Oita Hotels

From ancient times when it was called Sakatonotsu, to its transformation into a new industrial city, Oita, with history carved as a port along the "umi-no-michi" (the main route through the Inland Sea), has been an important part of eastern Kyushu. In addition, Oita has served as the prefectural capital for 1300 years dating back to the Bungo Kokufu. With form resembling a key hole, Kamezuka Tomb is the largest in Oita Prefecture and is located on the southern coast of Beppu Bay with scores of other burial mounds. This was the center of power in Bungo. A burial mound believed to belong to Oita-no-kimi Esaka - a hero at the battle of Jinshin-no-ran - is also located within the city. This burial mound, named Furumiya, is unique as the only mound of the Kinai region style (a style marking the end of the burial mound era) in Kyushu, evidencing the rich extent of Kinai culture in eastern Kyushu. As shown by its previous names, Biden(fertile fields) and Sekiden (great fields), ancient Oita was a land of abundant production. Also during this time the Kokubunji, which featured a seven-tiered pagoda structure, was erected. This temple was considered one of the three most grand of the 64 nationally-sanctioned provincial temples. Oita's Moto-machi, Takase, and Magari stone Buddhas represent the broad extent of the natural stone-carved Buddha culture which developed in the Oita river area. Meanwhile, Ichinomiya shrine was built where mixing of Shinto and Buddhist spiritual cultures flourished. Funai-machi (present day Oita City) became the first commercial district in eastern Kyushu. The great leader Otomo Sorin lived during this period and was the first in Japan to attempt to assimilate Western culture, such as medicine, music, theater, and Christianity. Funai-machi, which expanded and became a castle town during this period, was the largest trading center in eastern Kyushu. As part of the Shohan separation, independent groups (Han) developed autonomous districts in Oita, such as the Kumamoto Han's port in Tsurusaki, the Oka Han's port in Misa, and the Usuki Han's outpost in Hetsugi. Since its development as a new industrial city, Oita has been a leading example of Post-War Japan's model for rapid, sustained growth and continues to prosper today. The city has captured national attention for unparalleled population growth correlating with this prosperity. With three railroads, expressways, and other roads coursing through the city, Oita is a pivot for commerce, also occupying a prime location for foreign and domestic sea transport via the Bungo strait. Oita has thus become an artery for the region's bustling economy. Moreover, in the future Oita will be at the cross of the axes of Pacific nations and regional cooperation.