What is there to do during the cherry blossom season in Oita, Japan?

If it hadn’t been for this pneumonia, where would you be now? There is such a place in Japan that is perfect for spring. You can choose to soak in hot springs or watch cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms bloom in March or April. You can wait a while and see how things go.

1. Hot springs

When it comes to hot springs in Japan, many people will think of Heihe and Izu, but in fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that Oita Prefecture is the number one hot spring scenic spot in Japan. It has the largest number and volume of hot springs in Japan. The hot spring water quality is rich and diverse, including acid, sulfur, salt, iron, alum spring, etc. There are as many as 10 kinds of hot springs on the earth.

In Beppu, a famous coastal hot spring city in Oita Prefecture, you can see many people carrying a "passport" with them, and each hot spring can be stamped. If you soak in the 88 hot springs, you can be awarded the title of "Hot Springs Doctor". After soaking in 11 "88 Hot Springs", you can get the highest honor "Doctor Yong's Hot Spring"! This shows the locals’ enthusiasm for hot springs. Do you want to put a hot spring stamp?

Don’t miss a major feature of Beppu Hot Spring - the "Eight Hells" of ornamental hot springs with a temperature of more than 100 degrees.

The name "Hell" comes from the special geographical phenomena of Tielun and Shangchuan (place names). After the volcano erupted, sulfur filled the entire mountain and thick smoke filled the entire mountain. In addition, the high-temperature gases turned the rock into clay, leaving no grass growing for miles around. When locals saw the desolate apocalyptic scene, they took pictures of an image of "hell".

The eight hells refer to the sea hell, the ghost hell, the mountain hell, the kitchen hell, the ghost mountain hell, the white pond hell, the blood pond hell (blood pond hell), and the tornado hell. The temperature of each hell is extremely high, generally above 100 degrees Celsius, and each has its own characteristics.

For example, there are about 100 crocodiles in the Ghost Mountain Hell Hot Spring, where you can watch the crocodiles comfortably soaking in the hot spring; the color of the hot spring water in the Undersea Hell is dreamy Tiffany blue; the Blood Hell Pool is made of blood. Red because it is rich in iron; the characteristic "geyser" of Tatsumaki Jigoku Hot Spring is very spectacular, with hot water spewing out every half hour.

When you arrive in Badifu, don’t forget to go to the Iron Wheel Jifu Steaming House to steam food using the natural heat of the hot springs. Under the guidance of the staff, you can have enough food and clothing. Come try your own hell-steamed vegetables.

Tips:

Among the eight hells, six are connected and can be walked. The last Tornado Hell and Blood Pool Hell require a car ride, which is about 3 kilometers away. The bus back to Beppu Train Station is on the road opposite the Blood Pond Hell.

Romantic nature trip

2. Enjoy cherry blossoms in spring

A bit later than Wuhan. The cherry blossom season in Oita is from late March to early April. Oita City Heritage Park, National Shrine, Ishinji Temple and Beppu Park are full of cherry blossoms. Many locals picnic under the cherry blossom trees and enjoy the happy time of the flower season.

The following Kitty Hawk has compiled information on several cherry blossom viewing spots in Oita City and Beppu City:

Large Market Department

Isshinji Temple

Flowering period: early April to early May

Address: No. 1305 Akino, Oita City

Sakura types: Peony cherry blossoms, lantern cherry blossoms, Yoshino cherry blossoms, turmeric cherry blossoms, heavy cherry blossoms Petal Sakura

Ogo Senkuni Shrine

Blooming period: late March to early April

Sakura type: Sakura Yoshino

Address: Oita No. 1371 of the city's major sub-heads

Heihe Citizen Park

Flowering period: late March to early April

Sakura types: Yoshino cherry blossoms and double cherry blossoms

Address: Ebara Green Town, Oita City

3. Beppu City

anrakuji

Flowering period: late March to early April

Sakura Type: Red Star Sakura

Address: Group 1, Higashiyama City, Beppu City

Shanying Garden

Flowering period: late March to April Early January

Types of cherry blossoms: Yoshino cherry blossoms and cherry blossoms

Address: 4550-3 Otsubo, Oiko River, Beppu City

Near Tebefu Aerial Ropeway

Flowering period: late March to early April

Types of cherry blossoms: Yoshino cherry blossoms, peony cherry blossoms, and mountain cherry blossoms.

