Ōita, Ōita

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**Ōita City**
**大分市**
Ōita City's location in Ōita Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Prefecture	Ōita Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	501.25 km² (193.53 sq mi)
Population (as of 2008)
Total	467,267
Density	932 /km² (2,414 /sq mi)
Location	33°14′N, 131°37′E
Symbols
Flag
Ōita City Government Office
Address	〒870-8504 2-31 Niage-machi, Ōita-shi, Ōita-ken
Phone number	097-534-6111
Official website: City of Ōita

View from city center

Main street of Ōita

Ōita (大分市, Ōita-shi^?) is the capital city of Ōita Prefecture on the Kyūshū island of Japan.

1 Demographics and Geography
2 Economy
3 History
4 Landmarks and points of interest
5 Transportation
6 Sister Cities
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Demographics and Geography

Ōita is the most populpus city in Ōita Prefecture. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 467,267 and the density of 932 persons per km².

The total area, after the merger with Town of Notsuharu and Town of Saganoseki on January 1, 2005, is 501.25 km².

The city is bordered by City of Beppu to the northwest, City of Yufu to the west, City of Taketa to the southwest, City of Bungo-ōno to the south, City of Usuki to the southeast.

[edit] Economy

During 1960s and 1970s, an industrial area, including flagship plants of Nippon Steel and Showa Denko, was formed along the Beppu Gulf coast. The blast furnaces of Nippon Steel Ōita Plant are one of the biggest blast furnaces in the world.

Since 1970s, Toshiba and Canon also built and expanded their plants in inland area. The city has emerged as a major production center of electoronics products such as LSIs and digital cameras.

[edit] History

The Ōita area is historically known as Funai (府内, Funai^?), the capital of Bungo (豊後, Bungo^?).

During Sengoku period (15th - 16th century), the powerful Ōtomo clan based in Funai and the area prospered as a key port of trade with Portugal and Ming Dynasty China. As Ōtomo Sōrin, a famous Christian Daimyo, was tolerant of the Christian religion, western culture was introduced. The first western style hospital was built and the first Japanese choir was formed in Funai.

[edit] Landmarks and points of interest

Takasaki-yama mountain (高崎山) on the border between Beppu is famous for wild monkeys (Japanese Macaque).

At the entrance to the Takasaki-yama park is the "Marine Palace" aquarium, also known as "Umi no tamago" (English: Sea egg)

Outside of the city, nearby scenery includes seaside villages, towns renowned for onsen (geothermal hot springs), and mountain plateaus.

Ōita is also famous for the intestines of the puffer fish (河豚, fugu^?). Ōita is believed to be the only place to serve puffer fish intestine in the world, although legally forbidden.^[1]

[edit] Transportation

The principal railway station of the city is Ōita Station where Nippō Main Line, Kyudai Main Line, and Hohi Main Line of JR Kyushu gathers.

Oita Airport is located in nearby Kunisaki and can be reached by a hovercraft service in 30 minutes, although rail and bus service to the airport take much longer.