Kunisaki-hanto Peninsula国東半島

An ancient center of Buddhist culture. Rugged, deep ravines extend radially throughout the entire scenic region.

Projecting between the Suho-nada Sea in the Seto Inland Sea and the Iyo-nada Sea, the Kunisaki-hanto Peninsula is formed of large conical volcanoes including 731 m-high Mt. Futago in a northeastern part of Oita. Twenty-eight ravines extend radially with many strangely shaped rocks and stones along them. Ancient Buddhist culture came to stay here, and Buddhist culture unique to this peninsula developed. Many temples and Buddhist remains are scattered all over the peninsula.

In the huge premises, about 150,000 km² in area, of the Usa-jingu Shrine, which is the head shrine for all Hachimangu Shrines throughout Japan, Uemiya, Shimomiya and other buildings are positioned in an orderly arrangement. The Hatsusawa-ike Pond filled with clean water is located along the front approach beyond the divine bridge.

This center of Buddhist culture boasts many Buddhist National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties such as a wooden figure of Amida-nyorai (Amitabha Tathagata) and wall paintings in colors in the Fuki-ji Temple, statues of Shitenno, the Four Deva Kings in Maki-Odo and a figure of Fudo, the god of fire, known as "Kumano-magai-butsu". Exhibits related to the history and culture of Oita are presented on a regular basis at the Oita Prefectural Museum of History on a hill called Usa-fudoki-no-oka where visitors can get a good knowledge of the Buddhist culture introduced into Oita.