Address: No. 10-7, Daiko Rinan Seikoin, Beppu City

4. Summer fireflies

If you miss the cherry blossoms in spring, it doesn’t matter. The early summer landscape poem "Fireflies" is more interesting. During the summer rainy season, there are countless places in Oita Prefecture, such as Nasugawa Natural Park, Wakabazan Palace, upper reaches of Fan Jiang River, Shichilita Hot Spring, Hyakusan River, Guanying Bridge, Asora area, Hosenji Hot Spring Village, etc., which are popular for viewing. Great place for fireflies. The little fireflies flying everywhere sparkled in the dark, and the tree surrounded by fireflies looked like a Christmas tree. Such a wonderful and dreamy scenery will definitely leave you with unforgettable memories of midsummer fireflies.

Moreover, in June every year, various cities in Oita hold "Firefly Festival" activities of various sizes, such as Taiya performances, Tianao Kagura, Hakusan fan dance, making rice cakes, making firefly lanterns, etc., and even Sing karaoke together. The activities are rich and diverse, and each has its own characteristics. You can definitely find your own fun among them.

5. "Hunting" red leaves in autumn

In ancient Japan, the act of viewing and collecting plants on the mountains was called "hunting". Watching the red leaves in the barren mountains and wild mountains in autumn is called "red leaf hunting", and it is an activity valued by everyone from the palace to the common people. The red leaves are like a beast covered in gorgeous fur. After smelling a little bit of the breath of autumn, it quickly runs across the country from north to south. It’s quite an interesting “hunting” to follow the footsteps of red leaves and hold them in your hands to appreciate them.

The time of the red leaf season is opposite to that of the cherry blossom season, with the colors turning red from north to south. At the end of November, the red leaves will usher in the red leaf season in Oita Prefecture. The red leaves dye Oita Prefecture into extraordinary elegance, showing the romantic atmosphere of autumn everywhere.

You can go to the largest aerial ropeway in Western Japan near the Tebeppu Aerial Ropeway and overlook the red leaves on the top of the Tsunami Mountain at an altitude of 1,375 meters; or go to a hot spring in Buyuan to see the red leaves, and then follow the trail around Kinrin Lake. Stroll around the lake and enjoy the landscape with red leaves from different angles. The misty lake will make you feel like you are in a fairyland; if you want to see more magnificent autumn scenery, Tang Yan Observatory is a good choice. The majestic Tsunami Mountain and Fanshan Mountain are dyed red by autumn colors, and you can also see the white mist emerging from Tielun Hot Spring. This scene was selected as the second in China after Mount Fuji in the "Japanese Landscapes Remaining in the 21st Century" collected in 2001. Are you excited?

6. Super healing experience at Dolphin Island

Tsukumi Dolphin Island is different from ordinary aquariums. Dolphins can live in the bay with other cute animals. The semi-cultured natural environment not only gives the dolphins more space to fly, but also gives you an immersive feeling.

Here, you can not only enjoy the wonderful performances of dolphins, but also interact closely with them, feed them, and shake hands with them.

In the summer, you can put on a wetsuit and take them swimming. Dolphins will even tug you while swimming. If you are lucky, you can meet a cute ocean angel and give you a kiss, which is very loving. In fact, just watching dolphins up close, I believe their cute expressions can heal you. The healing properties of dolphins are recognized around the world, and specialist dolphin therapy courses are offered here for people with autism.

Address: No. 10, Tsumi City University Zisipu No. 2218, Oita Prefecture

Telephone: 0972-85-3020

Business hours: 10:00- 16:00

Practical information

Visa: Visas are currently suspended in all consular districts in Japan, and the specific resumption time is to be determined. If there is new information, Kitty Hawk will release it as soon as possible.

Entry restrictions: Japan currently prohibits tourists from Hubei and tourists who have been to Hubei within two weeks from entering. It is planned to increase entry restrictions for foreigners who have been to Zhejiang Province starting from February 13.