Townapedia
Oita takasago
Oita takasago · Papyrus at Japanese Wikipedia, Public domain
JR Kyushu 883 at Ōita Station 2013-12-30
JR Kyushu 883 at Ōita Station 2013-12-30 · tataquax, CC BY-SA 2.0
Trains at Ōita Station 2013-12-30 01
Trains at Ōita Station 2013-12-30 01 · tataquax, CC BY-SA 2.0
Trains at Ōita Station 2013-12-30
Trains at Ōita Station 2013-12-30 · tataquax, CC BY-SA 2.0
Beppu Tower 20230212
Beppu Tower 20230212 · Tabitan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Umitamago1
Umitamago1 · 大分帰省中, CC BY-SA 3.0

Ōita, Japan

大分市

Ōita is a regional capital of 477,715 people in Oita, Japan, founded in April 1, 1889.

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Population477,715 GeoNames
Local name大分市
RegionOita
Elevation9 m 30 ft
FoundedApril 1, 1889
Time zoneAsia/Tokyo
Land area501.3 km²
Nearest airportOita Airport (OIT) 30 km

Why visit Ōita

Townapedia lists 14 museums and landmarks, 16 parks and trails, 476 places to eat, 20 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Beppu Tower, Beppu University, Ōita Art Museum and Ōita City Historical Museum.

About Ōita

Ōita (大分市, Ōita-shi; Japanese pronunciation: [ó̞ò̞.ì.tä̀, ò̞ó̞.í.tä́(.ɕì), ó̞ó̞.í.tä́(.ɕì)]) is the capital city of Ōita Prefecture, located on the island of Kyushu, Japan. As of 30 November 2023, the city had an estimated population of 474,804 in 230,867 households, and a population density of 950 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 502.38 km2 (193.97 sq mi).

From the Wikipedia article Ōita (city) (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Ōita on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do9

Beppu Tower

Monument and historic site · 10.3 km

Observation tower

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Beppu University

School · 13.4 km

Higher education institution in Ōita Prefecture, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Nippon Bunri University

School · 11.7 km

Higher education institution in Ōita Prefecture, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Oita Marine Palace Aquarium

Monument and historic site · 6.6 km

Aquarium in Oita, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Oita University

School · 6.6 km

Higher education institution in Ōita Prefecture, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Oita University of Nursing and Health Sciences

School · 8.3 km

Higher education institution in Ōita Prefecture, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

School · 16.8 km

Higher Education Institution in Ōita Prefecture, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

大分子ども劇場

Cinema and theater · 1.0 km

1丁目6-11-502 大分県大分市府内町, 大分市府内町

Open in Google Maps · 097-536-1038

シネマ5

Cinema and theater · 1.0 km

8, 大分市

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks14

Ōita Art Museum

Museum · 1.1 km

Museum in Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Ōita City Historical Museum

Museum · 6.1 km

Museum in Ōita, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Ōita Prefectural Art Museum

Museum · 0.7 km

Museum in Oita city, Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Yokoo Shell Mound

Monument and historic site · 7.9 km

Archaeological site in Japan

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

大分県立美術館

Museum · 0.7 km

Su-Th 10:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps

大分市美術館

Museum · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps

ホルトホール大分

Museum · 0.6 km

1, 大分市

Open in Google Maps · +81 97 576 7555

8gallery

Museum · 0.6 km

3, 大分市

Open in Google Maps

ギャラリーKeifu

Museum · 0.6 km

23, 大分市

Open in Google Maps

SL

Monument and historic site · 0.6 km

Open in Google Maps

大友宗麟候

Monument and historic site · 0.6 km

Open in Google Maps

福田平八郎画伯顕彰碑

Monument and historic site · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps

