RugbyPass' World Cup city guide - Oita
The Oita prefecture is located in the east of Kyushu and the capital Oita city will play home to two quarterfinals at the Rugby World Cup. The region is highly geothermal with hot springs popping up everywhere, including Beppu City, which hosts eight million visitors per year. Throughout Japan, the area is famous for onsen baths.
Beppu Station (Oita)
Beppu Station is the main railway station for the city of Beppu in the Oita prefecture. Connected by the JR Kyushu railways, many fans of New Zealand, Australia, Wales and Canada will likely pass through the station as their teams are in the Oita region.
Showadenko dome (Oita Stadium)
Oita will play host to two quarter-finals as well as three group stage matches involving New Zealand, Australia, Wales and Fiji in the 40,000 capacity stadium. Fans will ride a shuttle bus to the ground to watch matches, which is located in parklands just outside of Oita city.
Kitsuki Castle
Kitsuki Castle is perhaps one of the smallest in Japan. Restored in the 20th century, the castle has incredible views over the town of Kitsuki and out to the coast. Visitors can try on Samurai armour if they wish, whilst the castle has many Samurai displays inside. The castle is located about an hour’s drive from Oita city.
Kannawa (Geothermal Town)
The town of Kannawa in Oita is a geothermal hot spot. You will see steam rising from the streets everywhere! Find a foot bath restaurant for a relaxing and unique experience where you can eat while soaking your feet in a hot spa. The food is also cooked in a geothermal spring for a delicious meal.
Beppu Jigoku-Meguri (Geothermal hot springs)
The ‘Hell tour’ of Beppu refers to the famous hot springs that are untouchable, hence the name ‘Jigoku’ which translates to Hell. There are seven ‘Jigoku’ to see around Beppu, thermal mud and hot springs have been gushing from the ground for over 1,000 years.
The hot springs can provide stunning views of billowing steam and spewing mud.
Oniishi Bouzu Jigoku (Shaven head hell)
Chinoike Jigoku (The red blood pond)
Takachiho Gorge – Miyazaki
Takachiho Gorge is a narrow chasm cut through the rock by the Gokase River. Along the gorge you will find a stunning 17-metre high waterfall cascading down to the river. This view can be enjoyed from the bridge or you can get a little closer by hiring a rowboat to get up close and personnel.
Takachiho Gorge is located in the northern part of Miyazaki Prefecture adjacent to Kumamoto Prefecture and Oita Prefecture,It is accessible by car or bus and is a few hours from Oita by car.
Kaguraya – Miyazaki
The Kaguraya restaurant in Takachiho offers unique Japanese cuisine for a traditional lunch or dinner. Take a seat on the tatami mat and enjoy a set meal!
Amanoiwato Shrine – Miyazaki
Amanoiwato is a Shinto shrine located in the Takachiho area of Kyushu, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
The shrine sits above the gorge where thousands of small stone pillars line the path from the river to the shrine which sits inside a cave.
The shrine is about 15 to 20 minutes from Takachiho Bus Center by car, bus or taxi.
It is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu and sits above the gorge containing Ama-no-Iwato, the cave where, according to Japanese legend, the goddess hid after battle with her brother, plunging the world into darkness until lured out by the spirit of merriment.
Other recommended sites
Kebesu Fire Festival (Oita pref.) 2019/10/14
The deity named Kebesu, wearing a strange mask, tries to burst into the holy bonfire, while locals called Toba dressed in white defend it. After the battle between Kebesu and Toba goes on for a while, Kebesu finally enters into the bonfire. Then the mad Toba run over to the shrine to throw in a wooden fire stick for blessing people. People start screaming and running away from the fire, but the sparks are said to provide good health for one year.
For more information click here.
To book click here.
Miyazaki-Jingu Taisai (Jinmu-Sama) / Miyazaki Shrine Grand Festival
2019/10/26 – 2019/10/27
Miyazaki-jingu Taisai is the largest local festival in Miyazaki city and is held to pray for a plentiful harvest and to honor Japan’s first emperor, Jimmu. Worshippers in traditional dress, shishimai (lion dances), wadaiko (Japanese drums), and musical groups line the streets over the 2 days of the festival.
For more information click here.
Sapporo Beer Factory Tour
A tour of the beer factory is also popular. Click here for details.
Note: Reservations are required.
Comments on RugbyPass
In the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
5 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
6 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
5 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
6 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to comments