Hita, a city of water and mountains, where you can enjoy hot springs, gourmet food, traditions, nature, and everything else!

Overview

Hita is located in the western part of Oita Prefecture, Kyushu, surrounded by mountains and famous for its forestry industry. It is about an hour and a half from Hakata by bus or the Yufuin limited express train. Hita has been a strategic point in northern Kyushu since ancient times. It is also a water city where the Mikuma River, a tributary of the Chikugo River, collects water from the mountains and flows majestically through the city. As one enters Hita City, lumber mills can be seen everywhere in the city, and trucks piled high with lumber drive around. Oita Prefecture is famous for its hot springs. There are famous hot spring resorts such as Beppu and Yufuin, and hot springs are gushing here and there in and around the city of Hita, too.

Hita prospered as the Edo shogunate’s domain from the Edo period (1603-1867), and the town people’s culture flourished due to the wealthy merchants. In the Mameda area, mansions of wealthy merchants and traditional streets of the Edo period remain intact. Along the Mikuma River, there are many hot spring resorts, and during the summer months, visitors can enjoy the traditional cormorant fishing. Local gourmet food is another of Hita’s charms. In this area rich in water, there are many restaurants famous for their eel dishes. Not to be forgotten is Hita yakisoba (fried noodles). The yakisoba with plenty of bean sprouts and crispy noodles is one of Kyushu’s most popular local delicacies. Breweries, sake breweries, and shochu distilleries are all located in the city, so drinkers will never get bored.

Heading into the mountains from Hita City, you will find the home of Onta-yaki pottery, which has been designated an important intangible cultural asset by the Japanese government. Potters around the world have been highly acclaimed the pottery and they continues to use traditional techniques to produce pottery for the common people. Why not buy a piece of handmade pottery in the potter’s garden? Surrounded by mountains, Hita has many campgrounds and trekking courses. It is recommended for nature lovers.

Must-see spots

Edo period (the 17-19th century) streetscape

The Mameda district is an area where traditional style merchant houses still remain. It is like stepping back in time to the Edo period. There are stores selling a variety of wooden products and traditional handicrafts, including a store specializing in cutting boards. In addition, long-established Japanese sweets shops line the streets, and there are also sake and soy sauce breweries that have been around since the Edo period. It is the center of sightseeing in Hita, and recently private lodging have begun to be offered, making it possible to stay overnight in the area.

The village of Onta ceramics

In the mountains, about a 20-minute drive from the city center, lies the village of the world-famous Onta Pottery. The pottery here is made using local soil and water and is family owned and operated. After learning about the history at the museum, take a peek at the eaves of the potters’ houses. The pottery here is of a simple “utilitarian beauty” and surprisingly reasonably priced. If you find a piece you like during your stroll, ask for it and buy it to take home. It will surely become your favorite item.

Entertainment and Gourmet

Hita is surrounded by mountains and blessed with water. Along the Mikuma river, there is a hot spring resort area where visitors can enjoy traditional cormorant fishing while savoring Japanese cuisine. Because of the abundance of water, there are many famous restaurants, especially for eel cuisine, and all of them welcome customers with the secret taste that has been passed down from generation to generation. It is not only fine gourmet food. Hita yakisoba, with its crispy and savory noodles, is one of the best cheap and tasty B-class gourmet dishes.

Access

1. About 1.5 hours by JR Express train ‘Yufuin-Go’ from Hakata to Hita station
2. About 1.5 hours by bus from Hakata to Hita bus station