18 Museums in Ōita worth your time

Modern museum in Nakatsu Castle area, showcasing local history, Dutch studies, and Yukichi Fukuzawa.

What it is

• History museum in Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture.
• Opened on November 1, 2019.
• Located in Nakatsu Castle's Sannomaru area.
• Stores historical materials from the Nakatsu domain government.

What to see

• Materials related to Dutch studies and medicine.
• Archaeological artifacts excavated in Nakatsu City.
• Materials related to Yukichi Fukuzawa.
• Viewing lounge for Nakatsu Castle's stone walls.

When to go

• Closed on Mondays.
• Closed during New Year holidays.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Nakatsu Station.
• Nakatsu Station is on the JR Nippo Main Line.

Address

〒871-0057　大分県中津市1290番地（三ノ丁） Map

Official site

nakahaku.jp

Read more about Nakatsu History Museum

Discover the life and works of children's literature pioneer Takehiko Kurushima at this modern museum.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to children's literature pioneer Takehiko Kurushima.
• Opened on April 28, 2017.
• Located within Mishima Park in Kusu Town.
• A 500-square-meter wooden single-story building.

What to see

• About 5,000 items related to Takehiko Kurushima.
• Exhibits divided into 10 booths.
• Personal belongings, letters, and books of Kurushima.
• Introductions to past Culture Award winners.
• The former Kurushima family garden and a fairy tale monument.
• Information on Kurushima's exchanges with other figures.

When to go

• Exhibits change seasonally.

Address

大分県玖珠郡玖珠町大字森855 Map

Official site

kurushimatakehiko.com

Read more about Kurushima Takehiko Memorial Hall

Beppu Art Museum, Kyushu's first public art museum, displays diverse Japanese art for a small fee.

What it is

• A public art museum in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture.
• Established in 1950, funded by businessman Keitaro Sato.
• It was the first public art museum in Kyushu.
• Relocated on October 12, 2017.

What to see

• Works by Sotaro Yasui, Ryuzaburo Umehara, and Heihachiro Fukuda.
• Works by Oita Prefecture artists like Ichiro Tominaga.
• A planning exhibition room and a gallery for citizens.
• A two-story reinforced concrete building.

When to go

• Closed on Mondays.

Getting there

• 10-minute drive from Oita Expressway Beppu IC.

Official site

www.city.beppu.oita.jp

Read more about Beppu Art Museum

Explore a former gold mine with an underground museum and unique exhibits.

What it is

• Roadside station in Hita City, Oita Prefecture.
• Opened in 1983 at the closed Taio Gold Mine site.
• Registered as a roadside station on August 18, 2000.
• Also known as Underground Museum Taio-kinzan.

What to see

• Underground museum uses 800m of mine tunnels.
• Displays mining materials and excavation sites.
• Experience corner for collecting gold ore.
• Exhibits memorabilia from the Cameroon national team.
• Replica of a golden sea bream.

When to go

• Closed on January 1st.
• Closed for five days in February for safety inspections.

Address

大分県日田市中津江村合瀬3750番地 Map

Official site

taiokinzan.jp

Read more about Roadside station Taio-kinzan

Explore a private museum in Hita dedicated to Western liquor and whisky history.

What it is

• A private museum in Hita City, Oita Prefecture.
• Opened in April 2011, also known as the Whisky Museum.
• Houses about 30,000 items related to Western liquor and whisky.
• Director is Koshichiro Takashima, a Western liquor enthusiast.

What to see

• Collection includes bottles and novelties.
• Building was originally Hita Theater, built in 1921.
• Permanent exhibition of a pot still made by Masataka Taketsuru.

Getting there

• Walking distance from Hita Station.
• Hita Station is on the JR Kyudai Main Line.

Address

大分県日田市本庄町3-4 Map

Official site

tenryo-hita-whiskymuseum.com

Read more about Tenryo Hita Whisky Museum

Explore ancient Oita history and artifacts at this archaeological research center and museum.

What it is

• An administrative agency of Oita Prefecture.
• Conducts archaeological excavations and public education.
• Established in April 2004.
• Renamed in 2017.

What to see

• Toyo-no-Kuni Archaeology Museum.
• BVNGO Otomo Museum.
• BVNGO Otomo Museum displays about 750 items.
• Exhibits artifacts from Otomo clan ruins.

When to go

• Exhibition rooms opened on April 22, 2017.

Getting there

• 6-minute walk from Maki Station on JR Nippo Main Line.
• 2-minute walk from the Maki bus stop.

Official site

www.pref.oita.jp

Read more about Oita Prefectural Center for Archaeological Research

This museum recreates the environment that inspired composer Taki Rentaro, offering a glimpse into Meiji-era life.

What it is

• Museum dedicated to composer Taki Rentaro (1879–1903).
• Reconstruction of the house where Taki lived in Taketa.
• Founded to recreate the environment that inspired his work.

What to see

• Traditional-style rooms with tatami flooring and shoji panels.
• Western items displayed in the house.
• Traditional Japanese garden.
• Display panels about Taki Rentaro and his compositions.
• Handwritten sheet music for several of Taki’s compositions.
• Letters written by Taki during his final years.

Read more about Taki Rentarō Memorial Museum

Explore the birthplace of Nogami Yaeko, a registered cultural property with literary and historical exhibits.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to author Nogami Yaeko.
• Opened on September 27, 1986.
• Uses Yaeko's birthplace as its location.
• The building is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

What to see

• About 200 items are on display.
• Yaeko's childhood study room is preserved.
• Kotegawa Sake Brewery's storehouse is next door.

When to go

• Open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Usuki Station.
• 10-minute drive from Usuki IC.