2 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds16

Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden

Park · 7.4 km

Monkey park in Ōita City, Ōita Prefecture

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Aqua Park

Park · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Jungle Park

Park · 0.9 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Wakakusa Park

Park · 0.6 km

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

大分駅前 いこいの道

Playground

Open in Google Maps

Clover Park

Playground · 0.7 km

Open in Google Maps

Kotobuki Park

Playground · 0.9 km

Open in Google Maps

ひしのみポケットパーク

Park · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps

ひばり公園

Playground · 0.9 km

Open in Google Maps

やまばと児童公園

Playground · 1.1 km

Open in Google Maps

上野丘子どものもり公園

Playground · 0.9 km

Open in Google Maps

大分いこいの道

Park · 0.6 km

Open in Google Maps

4 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes476

カフェフランセYuki

Restaurant · French · 1.1 km

32, 大分市

Th-Tu 11:30-15:00,18:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · 097-536-2024

四季の味 ぎんなん

Restaurant · Japanese · 0.7 km

1, 大分市

Mo-Su 11:30-14:30,17:30-22:00

Open in Google Maps · 097-537-3528

Teigakuya

Restaurant · 0.8 km

サクラヤビル 2F 大分市中央町1-4-22

Su-Th 17:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-01:00

Open in Google Maps · 097-547-8332

うしじま

Bar and pub · 1.1 km

31, 大分市

Mo-Sa 17:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · 097-537-0356

こつこつ庵

Restaurant · 1.1 km

3-8-19 府内町, 大分市

Mo-Sa 11:00-14:00,17:00-22:30

Open in Google Maps · +81-97-537-8888

スナック 玉手箱

Bar and pub · 1.0 km

9, 大分市

20:00-01:00

Open in Google Maps · +81-97-578-6666

ランズカフェ

Cafe · 1.0 km

13, 大分市

Mo-Su 11:30-22:00

Open in Google Maps · 097-536-3082

あや鶏

Restaurant · Japanese, Chicken · 0.8 km

6, 大分市

Open in Google Maps · +81 97-534-0515

にくの蔵 焼肉 銀山亭

Restaurant · Barbecue · 1.0 km

16, 大分市

Open in Google Maps · +81-97-534-4129

星岡茶寮

Restaurant · Japanese · 0.8 km

15, 大分市

Open in Google Maps · 097-536-1279

食と酒 まるみ

Restaurant · Seafood, Japanese · 1.0 km

9, 大分市

18:00-23:30

Open in Google Maps · +81-97-537-8442

Bimi Nakayoshi

Restaurant · Japanese · 0.8 km

Mo-Su 11:30-14:00, 17:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +81 97-534-2234

464 more on the map.

History

The area of Ōita city was part of ancient Bungo Province, and the location of the Bungo Kokubun-ji and presumably the Bungo kokufu were located in this area. According to the Bungo no Kuni Fudoki, the name Ōita was given by Emperor Keiko when he visited this area in the late Kofun period; however, the main urban center was the port of Funai (府内) on the coast. During the Kamakura period, the Ōtomo clan was appointed shugo of the province, and made Funai their jōkamachi. By the Sengoku period, the Ōtomo has conquered most of Kyushu and had embraced Nanban culture, with Funai becoming a stronghold of the Kirishitan religion and western technology. However, the Ōtomo were destroyed by the Shimazu clan and after the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, their territories were divided, with Funai becoming the center of Funai Domain ruled by the Ogyū-Matsudaira clan.

The town of Ōita was established on 1 May 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system, and was raised to city status in 1911. On 1 April 1997, it was designated as a core city with greater local autonomy.

On 1 January 2005, the town of Notsuharu (from Ōita District) and the town of Saganoseki (from Kitaamabe District) were merged into Ōita.

From the History section of Ōita (city) on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay20

Churches and places of worship5

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Shopping19

Gas and EV charging1

Schools, colleges and libraries21

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Healthcare21

Map of Ōita

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Oita Airport (OIT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 30 km away.

  • Tsurusaki 9 km east, about 9 min by car
  • Beppu 11 km northwest, about 11 min by car
  • Hiji 17 km northwest, about 17 min by car
  • Kitsuki 21 km north, about 21 min by car
  • Yufu 21 km west, about 21 min by car
  • Usuki 23 km southeast, about 23 min by car
  • Mie 30 km south, about 30 min by car
  • Tsukumiura 31 km southeast, about 31 min by car
  • Kunisaki 38 km north, about 38 min by car
  • Nobeoka 73 km south, about 1 h 15 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.