Ōita River

Overview

The Oita River is the main stream of the Oita River system in central Oita Prefecture, a Class A river about 55 kilometers long. Rising on the slopes of Mount Yufu, it flows through the Yufuin basin, cuts through mountain gorges, crosses the Oita plain, and empties into Beppu Bay. Stringing together some of Kyushu's most famous destinations from hot-spring villages upstream to the city center at its mouth, it is a river that symbolizes both the daily life and the scenery of Oita.

Highlights

• ●A main stream about 55 kilometers long, rising at Mount Yufu and reaching Beppu Bay
• ●Scenery of the upper reaches watering the mist-famous Yufuin basin
• ●Lower reaches crossing the Oita plain and passing beneath the city's bridges
• ●A river with the old alternate names Dojiri and Samukawa

History

Once known as the Dojiri River and the Samukawa River, the Oita River is said to take its name from the old Oita district it drains. Linking Mount Yufu to Beppu Bay, its course has long been tied to local life through irrigation, river transport, and the scenery of the hot-spring resorts along its banks. Its drainage basin covers about 650 square kilometers. For a fuller history of flood control, consult official Oita Prefecture sources.

Map

33.2558, 131.6178 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1In the upstream Yufuin basin, enjoy riverside views reflecting Mount Yufu and the morning mist
2. 2Follow the river down along the Kyudai Main Line, watching the scenery shift from gorges to the Oita plain
3. 3From the riverbanks and bridges of central Oita, take in the river flowing through the city
4. 4Head toward Beppu Bay at the mouth and close the day where the Oita River meets the sea

Did you know?

💡 Though it bears the name Oita, it was once also called the Dojiri and Samukawa rivers. Its distinctive scale comes from linking so many hot-spring and sightseeing landmarks in a single course, from its source at Mount Yufu through the Yufuin basin to Beppu Bay at its mouth.

Nearby spots