15 Parks in Ōita worth your time

Rakutenchi is a historic amusement park on a mountain, offering unique rides and views.

What it is

• An amusement park in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture.
• Opened as Beppu Amusement Park on September 3, 1929.
• Located on the middle of Mt. Tateishi.
• Known for its duck races, started in 1950.

What to see

• A cable car transports visitors to the park entrance.
• The Flower Ferris Wheel is Japan's only double-arm Ferris wheel.
• A 470m long roller coaster, operating since 1972.
• A small zoo and a hot spring facility.
• Views of Beppu Bay from the hot spring facility.
• A neon sign installed around 1966.

Getting there

• A cable car transports visitors from the plains.

Official site

www.rakutenchi.jp

Read more about Rakutenchi

See hundreds of wild macaques up close in their natural habitat.

What it is

• A municipal natural park in Oita City.
• Home to wild Japanese macaques.
• Opened on March 15, 1953.
• Designated a national natural monument.

What to see

• Wild Japanese macaques without cages.
• Macaques divided into two groups, B and C.
• A small monorail, Sarukko Rail.
• Takasakiyama Osaru-kan museum.

When to go

• Open daily from 9:00 to 17:00.

Getting there

• Next to Umitamago aquarium.

Official site

www.takasakiyama.jp

Read more about Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden

Umitamago, an aquarium with 500 species, offers unique marine life exhibits and a rich history.

What it is

• Known as Umitamago, meaning "sea egg."
• Opened in 1964 as Oita Seitai Aquarium Marine Palace.
• Renovated and reopened on April 1, 2004.
• Established a research department for academic study.

What to see

• Approximately 500 species and 15,000 marine animals.
• Former facility had the world's first tidal circulation tank.
• Adjacent to Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden.
• A new facility called Asobeach opened in 2015.

Official site

www.umitamago.jp

Read more about Oita Marine Palace Aquarium

Urban park with water features, worth visiting for its illuminations and central location.

What it is

• An urban park in Oita City.
• Opened in 1968 at its current location.
• Renamed Funai Aqua Park in 1994.
• Designed with a water theme.

What to see

• Two square ponds connected by a waterway.
• Underground bicycle parking lot.
• Year-end and New Year illuminations.

When to go

• Year-end and New Year for illuminations.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from Oita Station.

Read more about Funai Aqua Park

Oita Agricultural Park is a vast park with camellias, designed by Toyo Ito, worth visiting for its scale.

What it is

• A prefectural agricultural park, nicknamed Ruru Park.
• Opened on April 21, 2001.
• Central facilities designed by architect Toyo Ito.
• Covers about 120 hectares around Hiji Dam lake.

What to see

• Approximately 400 species of camellias.
• About 1,000 camellia trees.
• Certified as an International Camellia Garden.

Getting there

• Immediately accessible from Oita Agricultural Park IC.

Read more about Oita Agricultural Park

Wakakusa Park is a city park with a steam locomotive, worth visiting for a relaxing break.

What it is

• An urban park in Oita City.
• Opened on March 31, 1952.
• Renovated with a "flowers" theme, reopened May 29, 1998.
• A venue for various events.

What to see

• A preserved C55 steam locomotive, manufactured 1937.
• Two sculptures: "Heiwano Warabe" and "Kakan."
• Expanded flowerbeds and a lawn area.
• A new stage.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from JR Kyushu Oita Station.

Read more about Wakakusa Park

Kijima Kogen Park is an amusement park with Japan's first wooden roller coaster, worth visiting for unique rides.

What it is

• An amusement park in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture.
• Opened in March 1967 as Kijima Motopia Land.
• Current name adopted on May 1, 2012.

What to see

• Jupiter, Japan's first wooden roller coaster.
• Jupiter is 1600m long, reaches 91km/h.
• Attractions include Poseidon 30 and Newton.

When to go

• Ice skating rink is open during winter.
• Chapu-cha pool is open during summer.

