Stand on the roof of AmuPlaza Oita as the city lights come on and you will see why Oita rewards a slow afternoon rather than a rushed checklist. The station is directly below you, the streets of the city centre spread out beyond it, and the mountains sit dark on the horizon.
Oita suits travellers who like castles, small museums and hot springs in equal measure, and who are happy to build a day around a handful of stops rather than a long itinerary. Most of what is listed here sits within the city or a short trip from it.
This guide covers the main sights and experiences in and around Oita, with practical notes on what to combine and when to go.
Top things to do in Oita
1. Funai Castle
Funai Castle, also called Oita Castle, was completed in 1602. Wars and fires destroyed the keep and much of the castle grounds, and the keep was never rebuilt. Two structures dating back to the Edo Period remain: the Shumon Turret, dating back to 1859, and the Hitojichi Turret, which dates back to 1861. Other structures, such as the Otemon Gate and surrounding walls, are modern reconstructions.
Entry is free. There are cherry trees in the park surrounding the castle, so it is worth timing a walk here for the season when they are in bloom.
2. Oita Prefectural Art Museum
Known as OPAM and located at 2-1 Kotobuki-Machi, this museum was built by architect Shigeru Ban, and the building is as much of an attraction as the art inside. The permanent collection contains over 3,000 works from artists from around Oita Prefecture, and there are special exhibits, including international exhibits, that change throughout the year.
Admission to the permanent collection is ¥300, with additional costs for special exhibits. Check what is on before you go if a particular exhibition matters to you.
3. City Spa Tenku
City Spa Tenku is an onsen on the 19th to 21st floors of the Oita City Building, offering a view over the city from the hot springs. It is a good way to close a day of walking, particularly in the evening when the city below is lit.
Admission is ¥1500. Because it is indoors and high up, it works in any weather.
4. Takasakiyama Monkey Park
Takasakiyama Monkey Park is a mountain of hundreds of monkeys that can be visited in pleasant surroundings. It is open from 8:30 to 17:00, and admission is ¥520.
Go earlier in the day if you want a quieter visit, and keep in mind that this is an outdoor site, so plan it for a dry day.
5. Oita Marine Palace Aquarium
Nicknamed "Umitamago", this is the local aquarium, with walrus and dolphin shows. It is open from 9:00 to 18:00.
It pairs well with a half-day out of the city centre, and the show times are the thing to plan around once you arrive.
6. Oita City Art Museum
The permanent collection here features art from Oita from the end of the Edo Period to the present, including many nanga works, which were particularly popular in Bungo Province, part of modern Oita Prefecture. There are also special exhibits that change throughout the year.
Admission to the permanent collection is ¥300, with additional costs for special exhibits. It is a natural companion to the Oita City History Museum if you want a museum-focused day.
7. Oita City History Museum
This museum contains exhibits and information related to the city's history, including Bungo Kokubunji Temple, the ruins of which are located in a park just outside the museum. Admission is ¥210.
Because the temple ruins are right outside, visit the two together rather than making separate trips.
8. Bungo Kokubunji
Bungo Kokubunji was the head temple of the former Bungo Province. Today very few structures remain, but the park has markers over each place where a building once stood, with information and pictures of the structure.
It is best approached as a walk through the site rather than a single building to see, and it sits in the park just outside the Oita City History Museum.
9. Hoashi Honke
Hoashi Honke is a sake brewery established in the Edo Period. Visitors can enter the historic building, see displays about sake production, and view a small garden. The site also has a restaurant and a souvenir shop where you can buy sake and other goods.
It is open from 9:00 to 16:30 and entry is free. The shop makes it a sensible stop near the end of a day if you want to carry something home.
10. Oita Prefectural Library
The Oita Prefectural Library was designed by architect Arata Isozaki and is an early Metabolist masterpiece, finished around 1965. A remarkable brutalist concrete building, it was converted into an Isozaki museum in 1998.
It is one for travellers interested in twentieth-century architecture, and it rewards a look at the building itself rather than a long stay.
11. City Rooftop Place
City Rooftop Place is a popular hang-out spot for locals on the roof of AmuPlaza Oita, the shopping complex directly connected to the station. There is a train for kids to ride, a pagoda-shaped look-out, a shrine, and restaurants.
It is even more attractive at night when everything lights up. Because it sits on top of the station complex, it is the easiest thing on this list to fit in around a train.
12. Takio Tunnel Tomb
The Takio Tunnel Tomb is one of the archaeological sites in the city. It is a short stop rather than a full outing, so treat it as something to add to a route rather than a destination in itself.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Funai Castle, where entry is free, and walk the park and the surviving turrets before the day warms up. Continue to the Oita Prefectural Art Museum at 2-1 Kotobuki-Machi, giving the Shigeru Ban building as much time as the collection.
Afternoon: Head to Takasakiyama Monkey Park, which opens at 8:30 and closes at 17:00, or choose the Oita Marine Palace Aquarium if you would rather be indoors. If time allows, add the Oita City History Museum and the Bungo Kokubunji ruins in the park just outside it.
Evening: Finish at City Spa Tenku on the 19th to 21st floors of the Oita City Building for a view over the city from the hot springs, then walk over to City Rooftop Place on the roof of AmuPlaza Oita, which is at its best at night when everything lights up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Funai Castle free to visit?
Yes. Entry is free, and the park around the castle has cherry trees. Note that the keep was never rebuilt, and only the Shumon Turret and the Hitojichi Turret date back to the Edo Period.
What does it cost to visit the Oita Prefectural Art Museum?
Admission to the permanent collection is ¥300, with additional costs for special exhibits. The permanent collection contains over 3,000 works from artists from around Oita Prefecture.
Can I visit a hot spring with a view in the city?
Yes. City Spa Tenku is on the 19th to 21st floors of the Oita City Building and offers a view over the city from the hot springs. Admission is ¥1500.
What are the opening hours for Takasakiyama Monkey Park and the Oita Marine Palace Aquarium?
Takasakiyama Monkey Park is open from 8:30 to 17:00, and the Oita Marine Palace Aquarium is open from 9:00 to 18:00. Admission to the monkey park is ¥520.
Decide which of these fits your days, check the current opening times before you travel, and start building your Oita itinerary around the castle, the museums and the onsen view.