KYOTO & OITA
Exploring Japanese Food and Onsen Culture
Discover Japan's regional dishes while relaxing in the country's many onsen (hot springs).
We'll take you past the usual tourist spots, from a lesser known part of Kyoto to the hidden gem of Oita Prefecture,
each of which can be explored in a short two- or three-day getaway.
How to get there
From Tokyo to Kyoto (From 65 mins~)
Narita International Airport /
Haneda Airport
- 1. Kansai International Airport
via Kansai Airport Express "HARUKA" (75 mins) to Kyoto Station
via Airport Bus (90 mins) to Kyoto City - 2. Itami Airport
via Airport Bus (60 mins) to Kyoto Station
From Tokyo to Oita
(95 mins)
Haneda Airport
Oita Airport
via Airport Bus (45 mins) to Beppu City (Beppu Kitahama Bus Stop)
KYOTO, Beyond the City
Kyoto is known as the origin of green tea in Japan. If you'd like to experience the country's tea culture at a deeper level, visit the hilly tea plantations of Wazuka Town and try tea leaf harvesting. Here you can also enjoy a variety of dishes prepared using green tea, including ramen and ice cream. Green tea is not the only thing that originated in Kyoto. In the town of Yawata, next to a beautiful Japanese garden with century-old tea houses, you can sample Japan's square bento (a traditional meal box) from Kitcho, the restaurant that invented it.
If you look at a map of the Kyoto Prefecture, you’ll be surprised to see that it stretches all the way north to the Sea of Japan. This is an area that is often overlooked by tourists who stick to the overcrowded city.
Here you’ll find the small fishing village of Ine. With its charming, old-fashioned townscape and the row of boat houses that line the coast, Ine will take you on a journey into the simple way of life of the local fishermen. You can try the freshly caught fish or the sake from the local brewery, and even stay at one of the boat houses, as some were converted into lodgings.
In this area is also Kyotango City, where you can sample an old sushi recipe called bara sushi. Made by pressing rice and layers of other ingredients in a wooden container, this dish was once prepared during special celebrations.
Although not widely known, Kyoto is also home to several hot spring resorts. Head to Amanohashidate, one of Japan's most scenic spots, for onsen baths with a beautiful view of the sea. For mountain fans, the mountain hot spring resort of Yunohana Onsen is a relaxing place hidden away among beautiful nature. It is said that warriors used to come to this hot spring to heal their battle injuries.
OITA, the Onsen Prefecture
Located on the eastern coast of Kyushu Island, Oita is known by Japanese people as “the hot spring prefecture”. The city of Beppu is one of Japan’s most scenic and famous hot spring resorts in Japan. All kinds of spas can be found here, from hot baths to steam baths and sand baths. Visit the seven “hells”, a spectacular set of hot springs that include a blood-red pool and a beautiful blue pool. Also be sure to catch a view of the city with its characteristic clouds of steam.
In areas like Beppu City's Kannawa Onsen, you can enjoy a retro townscape and try the jigoku mushi, stone steaming vats where you can cook food with steam coming from the hot springs.
Nagayu Onsen in Taketa City offers carbonated baths such as Ramune Onsen, named after a popular soda drink.
Oita offers many delicious local dishes. Toriten, or chicken tempura, is a staple along with karaage fried chicken and tori meshi (chicken rice). The market of Saiki sells fresh fish, local food and sushi that people can eat right on the spot. A popular seasoning here is goma dashi, made from fish paste, ground sesame and soy sauce. It is used to prepare the town's signature dish, goma dashi udon. Another regional specialty of Oita is dango jiru, a miso soup packed with seasonal vegetables that contains thick and flat wheat noodles. The same noodles are also used in a dessert called yaseuma, where they are sprinkled with kinako and sugar.
Oita might be famous for its hot springs, but few know that it also offers great nature escapes. The beautiful Kuju Mountain Range is home to the Tadewara Wetlands, a dreamy landscape that you can traverse on wooden boardwalks. The hot springs here are isolated and blissfully immersed in nature. If you visit the area, be sure you try Bungo-gyu, Oita’s own brand of beef with a juicy meat that melts in your mouth.