Kyushu Oita Usa Day Trip: Usa Shrine & RURU PARK (Oita Cultural and Agricultural Park) / Senzai Farm / Takekiri Kei Valley / Karashima Akinozou / Ajimu Winery & Higashi Shiiya Falls & Hita Mamedamachi Shopping Street | Depart from Hakata, Fukuoka (lunch included)

— What You Can Expect —

Explore Usa City in Oita Prefecture, a notable destination beyond Yufuin and Beppu, offering beautiful mountain vistas, expansive plains, and varied coastal landscapes. Situated in northern Oita Prefecture on the western side of the Kunisaki Peninsula along the Seto Inland Sea, Usa City historically served as a vital transportation hub.

Usa City facilitated the development of a comprehensive transportation network and the establishment of the Hachiman Shrine, being linked by the Inland Sea to the capital and connected by land to Dazaifu in Fukuoka, the ancient gateway to East Asia.

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— Important Info —

Usa City is mainly divided into three major areas: 

(1) The Innai area, which features numerous small and large valleys, characterized by many stone bridges built due to its valley terrain. 

(2) The Anshin-in area is centered around a basin, known for its culture of decorative trowel painting in homes and turtle cuisine. 

(3) The Usa area with vast plains, abundant coastlines, and several highly esteemed cultural heritage sites, such as the Usa Shrine and Usa Topography Hill (Prefecture Historical Museum).

Usa City, rich in natural resources, has cultivated a unique history and culture across its diverse landscapes. Visitors are invited to explore its natural beauty and historical heritage.

Reference: Yusa City Tourism Association

RURU PARK Oita Agriculture and Culture Park during flower viewing period 

Flower viewing period at Senzai Farm: 

Visit Usa Shrine, a landmark in Usa celebrated by CNN as one of Japan's most beautiful sites and the main palace of the 44,000 Hachimangu shrines nationwide. Established in 725, it's a key site where Shinto and Buddhism once merged, a practice that persisted until 1868 when the Meiji government mandated their separation. Today, the shrine, stripped of its Buddhist elements, stands as a purely Shinto site with many culturally significant buildings still preserved, including the main hall, a national treasure. Nestled in a vast native forest larger than the Tokyo Dome, Usa Jingu offers a serene and healing atmosphere, with stunning views that shift beautifully through the seasons

Experience the seasonal beauty of RURU PARK Oita Agricultural Culture Park, open from March to May and September to October. See the "Powder Butterfly Festival" from late March to early May and the "Broomweed Festival" every October

Visit Sensai Farm in Usa City during April and May to experience the largest wisteria garden in Western Japan. Covering 2,400 square meters with about 250 wisteria trees, the white and purple blooms create stunning scenery in late April and early May. The park also offers local tea, oranges, and even wisteria-flavored ice cream. From mid-May, the park's 5,000-square-kilometer area bursts with the fragrance of 2,500 blooming roses

Experience the cool waters of Dakekiri Valley in Inuchi Town, Usa City, Oita Prefecture, during July and August. This clear, 2-kilometer-long river has a shallow depth of only 5 centimeters, making it a safe and perfect spot for children to play and for everyone to cool off on hot summer days

Visit Yamaxi Green Cave Gate in late autumn for prime maple viewing in Kyushu. Originally just a rocky mountain, the tunnel was painstakingly hand-chiseled over 30 years after Master Zenhai raised funds from 1735 to hire stoneworkers. This remarkable effort showcases the ancient perseverance. Now a historical site at Jingxiu Peak's base, Yabakei ranks among Japan’s top three foliage spots alongside Nikko and Arashiyama. Recognized as a Japanese heritage by the Cultural Affairs Agency, the best viewing time is from late October to mid-November

Discover the "Late Autumn Maple Viewing Limited Edition" at "Eight Views at a Glance of Shenyama River," featuring formations like Qunyuan Mountain and Fairy Rock. View these majestic peaks and deep canyons from the Ichimoku 8 Views Observation Deck, where nature's artistry is displayed in a palette that shifts from fresh greens to vivid reds. Enjoy the stunning autumn colors, a highlight of the region and a must-see at Shenyama River

Experience "November Late Autumn Maple Viewing Only" at "Castle in the Sky," Usa's Machu Picchu. Marvel at the breathtaking View of Nishishiya, a highlight during the vibrant maple season

Visit "Winter Limited from December to February" at Usa City's largest brewery, "Miwa Liquor." Starting May 2022, the "Kinshima Kyoku Nozo" sake experience center offers tastings of local limited sakes. For non-drinkers, the nearby "Muginozo" cafe serves delicious dishes and non-alcoholic drinks using local ingredients. The adjoining spacious park is ideal for children and outdoor activities, making it a perfect destination for the whole family

Visit "Ansin Winery" in Oita Prefecture, located in a misty basin. Explore the facility, including its brewery, warehouse, vineyard, and tasting room, where you can observe wine production and sample the final products. Dine at the nearby "Asin Asagiri no So," a restaurant set in beautiful natural surroundings, offering delicious meals

Explore "Umeda-cho Shopping Street" in Hita City, Oita Prefecture, known as Kyushu's Little Kyoto. Established during the Edo period as the Hita Agency and prospering under direct shogunate control, the area retains many buildings from the Edo, Meiji, and Taisho periods