Ōita Prefecture (大分県 Ōita-ken) is a prefecture of Japan on Kyūshū Island.[1]
The prefectural capital is the city of Ōita.[2]
Around the 6th century Kyushu consisted of four regions: Tsukushi-no-kuni 筑紫国, Hi-no-kuni 肥国, Kumaso-no-kuni (熊襲国) and Toyo no kuni. Present day Oita was part of Toyo-no-kuni, which means "Abundant Land".
Toyo-no-kuni was later divided into two regions, upper and lower Toyo-no-kuni, called Bungo Province and Buzen Province. After the Meiji Restoration, districts from Bungo and Buzen provinces were combined to form Ōita Prefecture.[3]
Ōita Prefecture is on the north-eastern section of the island of Kyūshū.
Mountain ranges include Mount Yufu, Mount Tsurumi, Mount Sobo, Mount Katamuki, and Mount Kujū (which is called the "roof of Kyushu").
Ōita Prefecture's industrial activity is centered on agricultural
products. Fishery products and manufactured goods rank second and third
respectively in terms of Ōita's industrial activity.
Ōita Prefecture is Japan's number one producer of kabosu, which is a citrus fruit that is similar to a lime.
Ōita is also the largest producer of dried shiitake mushrooms in Japan, and the cultivation of shiitake mushrooms is said to have originated in Ōita.
Ōita is Japan's top producer of galingale (シチトウ｜shichitō), which is one kind of rush plant, a grass with a distinctive triangular profile, belonging to the cyperaceae family. It is grown in Kunisaki Peninsula of Ōita Prefecture, and is used in the production of Ryukyu-style tatami mats, as it is dust and moisture absorbent and has a pleasant scent.
The madake variety of bamboo makes up 60% of Japan's cultivated bamboo,
and Ōita is Japan's top producer. It is the most popular variety of
bamboo used in handiwork and traditional crafts since it is very
flexible and pressure resistant.
Ōita Prefecture is famous for its hot springs, particularly those in and around the city of Beppu, known as the 'hells', or jigoku. Many of the 'hells' are of tourist interest only and cannot be used as onsen (notably the Blood Pond Hell (reddish water) and the Oniyama Hell). The city's ryokans and public onsen are amply supplied by the same volcanic source.
Read more about the tourist spots of this prefecture.
No comments:
Post a Comment