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38-479: Hita is located in the far west of Ōita Prefecture , and borders the neighboring prefectures of Fukuoka and Kumamoto . Surrounding cities include Kurume to the west, Nakatsu to the north, and Kusu to the east. Hita is a natural basin surrounded by mountains, with several rivers that eventually become the Chikugo River . Due to this connection, although Hita is placed within Ōita Prefecture, it shares

76-799: A historical connection to Fukuoka Prefecture. The dialect used in Hita has characteristics of the Hichiku dialect used in Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and Saga Prefectures. Many rivers that run through Hita join up to the Mikuma River, and later the Chikugo River. These rivers were used to distribute lumber to Kurume and Ōkawa at the end of the Edo Period, but with the completion of the Yoake Dam,

114-662: A market, and several preserved historical buildings. The Kanmon Kaikyo Tunnel which connects Kyushu ( Moji ward , Kitakyushu) and Honshu ( Shimonoseki ) is free to walk through. The city center in Kokurakita ward contains the Riverwalk and Itsutsuya shopping complexes, Kokura castle , and the Uomachi Gintengai shopping arcade, the oldest shopping arcade in Japan. In the "19 best places to visit in 2019" published by

152-402: A system, the mayor's administrative staff often prepares the city budget, although that budget must be approved by the council. The mayor may also have veto rights over council votes, with the council able to override such a veto. Conversely, in a weak-mayor system, the mayor has no formal authority outside the council, serving a largely ceremonial role as council chairperson and is elected by

190-654: Is Kanzeon-ji that was founded by the Emperor in Dazaifu during the 7th century to honor his mother. Kanzeon-ji together with Kaidan-in , that used to be part of the former, was one of the three distinct places in Japan where Buddhist monks could ordain. During the Tokugawa shogunate when the country was ruled by 300 local feudal lords ( daimyo ), an important daimyo, Arima Toyōji was relocated to this region and thus he moved his family temple to Kurume City. This zen temple

228-410: Is Hita Yakisoba, a noodle dish prepared in a unique manner that makes it crispier than standard yakisoba . Takanazushi is a kind of sushi made with takana (a leaf mustard) and nori . The seasoning yuzukoshō is theorized to have been first made in Hita. Fukuoka Prefecture Fukuoka Prefecture ( Japanese : 福岡県 , Hepburn : Fukuoka-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located on

266-652: Is known today as Bairin-ji and is a main temple for zen practice in Fukuoka Prefecture and Kyushu. It is located on the West bank of Chiguko River, next to the Shinkansen station of Kurume city. Fukuoka Prefecture faces the sea on three sides, bordering Saga , Ōita , and Kumamoto prefectures and facing Yamaguchi Prefecture across the Kanmon Straits . As of 1 April 2012, 18% of the land area of

304-620: Is located at the northernmost point of Kyūshū on the Kanmon Straits , connecting the Tsushima Strait and the Seto Inland Sea across from Yamaguchi Prefecture on the island of Honshu , and extends south towards the Ariake Sea . Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo , Chikuzen , and Buzen . Kōra taisha , Sumiyoshi-jinja , and Hakozaki-gū are the chief Shinto shrines ( ichinomiya ) in

342-567: Is located in Nakatsue village; the mine was in operation from 1898 to 1972, but now remains as a museum. From July to November, fishermen erect bamboo fish traps in the Mikuma River to capture ayu fish, which are covered in salt and grilled. Hita has many onsen hot springs, particularly along the Mikuma River and in Amagase. The former village of Kamitsue is home to international racing circuit Autopolis The luxury Aru Ressha train

380-748: Is nicknamed "Little Kyoto". Traces of old Kyoto are apparent in the streets of Mameda-machi (豆田町), a town where buildings of the time period have been preserved. Prominent buildings include the Hirose Museum (廣瀬資料館), the Kusano House (草野本家), the Nihongan Medicine Museum (日本丸館), and the Tenryō Hita Museum (天領日田資料館). There is also the Kuncho Shuzō Sake Brewery (薫長酒蔵資料館), which has a museum and shop. Kangien (咸宜園跡)

418-585: Is one of the few prefectures with a steadily increasing population. The sports teams listed below are based in Fukuoka. The prefecture hosts the Fukuoka International Cross Country competition. The prefecture also hosted the Fukuoka Marathon , which was an elite marathon in which marathon world records were established twice during its 75 year existence. Its final race took place in 2021. Fukuoka Prefecture has

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456-465: Is steep. Hita has a high annual precipitation rate, with over one third of the rain falling during the rainy season months of June and July. Heavy rainfall is frequent, and severe flood damage has occurred in the past. From spring to autumn, a deep fog known locally as sokogiri (底霧, shallow ground fog) often appears in the morning. Summer gets very hot, with temperatures often rising above 35 °C (95 °F), while winter gets notably cold. At times

