By: Feodora Leoneta
Hello everyone! How are your classes going? I hope everything is going well on your end. If you have some time to spare, why not go to Oita? When traveling, please keep all the necessary precautions in mind such as wearing a mask, keeping a safe distance, and washing hands with soap or alcohol if soap is not available, and don’t forget to stay home if you are feeling unwell. Since we have seen a sudden spike in the COVID-19 cases recently, Oita has implemented 緊急事態宣言(state of emergency) protocols from May 12 until June 13. Keeping that in mind, I am going to share some of my favorite things to do in Oita, from restaurants to shopping places.
Enjoy delicious yakiniku with friends
Gyu-Kaku has always been my favorite go-to all-you-can-eat yakiniku restaurant. Of course, there are à la carte menus, but all-you-can-eat sounds more tempting, right? There are three courses for the all-you-can-eat package, but I recommend taking the Gyu-Kaku course plan, which has 100+ varieties to choose from! It’s open from 5 PM until midnight.
Full address: Gyu-Kaku, 府内ビル 1F, 3 Chome-5-28 Funaimachi, Oita, 870-0021
2. Daimyo Soft Cream Ahh, what a great meal! Next, how about going to Daimyo Soft Cream for dessert? Daimyo Soft Cream is a cute place near Oita Station, that sells delicious soft-serve ice cream. The ice cream is made with delicious milk from the brand Ito Monogatari, established in 1992 by the farmers in Itoshima Island in Fukuoka Prefecture, which produces fresh premium milk, yoghurt, and other dairy products. It’s open from 11.00 AM to 10.00 PM every day, and the ice cream is priced at 500 yen and above. Full address: 1 Chome-3-12 Chuomachi, Oita, 870-0035
3. Don Quijote (ドンã‚ホテ)
Don Quijote is the biggest all-in-one discount store in Japan. I’m sure you have heard of it, but do you know there is one in Oita? To get to Don Quijote, take the bus from Oita Station to Shinkawa. If you are still confused, don’t hesitate to ask for help from the nearby employees, and they will show you the right bus. The store itself has two floors and carries items ranging from skincare, electronics, to toys. There is nothing you can’t find there, and you will leave with more things than you think! Don Quijote opens from 10.00-3.00 AM.
Location: 1137 Seike, Oita, 870-0031
4. Yawara
Yawara is my favorite yakitori restaurant in Oita, and there are many reasons why. There are so many varieties to choose from, not just yakitori, but also ba-sashi (horse sashimi), tonsoku (pig’s feet), and even toriten! One stick of yakitori starts from 80 yen to 250 yen. The staff are so friendly. I guarantee you will not regret it. The place opens from 5 PM until midnight.
Address: 〒870-0021 Oita, Funaimachi, 3 Chome−3−13 D-Style 府内 ２Ｆ
5. Moff Animal Cafe
You’ve done shopping, ate delicious food... hmm, something is still missing. What better way to close your trip than with a short trip to OPA and spend your time with some cute cats? OPA is a small shopping mall near Oita Station, and if you go to the third floor, you will instantly be greeted by the presence of cats either chilling, playing, or interacting with the customers. To enter, you will need to pay the hourly fee and one drink, starting from 660円 for the first 30 minutes. Following Oita’s emergency protocol, the store opens from 10.00-18.00 every day
Location: 〒870-0035 Oita, Chuomachi, 1 Chome−2−17 OPA 3F.
With all that said, I hope you guys find some inspiration for fun activities to do in Oita. Don’t forget to tag @apu_times on Instagram and share your favorite moments from the trip!