Kunisaki City

Iwato-ji's Kunisaki-tō bears the date 1283.

Iwato-ji's Kunisaki-tō

01 ／ Kebesu Festival

Nobody knowswhere it began.

Every October 14, Kushiki Shrine in Kunimi holds a fire festival. Toba, in white robes and purified by the sea, are joined by the eerily masked Kebesu, who sets piled ferns ablaze after a repeated tug-of-war. Sparks are said to ward off illness, but the festival's origin remains unknown. In 2000, it was named a national Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Held October 14
2000: National Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property
Origin unknown

02 ／ Monjusenji Temple

A proverb about wisdomis said to have begun here.

文殊仙寺本殿文殊堂.JPG — Photo by ボス (Public domain)

Known as the finest of the Rokugo Manzan temples, Monjusenji is said to be the birthplace of the proverb "three heads are as wise as Monju." Its hidden Buddha is unveiled only once every 12 years, in the Year of the Rabbit. The surrounding cliffs, Monju-yaba (文殊耶馬), became a National Scenic Beauty in 2018.

Unveiled once every 12 years, in the Year of the Rabbit
2018: National Scenic Beauty "Monju-yaba"
One of Japan's Three Monju Temples

03 ／ Taketazu Port

Running around the clock,five ferries a day.

Suonada Ferry sails between Taketazu Port and Tokuyama Port in Yamaguchi, said to be the only route connecting the Chugoku region with eastern Kyushu. It runs around the clock, five round trips a day, each crossing about two hours. It rivals Oita Airport as the gateway to the tip of the peninsula.

5 round trips a day, about 2 hours each
Runs around the clock
Only sea route linking Chugoku and eastern Kyushu

Living here

No trains, but ferries leave from its ports.

about 30,000 people

Kunisaki City has no railway. Ferries sail from Taketazu Port to Tokuyama in Yamaguchi, and from Imi Port to Himeshima Village. Oita Airport also lies within the city, offering flights as well.

People living here: 26,232people
Area: 318.1km²
Households: 11,913households
Rent (average for rentals): 27,788yen
Healthcare: 3 hospitals ／ 21 clinics

Area and habitable land at the same scalee-Stat B1101 / B1103

Children waiting for childcare: —11 nurseries and similar
Home purchase subsidy: —
Average annual temperature: —

These 3 items are waiting on a nationwide data source. We do not fill them with estimates.

Shape

Borders 2 municipalities.

Kunisaki City in Japan33.563°N 131.732°E

Territory of Kunisaki City

Boundaries: National Land Numerical Information (N03)

North to south

28.7km

杵築市, 豊後高田市

Travel times per leg are not published by the municipality, so they are not shown.

Kunisaki City isthis kind of town.

01Iwato-ji Temple's Kunisaki-tō (国東塔) tower is a National Important Cultural Property said to be the oldest dated example of its kind. At Kushiki Shrine in Kunimi, the origin-unknown Kebesu Fire Festival is held every October 14.
02On Mt. Gabizan, Monjusenji Temple is known as the birthplace of the proverb "three heads are as wise as Monju." Its principal Buddha is unveiled only once every 12 years, in the Year of the Rabbit. The surrounding cliffs, Monju-yaba, became a National Scenic Beauty in 2018.
03At the peninsula's tip, Taketazu Port is said to be the only sea route linking the Chugoku region and eastern Kyushu. Suonada Ferry runs around the clock, five round trips a day, to Tokuyama Port in Yamaguchi.

If something caught your eye, ask the town itself.

Kunisaki City official site ↗Wikipedia ↗