Samurai Time Trip? Visit Tenryo Hita to see Edo merchants' town

Not only hot spring town Beppu and Yufuin, but there's a beautiful old town in Oita, with the name Hita.Mameda town of Hita used to be directly governed by Edo (Tokyo) government in Edo period(Samurai Time, 17C-19C), and prospered as a merchants' town.(*Tenryo means a special district directly controlled by the central government of Japan. Ten means sky and Ryo means territory.)Beside its natural beauty, Hina doll festival (Hina Matsuri) attracts lots of people (Feb.15-Mar.31 every year).You'll be impressed with the old traditional beautiful dolls, expressing merchants' rich lifestyle at that time.Movie of Hita festival scene is available here @ Oide!Hita.comThis is another festival named Gion Matsuri.And there are some more, such as firework, cormorant fishing(Sep).Soba (buckwheat noodle) in a nice Japanese restaurant, surrounded by Japanese garden.Nearby is quiet hot springs.If you have a chance to visit Kyushu, please visit Hita and then to Kumamoto castle to fully enjoy Samurai Time!(Kumamoto Castle is where the Last Samurai Story took place!)Hita is only an hour from Fukuoka Airport by express bus.Please refer to another related article, Hita soy sauce issue, too.(Hita is also noted as a soy sauce town!)

http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/07/02_061047.php

2007-07-02 06:38:00