Deep Local Culture! The Traditions of Craftspeople in Hita City, Oita Prefecture【Explore Oita Japan】 

*Japanese, English, and Vietnamese subtitles available. Please enjoy the video with subtitles switched on.
In this video, we’ll introduce Hita City, Oita Prefecture.
【Contents】
0:45 Ontayaki Village
3:23 Mameda Town
3:37 Kunchou Sake Brewery
5:35 Life Design Shop Areas
6:39 Cafe & Bar Kotonean
7:45 Caffel Hina-no-Sato
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Our hosts visited Hita City, Oita Prefecture.
At Ontayaki Village, which coexists seamlessly with the grand nature of Hita City, they met potters with the inheritance of traditional skills, and watched as they made pottery using a “Kara-usu”(mortars), which has been passed down since the Edo Period.
The sound of the Kara-usu smashing the clay echoing throughout the quiet village relaxes the soul.
The clay used for the pottery is collected in the local area, and only that with a high concentration of iron and reddish hues is used.
Once it is smashed with the Kara-usu together with the abundant water of Hita, the potters can create traditional masterpieces using their hands. As everyday utensils, they add a simple, homespun warmth into one's life.
Next up, our hosts visited Mameda Town, which is registered as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings for its Edo Period townscape that remains today.
It is also dubbed “Kyushu's Little Kyoto,” and our hosts had the opportunity to meet craftspeople who have inherited ancient techniques.
Such traditions are protected at a sake brewery that brews with Oita Prefecture rice and Hita water, and visitors can purchase sake and original products while enjoying the warm and mellow aromas of “koji” fermentation mold.
There is also a Sake brewery museum that showcases the history and culture of sake brewing, along with the "Sake Study Room" to learn about the process and appearances of sake brewing as it was handed down from generation to generation.
Next, they visited Life Design Shop Areas, which introduces the works of local craftspeople, the manufacturing techniques and culture that have been passed down in Hita City, which flourished under direct control of the shogunate, after the placement of a “Gundai” (a rural intendant) since the Azuchi-Momoyama Period.
The shop is full of original products designed by local craftspeople.
Hita City is also a famous furniture manufacturing region, which, when combined with Ontayaki pottery and other household items, allows you to fill your life entirely with local products, a rarity even in Japan.
Our hosts listened as the shop owner shared his thoughts on Hita’s multi-generational crafting scene and how the shop supports the town.
At Cafe & Bar Kotonean, our hosts relished the original Dolce Shaved Ice, which is made from the delicious water of Hita turned into soft and fluffy ice with seasonal fruits and more grown in Kyushu. The popular classic shaved ice is available all year, while different seasonal flavors are offered at limited times.
Moreover, the tableware is made of local Hita cedar wood, giving the cafe a regional feel adored by the community.
Lastly, they visited Caffel Hina-no-Sato and rode a houseboat on the Mikuma River, taking in the striking nature of Hita and stunning sunset.
It is said that houseboats have a history in Hita stretching back to the Edo Period, and while they are popular in summer, Caffel Hina-no-Sato’s original houseboats host night cruises between April and September, and sunset cruises from October to March, allowing you to enjoy them not only summer, but whenever you visit.
They own several different houseboats, offering attractions like a clear panel ceiling to look up at the stars while cruising, or a cafe to savor treats on the river.
The cruise offered an elegant way to experience the magnificent nature of Hita, with its spectacular views of the sky and river, and the fresh breeze blowing through the air.
We hope that this video inspires you to visit Hita and experience the local crafts passed down the generations, and embrace the magnificent nature.
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Hita City Tourism Association▶︎ oidehita.com/
Ontayaki Village▶︎ oidehita.com/a...
Mameda Town▶︎www.hita-mameda...
Kunchou Sake Brewery▶︎www.kuncho.net/
Life Design Shop Areas▶︎www.hi-count.ne...
Cafe & Bar Kotonean ▶︎kotonean.net/
Caffel Hina-no-Sato ▶︎www.sanyokan.c...
大分県観光情報公式サイト / Discover Oita▶︎bit.ly/37fTNKx
テッパンおおいた / Teppan Oita▶︎bit.ly/2T4LtoU
Explore Oita▶︎bit.ly/2HjcFNJ
Tourismoita Instagram▶︎bit.ly/347b6vg
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