{"id":66488,"date":"2020-06-11T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-11T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=66488"},"modified":"2024-11-25T22:19:44","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T13:19:44","slug":"modern-traditional-oita-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/modern-traditional-oita-city\/","title":{"rendered":"The Modern and Traditional Luxuries of Oita City, Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Oita city<\/strong> (\u5927\u5206\u5e02) is the main city of Oita Prefecture<\/strong> (\u5927\u5206\u770c), located on Kyushu Island (\u4e5d\u5dde) in southern Japan. It is a convenient base for exploring the surrounding area<\/a><\/strong>. Not only that but also the city itself has a lot to offer and there are many activities you can try. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are staying in Oita city, I recommend the JR Kyushu Blossom Oita Hotel<\/a><\/strong>.<\/a> Located just two minutes far from the station, it is directly connected to a large shopping center with shops, supermarkets, and restaurants. The location is unbeatable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, the room met all my needs. Something that grabbed my attention was its decoration: it was a Western style hotel, but at the same time, many elements of the decoration were distinctly Japanese. Though it had a Western bed, the windows were covered in Japanese style shoji<\/em> screens. Consequently, I could enjoy the essence of Japan in a Western style surrounding.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n But that wasn’t the end of the surprises; when I slid open the shoji<\/em> screens, I discovered the 14-story view. It had a spectacular view of Oita city and Mt. Takasaki, where Beppu is located. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On the 8th floor next to the reception area, there is a restaurant<\/strong> where I ate my breakfast. They offer a Japanese style meal<\/strong> with a huge variety of small dishes, and also a buffet with different drinks, croissants, and rice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another advantage of this hotel is that you have access to the City Spa Tenku,<\/strong> located on the 19th floor of the very same hotel. This is a 5-year-old spa where you can relax and enjoy the famous hot springs of Oita.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n I had the chance to try it out and I realized it was a unique spa, as it was a mix of occidental and oriental style<\/strong>, just like the hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t forget to take off your shoes before going inside. <\/strong>This is one of the first Japanese aspects of Japanese culture you will face. Nevertheless, at the same time, you will see that the facilities look Western style. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There you will find everything you need: <\/strong>towels, shampoo, a gown, and a locker to put your belongings. On the second floor of the spa, there were two noren <\/em>(\u6696\u7c3e – japanese curtains) defining the men and women area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this spa you can have either the standard or premium access. Included with the room, you have the standard pack of the spa<\/strong>. With this, you have access to the 40-degree hot interior onsen<\/em>. The water of this spa is rich with carbon dioxide, coming from the yellow-tinged water pumped from 700 meters underground, which is said to have good properties for the skin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After soaking in this hot water, you can also use the 15-degrees cold pool. The sudden temperature change is good for the pores of your skin. Finally, you can have access to the Finland sauna <\/strong>and the steam aroma sauna.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n But the best is yet to come: an infinity pool style rotenburo<\/em><\/strong> (\u9732\u5929\u98a8\u5442 – open-air onsen<\/em>) on the 21st floor. Usually, you have to go naked inside an onsen, but because this one is located in the city you have the option to wear a special towel<\/strong> to avoid inappropriate spectators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For an extra fee, you have access to the premium content: the Healing spa <\/strong>with the aroma salt spa: a marble bath where you can receive different treatments. Also, you have access to the Tenku Lounge, a place to relax while you read magazines and manga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the City Spa Tenku there is also a restaurant<\/strong> where you can eat small dishes or have a proper lunch or dinner. So if you wish, you can stay all day long at the spa and enjoy its waters all day long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From my experience, this spa achieved my expectations. Although it doesn’t have a completely Japanese traditional style, it was very interesting to experience the modern Japanese onsen, <\/strong>quite similar to some of the best spas in Europe. Don’t forget that this all-natural water has some healing properties, <\/strong>and you feel it when you soak in the onsen<\/em> as it isn’t treated with disinfectants and chlorine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After a relaxing afternoon at the spa, I went out to have dinner in a bar area to see the nightlife in Oita city.<\/strong> Indeed, it is quieter than nightlife areas in Tokyo, but to my surprise, it had a huge variety of restaurants.<\/strong> Not only were there Japanese restaurants, but many international ones too. That is why I chose to try a “Spanish, French and Italian” restaurant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I must admit my expectations weren’t high, but I was truly surprised! I order a Caprese salad<\/strong>, a small but delicious pizza <\/strong>and the best: a cr\u00e8me br\u00fbl\u00e9e<\/strong> (or Catalan cream)…very tasty! I enjoyed my meal with sangria, which was sweeter than I’m used to, but it was still very good! <\/p>\n\n\n\n The next morning before leaving Oita, I visited the Oita Prefectural Art Museum<\/a><\/strong>, the main museum of art in Oita Prefecture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It had three floors. On the first floor, there was a reception desk, a shop, and a temporary student exhibition<\/strong>. I was really surprised to see the manga style drawings done by the students. They had a lot of talent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the second floor, there was a space to read and rooms for classes<\/strong>; it looked like a really modern cultural center!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, on the third floor, there were two art exhibitions.<\/strong> One of them was not free and included different pictures inspired by women.<\/strong> I could see how different Japanese artists perceive the feminine figure. The last exhibition was art made by handicapped people<\/strong>. It was really beautiful and in each piece of art, there was the name of the artists an the meaning of the art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to know more about Oita Prefecture<\/strong>, please read these articles: From Tokyo,<\/strong> it is better to take a 1 hour and 25 minutes flight from Haneda to Oita Airport. <\/strong>From there it is a 1 hour trip on the Airport Bus. If you want to travel by train, <\/strong>take the Shinkansen<\/strong> from Shin-Osaka Station to Kokura Station, changing trains to the Nippo Main Line. It will take about 3 hours and 50 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe wonderful JR Kyushu Blossom Oita<\/strong> Hotel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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City Spa Tenku<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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My Tenku Spa Experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Nightlife in the city<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Oita Prefectural Art Musuem <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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– The samurai town of Kitsuki and the Kunisaki Peninsula
<\/a>– Beppu, the onsen<\/em> city<\/a>
– Oita’s little Kyoto – Mameda Town in Hita<\/a>
<\/a>– Tensui, the magnificent ryokan with onsen<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to arrive at Oita, Japan?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Also, from<\/strong> Osaka,<\/strong> you can take a 55 minutes flight from Osaka Itami Airport<\/strong> and after that, you have a 1 hour trip with the Airport Bus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n