Oita Station Guide

• Nippo Line
• Kyudai Line
• Hohi Line
• Oita Station Facilities
• Oita Accommodation
• Oita Access
• Japan Stations

Oita Station 大分駅

Jake Davies

Oita Station is the main JR Kyushu station for Oita city, the capital of Oita Prefecture, and serves three lines: the Nippo, Kyudai and Hohi lines.

Main entrance to JR Oita Station, north side

Local diesel powered train on the Kyudai Line

Nippo Line

The Nippo Line connects Kokura in Kitakyushu with Kagoshima in the south of the island traveling along the east coast and passing through Oita and Miyazaki. By Nichirin or Sonic Limited Express, Kokura is just under an hour and a half away, Miyazaki just over three hours, and Kagoshima five hours.

Kyudai Line

The Kyudai Line, sometimes called the Yufu Kogen Line, runs between Oita and Kurume in Fukuoka. The popular hot spring resort of Yufuin is 50 minutes away, Hita is two and a half hours, and Kurume less than four hours. A faster Limited Express, the Yufuin No Mori, runs between Yufuin and Kurume and on to Hakata Station in Fukuoka.

Hohi Line

The Hohi Line runs from Oita to Kumamoto via Mount Aso. Aso Station is less than two and a half hours, and Kumamoto four hours.

BunBunGo, a small train for kids and families that drives around the main concourse of Oita Station

Oita Station Facilities

On the north side of the main station concourse is the Tourist Information Office
This is open from 8.30am to 5pm. Tel: 0975 32 0723

The main bus station for both local and long distance highway buses is in front of the north entrance.

Like many big city stations, Oita Station is part of a huge shopping and entertainment complex, JR Oita City and Amu Plaza include all manner of shops and eateries, but most interesting is the roof of Amu Plaza which has been made into a kind of urban park. Named City Rooftop Place, it is very popular with families, especially with younger kids, and there are plenty of free activities like swings, slides, climbing areas etc., as well as activities with a fee. There are undercover areas for if the weather is not so good and several choices of eatery. There are a variety of craft activities on offer too. There is a miniature train as well as self-powered carts on tracks, and even a Shinto Shrine. All traffic free of course and with good views out over the city.

Oita Station (Tel: 0979 22 5361) is barrier free, has coin lockers, a bakery, convenience store and a JR eki car rental office.

Coin Lockers

There are two banks of coin lockers in Oita Station: one near the North Exit (Funai-chuo Gate) and one near the South Exit (Ueno no Mori Gate). Both have small, medium and large lockers, but only the North Exit lockers have extra-large, as well, suitable for big suitcases. As of December 2018, the charges for these lockers are 400, 600, 700 and 900 yen respectively. The South Exit lockers are accessible 24 hours a day. The North Exit lockers are accessible 21½ hours a day, and are inaccessible between the early morning hours of 1:30 am and 4 am.

Tourist Information Office in the main concourse of Oita Station near the north entrance

Covered walkways lead from the north entrance of Oita Station to the main bus terminal

Shopping

Like many big city stations, Oita Station is part of a huge shopping and entertainment complex. JR Oita City and Amu Plaza include all manner of shops and eateries, but most interesting is the roof which has been made into a kind of urban park.

It's very popular with families especially with younger kids and there are plenty of free activities like swings, slides, climbing areas etc as well as activities with a fee.

There are undercover areas if the weather is not so good and several choices of eatery. There are a variety of craft activities on offer too. There is also a miniature train as well as self-powered carts on tracks. There is even a Shinto Shrine. All traffic free of course and with good views out over the city.

City Rooftop Hiroba is a large park geared towards young children on the roof of Oita Station

Accommodation in Oita

Like most Japanese cities, the area around the main railway station is dotted with a variety of hotels. Many of the major chains are here. Some recommended places to stay in Oita include the Rembrandt Hotel Oita, the Oita Regal Hotel, the Hotel New Tsuruta in Beppu and the four-star Motoyu-no-yado Kurodaya also in Beppu. 

Access - Getting to Oita

Oita Airport is about an hour north of the city by car or limousine bus.

Ferry

Ferry to Kobe (11 hours 20 mins) or Osaka (12 hours).
Kansai Kisen Ferry Reservations (0120-56-3268):
Osaka (tel 06-6572-5181), Beppu (tel 0977-22-2181)
www.ferry-sunflower.co.jp (Japanese & English, online reservations)
Daily, 7090 yen.

Air

There are air connections to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kagoshima, Seoul and Okinawa from Oita Airport.
Regular buses run to and from Oita Airport depart from Oita Station, the Tokiwa Department Store in Beppu and the bus station in Yufuin.

One of the many fun activities at City Park Hiroba atop JR Oita Station

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