【Japan Travel】Top 5 Must-Visit Attractions in Oita Prefecture: Enjoy the Beauty of Nature

I took a short four-day holiday trip to Kyushu, Japan. The advantage of driving yourself is that you’re not restricted by public transport—you can eat, drink, and have fun freely wherever you go~ When it comes to Kyushu, there have always been direct or budget flights from Hong Kong, but this was my first time visiting this part of Japan. Most travelers who come to Kyushu head to Fukuoka or Kumamoto, while Oita Prefecture sees relatively fewer visitors. But!! That doesn’t mean Oita isn’t worth talking about—in fact, it gave me a sense of tranquility and relaxation.

 

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My friend, who knows Japanese, handled all the communication, so I took on the role of the driver. The itinerary was completely centered around food—food, and more food. The scenery along the way featured lush greenery, making it a great place to unwind and forget your worries. If you love nature, with mountains and water, Oita definitely won’t disappoint~ This time, I’m focusing on introducing the attractions in Oita Prefecture. If you’re planning to head to Kyushu, don’t miss out on these spots.

 

1. Kuju Dream Great Suspension Bridge

Opened in 2006, the Kuju Dream Great Suspension Bridge is the highest pedestrian suspension bridge in Japan (the tallest and longest bridge exclusively for pedestrians)! From the bridge, you can enjoy the beauty of nature, and at the center, you’ll see “Male Waterfall” and “Female Waterfall,” both selected as part of Japan’s “Top 100 Famous Waterfalls”—the view is absolutely stunning. In autumn, the mountains are covered in red foliage too. For comparison, Godzilla is 100m tall, the Statue of Liberty in the U.S. is 93m tall the Egyptian pyramids are 146m tall, while Oita’s Kuju Dream Bridge stands 173 meters above the ground. You can imagine how this bridge dominates in Japan and can even rival architectural wonders around the world. The 360-degree forest-surrounded view from the bridge is truly refreshing (but looking down from the bridge is honestly scary!). I really appreciate Japan’s respect and conservation for nature—it’s deeply moving.

 

 

2. Haraizumi’s ?

Located in Bungo-Ono City, Haraizumi’s ? allows you to see marshes, and when you go during the right season, the steam rising from the ground is incredibly atmospheric. The valleys and terrain here still preserve the appearance they had hundreds of years ago. In the distance, you can see the majestic Kuju Mountain Range. There are also rental bicycles available for visitors to ride around the marshland and enjoy the scenery up close.

 

 

3. Beppu Hell

I’ve heard about Beppu’s Hell hot springs before, and if you visit Beppu, it’s worth spending some time exploring its various unique hell springs. Due to time constraints that day, I could only visit the Sea Hell and the Oniishibozu Hell. There are also the blue-white Shiraike Hell, the blood-red Chi no Ike Hell, the Oniyama Hell where alligators are raised using the heat of the hot springs, as well as the Kamado Hell and the Tatsu Hell that I didn’t get to see.

 

 

4. Yufuin – Yunotsubo Street

The street is lined with small shops, and the little houses all have a classic Kyoto-style charm. Walking down this street won’t tire you out. Though compared to cities like Tokyo or Osaka, the variety of goods is somewhat different, Yunotsubo Street has no chain stores—instead, it’s full of quaint Japanese variety shops, a favorite among the hipster crowd.

 

5. Kinrin Lake

If you’re in Yufuin, consider taking an extra 15–30 minutes to walk to nearby Kinrin Lake to catch the sunset. Although Kinrin Lake isn’t very large, the lake surface is clear and calm, perfectly reflecting the sky to create a “mirror of the sky” effect—the scenery is quite enchanting, and gazing at it can also calm your mind.

 

 

These five attractions in Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, fully showcase the charm of the region.