Address

大分県臼杵市浜町538 Map

Official site

www.city.usuki.oita.jp

Read more about Nogami Yaeko Literary Memorial Museum

Explore Ōita's history from ancient times to the Edo period at this comprehensive museum.

What it is

• A history museum covering Paleolithic to early modern periods.
• Located next to the Bungo Kokubunji Temple ruins.

What to see

• Two exhibition rooms displaying historical materials.
• A 1/10 scale model of the Bungo Kokubunji seven-story pagoda.
• Obsidian in a basket and Haji ware from 832 AD.
• Junigatsu Kotoba Tekagami from 1588.
• An old map of Funai from the Edo period.

Getting there

• A 2-minute walk from Bungo Kokubu Station.

Address

大分県大分市大字国分960-1 Map

Official site

www.city.oita.oita.jp

Read more about Ōita City Historical Museum

This modern art museum in Oita City, designed by Shigeru Ban, offers award-winning architecture and art.

What it is

• A public art museum in Oita City.
• Opened on April 24, 2015.
• Designed by Shigeru Ban Architects.

What to see

• A building with four floors above ground and one basement.
• Total floor area is approximately 16,800 square meters.
• Connected to OASIS Hiroba 21 by a pedestrian deck.
• Awarded the 2015 JIA Japan Architecture Award.
• Received the LCD Awards Asia-Pacific Best New Cultural Facility.
• Received the RIBA International Excellence Award.

Address

〒870-0036 大分県大分市寿町2番1号 Map

Official site

www.opam.jp

Read more about Ōita Prefectural Art Museum

Explore Edo period folk culture and Hita's history as a direct Tokugawa domain.

What it is

• A history museum in Hita City, Oita Prefecture.
• Established to support the Mameda district preservation movement.
• Opened on July 2, 1988.

What to see

• Exhibits on Edo period folk culture.
• Materials related to the Tenryō (direct Tokugawa domain).
• Calligraphy and paintings by literati poets.
• Old documents and old maps.
• Replica of a national treasure iron mirror from Danwara Kofun.

Read more about Tenryō Hita Museum

Explore a historic pharmacy museum in Hita City, showcasing traditional architecture and pharmaceutical heritage.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to Nippon Gan, a traditional medicine.
• Also known as Iwao Pharmacy or Iwao Yakuho.
• Opened in 1993, preserving a historic business.
• Founded in 1855 by the 14th Iwao Hanzo.

What to see

• Exhibits on architecture and pharmaceutical materials.
• A three-story wooden building, registered cultural property.
• The main house first floor study from the late Edo period.

Official site

www.iwaoyakuho.com

Read more about Nippon Gwan

Explore the Edo-period home and legacy of Hirose Tansō, a renowned scholar and educator.

What it is

• A museum of Hita's folklore and economy.
• Utilizes parts of the Hirose Tansō Former Residence.
• Operated by a public interest foundation.

What to see

• Tools and books from the Edo period.
• Hirose Tansō's former residence.
• Alleys and garden of the residence.
• North part of the residence, called 'Kita-ke'.
• South part of the residence, called 'Minami-ke'.

Read more about Hirose Museum

Explore Oita's history, including Usa Jingu and Rokugo Manzan culture, through impressive replicas and artifacts.

What it is

• Prefectural museum, opened in 1981.
• Focuses on Usa Jingu Shrine and Rokugo Manzan culture.

What to see

• Life-size replica of Fuki-ji Odo.
• Life-size replica of Usuki Stone Buddhas.
• Artifacts from Oita Men-ga-hira Kofun.
• Collection includes two bronze mirrors and 47 iron items.
• Collection includes 19 stone items and 14 glass beads.

Address

大分県宇佐市大字高森字京塚 Map

Official site

kyouiku.oita-ed.jp

Read more about Ōita Prefectural Museum of History

Explore the history and culture of fragrance at this unique museum in Beppu.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to the theme of fragrance.
• Opened in 2007 by Beppu University.
• Succeeded the Oita Kaori no Mori Museum.

What to see

• Displays 3625 items from the previous museum.
• Three floors of exhibits.
• Footbath surrounded by a herb garden.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from Beppu Daigaku Station.

Address

874-0915 大分県別府市北石垣48-1 Map

Official site

oita-kaori.jp

Read more about Oita Fragrance Museum

See impressive festival floats and learn about the Hita Gion Festival's history.

What it is

• A museum dedicated to the Hita Gion Festival.
• Opened on July 31, 1988.

What to see

• Six yamahoko floats on the first floor.
• One float is 8 meters tall.
• Festival equipment and materials on the second floor.

When to go

• Open 9:00 to 17:00.
• Closed on Wednesdays.
• Closed December 29 to January 3.

Read more about Hita Gion Yamahoko Kaikan

Ōita Art Museum showcases local artists and international prints, offering a peaceful cultural escape.

What it is

• City-operated art museum.
• Opened in February 1999.
• Collects works by Ōita Prefecture artists.

What to see

• Collection of prints by Goya and others.
• Outdoor contemporary sculptures.
• Important cultural properties.
• Two-story building.

When to go

• About seven special exhibitions annually.

Address

〒870-0832 大分市大字上野865番地 Map

Official site

www.city.oita.oita.jp

Read more about Ōita Art Museum

This former art center, now closed, was once Oita City's main art and concert venue.

What it is

• A public cultural facility, opened September 1977.
• It housed an art museum and a multi-purpose hall.
• The art museum was Oita City's only full-scale museum.

What to see

• The building was a three-story concrete structure.
• The hall had 1,022 seats.

Official site

www.opam.jp

Read more about Ōita Prefectural Art Center