494-653: Is the main shopping, dining, transportation and entertainment hub in Kyushu. Dazaifu is popular for its many temples and historical sites, as well as the Kyushu National Museum. Yanagawa is sometimes called "the Venice of Japan" for its boat tours on the abundant, calm rivers that wind through the city. Kitakyushu features one of the famous night views of Japan from atop Mt. Sarakura , accessible via cablecar . The Mojiko area features waterfront dining,

532-483: Is where tire manufacturer Bridgestone and consumer electronics chain Best Denki were founded. Well-known company headquartered in Fukuoka are as follows: One of Japan's top 5 universities, Kyushu University , is located in Fukuoka. According to October 2018 estimates, the population in Fukuoka Prefecture reached 5,111,494 inhabitants, making the prefecture the 9th most populated of Japan's 47 prefectures. It

570-523: The Diet of Japan . Forestry has long flourished in Hita due to the abundant tree supply in the surrounding mountains. Japanese cedar trees called "Hita Cedar" are used to make geta and lacquerware . In recent years the forest industry has declined as a result of the importation of cheap foreign lumber. From the 1960s, after large areas of cultivated land became difficult to obtain, agriculture in Hita has been shifting its focus from rice to crops grown in

608-417: The U.S. CNN, Fukuoka Prefecture was chosen as the only destination in Japan. Mayor-council Executive mayor elected by the people, elected legislative City council Council - Manager Executive leader elected by the council from among themselves Elected mayor and cabinet Executive mayor elected by the people Committee system Executive leader and executive committees elected by

646-542: The area. Hita has 18 public elementary schools and 12 public junior high schools operated by the city government and three public high schools operated by the Ōita Prefectural Board of Education. There are also two private high schools. [REDACTED] JR Kyushu - Kyūdai Main Line [REDACTED] JR Kyushu - Hitahikosan Line During the Edo period, Hita was modeled after Kyoto and its merchant culture, and even now

684-405: The borders of the city of Hita were now the same as the original district of Hita, and the district was abolished. Hita has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 22 members. Hita contributes three members to the Ōita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Ōita 2nd district of the lower house of

722-469: The council from among themselves A mayor–council government is a system of local government in which a mayor who is directly elected by the voters acts as chief executive, while a separately elected city council constitutes the legislative body. It is one of the two most common forms of local government in the United States , and is the form most frequently adopted in large cities, although

760-492: The forestry industry, it also causes landslides. Per Japanese census data, the population of Hita in 2020 is 62,657 people. Hita has been conducting censuses since 1920. The area of Hita was part of ancient Bungo Province . It is mentioned in the Bungo no Kuni Fudoki , which was compiled between 720 and 740, which states that Emperor Keiko visited this area during his expedition to Kyushu. Numerous Kofun period ruins indicate

798-571: The highest frequency of youth crime among the prefectures of Japan from 2003 to 2007. According to statistics from the national police, the crime rate in Fukuoka was the eighth-highest in 2017, lower than in Osaka , Tokyo , Hyogo , Aichi , Saitama , Chiba and Ibaraki . The most popular place for tourism is Fukuoka City , especially during the Dontaku festival, which attracts millions of visitors from across Japan during Golden Week . Fukuoka

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836-475: The island of Kyūshū . Fukuoka Prefecture has a population of 5,109,323 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,986 km (1,925 sq mi ). Fukuoka Prefecture borders Saga Prefecture to the southwest, Kumamoto Prefecture to the south, and Ōita Prefecture to the southeast. Fukuoka is the capital and largest city of Fukuoka Prefecture, and the largest city on Kyūshū, with other major cities including Kitakyushu , Kurume , and Ōmuta . Fukuoka Prefecture

874-796: The most designated yakuza groups among all of the prefectures, at five: the Kudo-kai , the Taishu-kai , the Fukuhaku-kai , the Dojin-kai and the Namikawa-kai . Between 2004 and 2009, and in early 2011, Fukuoka Prefecture led the nation in gun-related incidents. These incidents were mostly related to the local yakuza syndicates, specifically the Kudo-kai , the Dojin-kai , and the Kyushu Seido-kai . Fukuoka Prefecture had

912-416: The mountains, such as ume , Japanese chestnuts , and mushrooms. A fishing industry is present, with ayu and other fish captured in the Mikuma River. Hita is well-known for its high quality water. Hita Tenryosui produces mineral water, and many distilleries produce sake and shōchū . Recently, companies such as TDK , Kyushu Sumidenso, Sapporo Breweries , and Sanwa Shurui have expanded manufacturing in

950-412: The museums and old houses of Mameda-machi and Kuma-machi open their doors to the public and display their collection of dolls. Hita Kawabiraki Kankōsai River Opening Festival Hita Kawabiraki Kankōsai (日田川開き観光祭), or River Opening Festival, is held the first weekend after May 20. This festival celebrates the start of the ayu fishing season on Mikuma River, and more than 10,000 fireworks are launched over

