Ōita Prefecture

Ōita Prefecture (大分県, Ōita-ken) is a prefecture in the Kyūshū region of Japan on the island of Kyūshū.^[1] The capital city is Ōita.^[2] Ōita is well known in Japan for its many hot springs.

Ōita 大分県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Romaji	Ōita-ken
Flag Symbol
Location of Ōita in Japan
Coordinates: 33°14′17.47″N 131°36′45.38″E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Island	Kyūshū
Capital	Ōita
Government
• Governor	Kiichirō Satō
Area
• Total	6,338.82 km2 (2,447.43 sq mi)
• Rank	24th
Population  (Oct 1, 2005)
• Total	1,209,587
• Rank	34th
• Density	190/km2 (490/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-44
Prefectural flower	Bungo-ume blossom (Prunus mume var. bungo)
Prefectural tree	Bungo-ume tree (Prunus mume var. bungo)
Prefectural bird	Japanese white-eye (Zosterops japonica)
Number of districts	3
Number of municipalities	18
Website	www.pref.oita.jp/english/

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.^[3]

Timeline

• 1184 (Juei 3): Usa Shrine was destroyed by fire in Gempei War.^[4]
• November 19, 1274 (Bun'ei 11, 20th day of the 10th month): Battle of Bun'ei^[5]
• August 15, 1281 (Kōan 4, 30th day of the 7th month): Battle of Kōan^[6]
• 2002 (Heisei 15): FIFA World Cup in Ōita^[4]

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.

Cities

Beppu Bungo-ōno Bungotakada Hita Kitsuki Kunisaki Nakatsu

Ōita (capital) Saiki Taketa Tsukumi Usa Usuki Yufu

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.^[7]

Shrines and Temples

Sasamuta-jinja, Usa-jinjū and Yusuhara Hachiman-gū are the chief Shinto shrines (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.^[8]

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

References

1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002). "Ōita-ken" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 742; Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Oita Prefecture, Regional Information^{[permanent dead link]}; retrieved 2012-4-6.
2. Nussbaum, "Ōita" at p. 742.
3. Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at p. 780.
4. Oita Municipal Guide Book, History of Ōita Archived 2012-03-09 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-2-9.
5. Davis, Paul K. (2001). 100 decisive battles: from ancient times to the present, pp. 145-147; History of Ōita Archived 2012-03-09 at the Wayback Machine; the noun "Bun'ei" means the Japanese era name (nengō) for a time period started in February 1264 and ended in April 1275
6. Davis, p. 147; History of Ōita Archived 2012-03-09 at the Wayback Machine; the noun "Kōan" means the Japanese era name for a time period which started in February 1278 and ended in April 1288.
7. Japan Ministry of the Environment, "General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture"; retrieved 2012-3-13.
8. "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-2-9.

Other websites

Media related to Oita prefecture at Wikimedia Commons

• http://www.pref.oita.jp/english/index.html Archived 2006-12-05 at the Wayback Machine, (in Japanese)
• O-net Magazine Archived 2011-10-28 at the Wayback Machine
• Oita International Wheelchair Marathon Site Archived 2018-12-20 at the Wayback Machine