Ōita Prefecture

Ōita

大分県
Ōita 大分県
Prefecture
Japanese transcription(s)
• Romaji	Ōita-ken
	Flag Symbol
	Location of Ōita in Japan
	Coordinates: 33°14′17.47″N 131°36′45.38″E / 33.2381861°N 131.6126056°E
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Island	Kyūshū
Capital	Ōita
Government
• Governor	Katsusada Hirose
Area
• Total	6,338.82 km2 (2,447.43 sq mi)
• Rank	24th
Population (Oct 1, 2005)
• Total	1,209,587
• Rank	34th
• Density	190/km2 (490/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	JP-44
Prefectural flower	Bungo-ume blossom (Prunus mume var. bungo)
Prefectural tree	Bungo-ume tree (Prunus mume var. bungo)
Prefectural bird	Japanese white-eye (Zosterops japonica)
Number of districts	3
Number of municipalities	18
Website	www.pref.oita.jp/english/

Ōita Prefecture (大分県, Ōita-ken) is a prefecture in the Kyūshū region of Japan on the island of Kyūshū.^[1] The capital city is Ōita.^[2] Ōita is well known in Japan for its many hot springs.

History

In the 6th century, one of the regions of Kyushu was divided into Bungo Province and Buzen Province.

After the Meiji Restoration, districts from Bungo and Buzen provinces were combined to form Ōita Prefecture.^[3]

1184 (Juei 3): Usa Shrine was destroyed by fire in Gempei War.^[4]
November 19, 1274 (Bun'ei 11, 20th day of the 10th month): Battle of Bun'ei^[5]
August 15, 1281 (Kōan 4, 30th day of the 7th month): Battle of Kōan^[6]
2002 (Heisei 15): FIFA World Cup in Ōita^[4]

Ōita Prefecture is on the north-eastern section of the island of Kyūshū.

Ōita is faces the Suo Channel and Honshū Island to the north. The prefecture looks towards the Iyo Channel and Shikoku Island to the east. It is bordered by Miyazaki Prefecture to the south. Fukuoka Prefecture and Kumamoto Prefecture are to the west.

National Parks are established in about 28% of the total land area of the prefecture.^[7]

Fukiji Temple has the oldest wooden structure in Kyushu.

The Usuki Buddhas include 60+ cliff carvings from Heian period.

Media related to Ōita prefecture at Wikimedia Commons