Historical Monument Spots in Tsukumi / Usuki Area

  • Usuki Castle Ruins (Usuki Park)
    Travel / Tourism
    Oita Pref. Usukishi Usuki Niu Island 91-1
    These castle ruins are approximately ten minutes on foot from JR Usuki Station in southern Usuki City. The castle was built by the Christian feudal lord Otomo Sorin in 1562 and was occupied by the Inaba clan until the feudal era system of land division was abolished in 1873. Today the site is a park, but the stone rampart, dry moat, and a turret remain, giving an idea of what it once looked like. It was also known as Niujima Castle as it was built on Niujima Island, and Turtle Castle because the island was thought to look like a turtle. It is also one of the prefecture's premier cherry blossom viewing spots and it gets packed with visitors in spring.
  • Ryugenji Temple Three-Story Pagoda
    Travel / Tourism
    Oita Usuki-shi Fukura
    This three-story wooden pagoda, a 10-minute walk from Usuki Station on the JR Nippo Main Line, stands on the grounds of the Ryugenji Temple, a Pure Land Buddhist temple founded in 1600 by Inaba Sadamichi, the first lord of Usuki Domain. The temple was built over a 10-year-long period starting in 1848 and enshrines a statue of Prince Shotoku. Built by famous Usuki carpenter Takahashi Dannai, its roofs are supported by statues of devils with unique faces under the eaves. The pagoda is just one of two three-story wooden pagodas dating to the Edo period in the entirety of the Kyushu region and has been designated a Cultural Property by the prefecture.

Oita Areas

around-area-map

A trip to Oita is tantamount to a long soak in the Beppu baths. The mountainous, coastal prefecture of Oita is renowned for having more onsen than any other prefecture in Japan, most of which lie in the city of Beppu on the west coast of Kyushu, recognizable by its pungent sulphuric aroma and the clouds of steam that puff up across the hillside. Away from the Beppu hot springs await mountains, waterfalls, and temples, so don’t hesitate to explore Oita a little further.

Oita Photo Album

Browse Interests