Beppu
One of the most famous hotsprings among the seemingly countless ones in the Beppu area alone are the hot sand baths. Just as relaxing as a mineral water soak, so it is said, "bathers" melt under a shallow layer of hot sand warmed by geothermal goodness. The "hells," hot pools of different colors and mineral content and temperatures near Beppu, are also popular attractions, whether for a good bath or to be awed by the earth's energy.

Besides Beppu, other notable spas are: Shinyaba, Kabeyu, Suginoi, Amagase, Hita, Yunohira, Yufuin, Hosenji, Sujiya, Chojabaru, and Nagayu, and and and. It seems that one cannot take a stroll in the prefecture without tripping over (or into?) a hotspring.

Stone Buddhas
Oita has a wealth of Buddhist figures carved into mountainsides and sculpted from stone. The group of 75 figures in the mountainside in the area of Usuki City (the Usuki Magaibutsu) is a National Treasure. The immense Kumano figures (Kumano Magaibutsu at Kitsuki) are also famous, and the 3,770 stone images at the Rakan-ji temple (Nakatsu) attract much attention.

Harajiri Falls
Known as the "Niagara of Japan," these spectacular falls are 20 meters tall and 120 meters wide.

Yufuin
This picturesque town is one of Japan's most charming. The community's focus now is on art and culture rather than on the conventional money pumps like golf courses.

Onta Sarayama
This pottery hamlet is famous for its many water-driven pounders that pulverize clay and create an unforgettable background music (creeeeeeeeeeeeeek THUMP) in this charming mountain setting.

Usa Jingu shrine (Usa-shi)
The head shrine of all shrines whose tutelary deity is Hachiman-sama in Japan and second in importance for the imperial family after the Grand Shrines of Ise.

Temples
The Kunisaki Peninsula region has many ancient Buddhist temples. Among these are the picturesque Monjusen-ji; Fuji-ji, with the oldest wooden structure in Kyushu; Futago-ji, etc.

Kyushu African Safari (Beppu)
A "safari land" theme park in which visitors safari the African animals by car or bus.

Nippo Coast National Park
The complex coastline of eastern Kyushu offers lovely scenery and unspoiled beaches.

Crafts
Bamboo Baskets
Beppu is a major center of bamboo basketry production in Japan (SEE STORY 1). Traditional forms as well as contemporary art baskets are made here as well as in Yufuin and Hita.

Ceramics
Onta's lovely pottery, known for its splashed glazes and scatter-mark patterns, was once just a folk pottery made for local use. Tradition limits the pottery-making family to no more than 10 in the hamlet.

Beppu Boxwood Craft
Accessories (brooches, necklaces, etc.) carved carefully from boxwood.

Hita Geta
Hita is an important production town for traditional wooden clogs (geta).

Festivals

Jan. 4	Takasu Kannon Oni-e (Usa) This winter fire festival has been held since about 720 as a rite against famine and pestilence.
Jan. 5, 7 (lunar cal.)	Shujo Oni-e (Kunisaki Town; Jobutsu-ji and Iwato-ji temples) This rite has been designated a national Important Intangible Cultural Asset. A fusion of Buddhism and Shinto.
early Feb.	Mainichi Marathon (Oita and Beppu) One of the three major marathons in Japan, the race starts in Oita and turns in Beppu.
Mar. (all)	Doll Festival (Hita) Historic doll sets (hina ningyo) dating from the Edo through Meiji periods (probably mainly dolls from the 18th and 19th centuries) preserved in the residences of old wealthy merchant families of Hita are put on display for the public.
Apr. 4-6	Beppu Spa Festival (Beppu) This is advertised as the largest festival in Oita Prefecture, with dancing, a carnival, a "hot-water splashing event" (a lesson in bathtub etiquette?), and other wildness.
Apr. 15	Yutate Kaguera (Innai Town) A Buddhist ceremony is combined with a kagura (sacred music/dance/drama — a Shinto thing) and a fire walk.
May 18	Manko-ji Temple Fair (Oita) This is advertised as a bartering market and has a history of over a millennium. The action traditionally starts before dawn.
June 13 (lunar cal.)	Yoshihiru-gaku (Musashi Town) This performance of sacred music to protect against insects has been designated a national Intangible Cultural Asset. If music is effective for this purpose, the insecticide industry might consider hiring a symphony orchestra.
mid Jul.	Usuki Gion Festival (Usuki) "Gion" festivals are found in other places in Oita (and throughout Japan), characterized by gorgeously decorated floats. The one in Hita city is the Saturday and Sunday after July 20, and the Nakatsu Gion Festival is at the end of July.
early Aug.	Oita Tanabata Festival (Oita) The Tanabata decorations in Oita are some of the grandest in Japan and are ranked with the Tanabata of Sendai (SEE MIYAGI). There is also lively music and dancing and portable shrines carried through the streets.
~ Aug. 20 weekend	Tsurusaki Dance Extravaganza (Oita) This Intangible Cultural Asset is a dance spectacle with 2,000 (go ahead, count them) costumed dancers.
Aug. 23	Fire Festival at the Usuki Stone Buddhist Images (Usuki) This summer fire festival transforms the access to the stone Buddhas into a sea of light.
Oct. 9-10	Usa Shrine Hojo-e (Usa) This rite is thought to be the oldest ritual performed at the Usa Shrine and is designated as an Intangible Cultural Asset (of which Oita Prefecture has many). There is also a dance performance.
Oct. 17-18	Doburoku Festival (Ota Village) Said to have started in 710, this unique festivity involves serving unrefined sake (doburoku) to all who come to worship at the shrine.
early Nov.	Oita International Wheelchair Marathon (Oita) An international sports event that has repercussions on medical advances as well as wheelchair design.
Dec. 2	Yansa Festival (Yakakei Town) Another form of "naked festival," involving 33 young men who pound glutinous rice (in amounts weighed in multiples of "3") to make mochi while shouting "yansa, yansa."