Demographics

Per Japanese census data, the population of Bungotakada in 2020 is 22,112 people.

History

The area of Bungotakada was part of ancient Bungo Province, although some portions were part of ancient Buzen Province. From the Nara period and Heian period, numerous Buddhist temples were constructed in the mountains of the Kunisaki Peninsula which became known as Rokugō Manzan (六郷満山). Many of these Rokugō Manzan temples, which are said to be the origin of the syncretism of Buddhism and Shinto in Japan, are located within the borders of Bungotakada.

During the Edo period it was mostly under control of Shimabara Domain and was ruled by a cadet branch of the Matsudaira clan, with smaller areas under control of Nobeoka Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Takada within Nishikunisaki District, Ōita was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It changed its name to Bungotakada on May 10, 1954 and on May 31 of the same year was raised to city status.

On March 31, 2005, the towns of Kakaji and Matama (both from Nishikunisaki District) were merged into Bungotakada.

Government

Bungotakada has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 16 members. Bungotakada contributes one member to the Ōita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the Ōita 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Economy

The economy of Bungotakada is based primarily on agriculture, with the area being a top producer of negi, buckwheat, peanuts, and Alkekengi in Western Japan.

Education

Bungotakada has ten public elementary schools, five public junior high schools and one combined elementary/junior high school operated by the city government. There is one public high school operated by the Ōita Prefectural Board of Education (大分県教育委員会).

Transportation

Railways

Bungotakada has no passenger railway service. The nearest station is Usa Station on the JR Kyushu Nippō Main Line, which is approximately four kilometers away from the Bungotakada urban center.

The former Usa Sangū Line (大分交通宇佐参宮線) once connected Bungotakada to a former railway station at Usa Jingū. The line was closed in 1965.

Highways

Airports

The nearest airport is Oita Airport located in Kunisaki.

Festivals and events

  • [[:ja: ホーランエンヤ (大分県)|Horan-enya<small> [jp]</small>]], a January naked festival in which men in funodshi throw mochi to spectators from a fishing boat and occasionally dive into the cold Katsura River.
  • [[:ja: 修正鬼会|Shujo Onie Festival<small> [jp]</small>]] ([[:ja: 天念寺|Tennenji Temple <small> [jp]</small>]]), a fire festival involving oni held during the Lunar New Year.
  • [[:ja:若宮八幡神社 (豊後高田市)|Wakamiya Hachiman Shrine Fall Festival<small> [jp]</small>]], a naked festival in November. A large torch is lit with fire arrows before men donning fundoshi carry a mikoshi across the [[:ja: 桂川 (大分県)|Katsura River<small> [jp]</small>]].

<gallery>

File: Wakamiya Hachiman Naked Festival.jpg| Men carrying mikoshi across the Katsura River while the large torch burns

File:Shujo Onie (Bungotakada).jpg|Shujo Onie Festival

File:Horan-enya boat.jpg|Boat carrying men in fundoshi during Horan-enya

</gallery>

Local attractions

  • Fuki-ji, Buddhist temple established in 718 AD with National Treasure Main Hall
  • Kumano Magaibutsu, National Historic Site
  • Maki Ōdō, historic temple containing Heian-period statues
  • [[:ja: 真玉海岸|Matama Coast <small> [jp]</small>]], famous for its beautiful sunsets and tidal flats
  • [[:ja:長崎鼻 (大分県)|Nagasakibana <small> [jp]</small>]], a cape with a campground and flower park with seasonal flowers such as nanohana, sunflowers, cherry blossoms, and cosmos. There are also sea caves, a beach for sea bathing, and an art museum called "Art Museum of Nature and Human Non-Homogeneity" (不均質な自然と人の美術館). Nagasakibana is sometimes called the "cape of flowers and art."
  • Showa no Machi, town popular for its nostalgic streets reminiscent of the Shōwa Period

<gallery>

File:富貴寺 大堂.JPG|Main hall of Fuki-ji

File:Kumano-magaibutsu.jpg| Fudō-Myoō (不動明王) Statue in Kumano Magaibutsu (熊野磨崖仏)

File:Showa no Machi 04.jpg|Shōwa-Style visitor attraction in Shōwa-no-Machi

File:Oita-Sunset at Matama Beach-xl.jpg |Dusk at the Matama Coast tidal flats

File:Showa no Machi 09.jpg| Sign marking the entrance to the Shōwa-no-Machi shopping street

File:Nakasakibana Gyōja Cave.jpg|Gyōja Cave, a sea cave at Nagasakibana

</gallery>

References