this merger.
On March 31, 2005 the city of Bungotakada and the towns of Kakadi and Matama (both from Nishikunisaki District) merged to form the city of Bungotakada.
On April 1, 2005 the city of Taketa and the towns of Kuju, Naoiri and Ogi (all from Naoiri District) merged to form the city of Taketa. Naoiri District was dissolved with this merger.
Despite further oppositions, on October 1, 2005 the towns of Hasama, Shonai and Yufuin (all from Oita District) merged to form the new city of Yufu. Oita District was dissolved with this merger.
On October 1, 2005, the city of Kitsuki and the village of Ota from Nishikunisaki District and the town of Yamaga from Hayami District merged to form the city of Kitsuki. Nishikunisaki District was dissolved with this merger.
On March 31, 2006 the towns of Aki, Kunimi, Kunisaki and Musashi from Higashikunisaki District merged to form the new city of Kunisaki.

Economy

Production of kabosu (a kind of citrus fruit).

Demographics

Culture

Tourism

Oita Prefecture is famous for its hot springs, particularly those in and around the city of Beppu, known as the 'hells', or jigoku. Many are of tourist interest only, and cannot be used as onsen - notably the Blood Pond Hell (reddish water) and the Oniyama Hell. The city's ryokans and public onsen are amply supplied by the same volcanic source. Visitors particularly relish the effects of burial in steaming hot volcanic sands.

Beppu offers a wide range of cultural experiences, from an annual international music festival, to the unabashed Hihokan Sex Museum.

A marine park - an elaborate public aquarium (called 'Umi-tamago')- on the shoreline outside Beppu features basketballing sea otters, performing archer fish, and puzzle-solving octopuses, along with more naturalistic displays of freshwater and marine fish from around the world.

Near the marine park, Mount Takasaki Monkey Park rises steeply from the shoreline. Two distinct troupes of wild macaque monkeys make regular visits to the feeding grounds here, which were initially established to entice the monkeys away from raiding the region's fruit crops, a behaviour that brought them into conflict with farmers. The wild macaques ignore the small crowds that gather at these feeding sessions, and may be observed at close quarters.

Beppu is a busy passenger port with regular ferry links through the inland sea to Osaka and several other destinations.

Other attractions of Oita Prefecture include the Sanrio theme park Harmonyland.

Oita's Mt. Hachimen is also home to the popular music festival, Concert on the Rock. This annual charity event sees over 30 international acts performing over a June weekend for the pleasure of Japan's music lovers. The natural surroundings make it one of the most picturesque rock festivals in the world.

Prefectural symbols

Miscellaneous topics

External links

[Official Oita Prefecture homepage]

Oita Prefecture

Cities

Districts

Hayami | Higashikunisaki | Kusu

See also: Towns and villages by district

[http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit]

Coordinates: [33°15′N 131°31′E]

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