988-508: The north coast of Kyūshū. Twenty-nine cities are in Fukuoka Prefecture: These are the towns and villages in each district : Fukuoka prefecture's main cities form one of Japan's main industrial centers, accounting for nearly 40% of the economy of Kyūshū. GDP exceeds 154 billion US dollars, comparable to that of a medium-sized country. Major industries include automobiles, semiconductors, and steel. Fukuoka prefecture

1026-543: The other common form, council–manager government , is the local government form of more municipalities. The form may be categorized into two main variations depending on the relative power of the mayor compared to the council, the strong-mayor variant and the weak-mayor variant. In a typical strong-mayor system, the elected mayor is granted almost total administrative authority with the power to appoint and dismiss department heads, although some city charters or prevailing state law may require council ratification. In such

1064-412: The prefecture was designated as natural parks : Setonaikai National Park , Genkai , Kitakyūshū , and Yaba-Hita-Hikosan quasi-national parks, and Chikugogawa , Chikuhō , Dazaifu , Sefuri Raizan , and Yabegawa Prefectural Natural Parks. Fukuoka includes the two largest cities on Kyūshū , Fukuoka and Kitakyushu , and much of Kyūshū's industry. It also includes a number of small islands near

1102-523: The prefecture. There are several historically important Buddhist temples in the Prefecture. Monks would sail back from China after completing their studies and establish temples in the heart of Hakata (now Fukuoka) City. Monk Eisai founded Shōfuku-ji which is known today as the oldest zen temple in Japan, monk Kukai established Tocho-ji , and Joten-ji was built by Enni who is also known for bringing Udon noodles first to Japan. The oldest temple

1140-622: The presence of a powerful local kingdom in late prehistoric times. During the Edo period it was divided between Mori Domain and tenryō territory ruled directly by the Tokugawa shogunate . After the Meiji restoration , the towns of Mameda (豆田町 ) and Kuma (隈町) within Hita District, Ōita were established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. On November 1, 1901

1178-643: The river in a two-day firework display. Hita Gion Festival Hita Gion Festival (日田祇園祭) is held the first weekend after July 20. It is modeled after the Gion Festival in Kyoto . Huge wooden yamaboko floats (up to 12m high) from different areas of the city are pushed around the streets by volunteers. These floats can also be seen at the Gion Yamaboko Hall (日田祇園山鉾会館) in Kuma-machi throughout

Hita, Ōita - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-538: The temperature falls to −5 °C (23 °F). Hita gets more snow than average for Ōita Prefecture. While snow inside the main city area accumulates to less than 10 centimetres (3.9 in) a year, the mountain regions can accumulate more than 30 centimetres (12 in) of snow. In the Maetsue mountain area the precipitation rate is high. While this helps grow the Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress trees used in

1254-482: The two towns merged to form the town of Hita. On December 11, 1940 Hita merged with the villages of Miyoshi, Mitsuoka, Takase, Asahi, Mihana, and Nishiarita merge to form the city of Hita. On March 31, 1955 the villages of Higashiarita, Ono, Otsuru, Yoake, and Gowa were annexed by the city of Hita. On March 22, 2005, the towns of Amagase and Ōyama , and the villages of Kamitsue , Maetsue and Nakatsue (all from Hita District ) were merged into Hita. With this merger,

1292-466: The use of this route stopped. The mountains surrounding the Hita basin reach 1000 meters (3,281 ft ) above sea level, while some mountains around Nakatsue , Maetsue , and Kamitsue reach 1200 meters (3,937 ft) above sea level. Fukuoka Prefecture Kumamoto Prefecture Ōita Prefecture Hita has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ). As a basin, the change in temperature from day to night during summer and winter

1330-484: The year. Sen-nen Akari Bamboo Light Festival Sen-nen Akari (千年あかり) is held from Friday to Sunday during the third week in November. On these three nights, bamboo lights illuminate the streets of Mameda-machi and the neighboring Kagestu River. The festival began in 2005. Hita Tenryō Festival Hita Tenryō Festival (日田天領まつり) is held the third weekend in November. This festival celebrates Hita's Edo period , when it

1368-402: Was a private school built by Hirose Tansō in 1805. The school's name means "everyone is welcome," and students from all over Japan came to study in Hita, regardless of age, gender, or social status. Kangien has been designated as a Japan Heritage site and two buildings remain standing: Shūfūan (秋風庵) and Enshirō (遠思楼). An education research center has also been built at the site. Taio gold mine

1406-432: Was designed by Eiji Mitooka . It runs between Ōita and Hita and is in service to also revive tourism and the local economy. Hita has many festivals throughout the year that attract a steady stream of visitors. Tenryō Hita Ohina Festival Tenryō Hita Ohina Festival (天領日田おひなまつり) is a girl's doll festival held every year from February 15 through March 31, around the time of the national Hinamatsuri . During this festival,

1444-401: Was under direct Tokugawa supervision. The highlight is a procession of 200 people through the city in full Edo-period costume. The name of the festival comes from the phrase tenryō , used to describe such direct Tokugawa landholdings (Hita was part of the territory overseen by the saigoku gundai , the deputy of the western provinces). Hita has many local specialty foods. One of the most famous

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