Official site

www.kijimakogen-park.jp

Read more about Kijima Kōgen Park

Japan's largest safari park, offering unique animal encounters and a night safari.

What it is

• Japan's largest safari park style zoo.
• Located in Usa City, Oita Prefecture.
• Home to approximately 70 species and 1,400 animals.

What to see

• A 6km safari road.
• An animal zone and a petting zone.
• Japan's only cheetah and zebra mixed exhibit.
• Jungle buses for feeding experiences.

When to go

• Night safari during Golden Week.
• Night safari during summer holidays.

Official site

www.africansafari.co.jp

Read more about Kyushu African Safari

Beppu Park is a large urban park with historical significance and unique trees.

What it is

• A municipal urban park.
• Completed in October 1907.
• Designated as a 50th Anniversary Park in 1977.
• Hosted expositions in 1928 and 1937.

What to see

• A monument to Kumahachi Aburaya near the west gate.
• Chickamauga Tree, a cypress planted by the US military.
• 27.3 hectares of park area.

Getting there

• Approximately 700m northwest of JR Kyushu Beppu Station.

Official site

www.city.beppu.oita.jp

Read more about Beppu Park

Oita City's modern urban park features unique movable roofs and hosts events.

What it is

• An urban park in Oita City, Oita Prefecture.
• Developed on the former site of Oita Parco.
• Opened for public use on September 7, 2019.

What to see

• Two large movable roofs, 11m x 18m and 8m x 16m.
• Roofs can move up to 67m east-west.
• Solar panels on the roofs generate power.

When to go

• Celebration venue for the Tokyo Olympics torch relay.

Read more about Shukusai no Hiroba Square

See dolphins and penguins, enjoy shows and interactions at this unique ocean-based aquarium.

What it is

• An aquarium in Tsukumi, Oita Prefecture.
• Opened on April 2, 2011.
• Jointly established by Marine Palace and Tsukumi City.
• Renovated from the former Sensui Fishing Center.

What to see

• Dolphins and penguins.
• One of Japan's largest sea surface areas.
• Sea area, seaside, and side park.

When to go

• Closed from mid-January to mid-February.

Read more about Umitama Taiken Park Tsukumi Dolphin Island

Yuho Park is a narrow urban park in Oita City with unique sculptures and monuments.

What it is

• An urban park in Oita City, Japan.
• Opened on March 31, 1951.
• Long, narrow park running north to south.
• Contains sculptures and monuments.

What to see

• Sculptures by Fumio Asakura and Seibo Kitamura.
• Monuments commemorating Namban culture.
• Monument to Japan's first Western-style hospital.
• Monument to Japan's first Western-style play.

Read more about Yuho Park

Jungle Park is a central Oita green space with a cuckoo clock, a short walk from the station.

What it is

• An urban park in Oita City.
• Opened on March 31, 1952.
• Named by local children in 1951.
• Reopened in 1996 after renovation.

What to see

• A green space in the entertainment district.
• An open space with a cuckoo clock.
• An outdoor stage.
• 86 trees.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from Oita Station.

Read more about Jangle Park

Urban park in Oita City with a Japanese garden, Noh theater, and 800 cherry trees.

What it is

• An urban park in Oita City, Oita Prefecture.
• Development began in 1979.
• Renamed Heiwa Shimin Park in 1990.

What to see

• Japanese garden with a Noh theater.
• Wuhan Forest.
• Over 800 cherry trees along the Urakawa River.
• Noh stage is 5.9m square.
• Noh theater has 568 seats.

Read more about Heiwa Shimin Park

Harmonyland is an outdoor Sanrio theme park, worth visiting for its unique character attractions.

What it is

• Outdoor theme park in Oita Prefecture.
• Themed after Sanrio characters.
• Opened on April 26, 1991.
• Operated by Sanrio Entertainment.

What to see

• Sanrio character attractions and shows.
• Adjacent to Crown Prince's Marriage Commemorative Garden.

Official site

www.harmonyland.jp

Read more about Harmonyland