Ōita Prefecture is famous for its hot springs and is a popular tourist destination in Japan for its onsen and ryokan, particularly in and around the city of Beppu.

After the Meiji Restoration, districts from Bungo and Buzen provinces were combined to form Ōita Prefecture.

The origins of the name Ōita are documented in a report from the early 8th century called the Chronicles of Bungo (豊後国風土記, bungonokuni-fudoki).

[6] According to the document, when Emperor Keikō visited the Kyushu region, stopping first in Toyo-no-Kuni, he exclaimed that 'This is a vast land, indeed.

Merchants in Hita's Mameda and Kuma districts worked with the national government to create this money-lending industry known as Hita-kin.

The Kirishima Range is a volcanic belt that runs vertically through the prefecture and contributes to the many hot spring sources that make the region a popular tourist attraction and makes Ōita the prefecture with the largest number of hot springs in the whole country.

The inland areas consist of basin valleys in Hita, Kusu, Yufuin and Taketa, which were formed by lava buildup in combination with river erosion.

Sea cliffs, caves, and sedimentary rock formations that can be found in Saiki City's Yakata Island are considered very rare outside of coral reef areas.

It is grown in Kunisaki Peninsula of Ōita Prefecture and is used in the production of Ryukyu-style tatami mats, as it is dust and moisture absorbent and has a pleasant scent.

Ōita ranks number one in Japan (and second in the world next to America's Yellowstone National Park) for the amount of hot-spring output and geothermal power.

Ōita has gained nationwide recognition for their promotion of "The Oita Brand", labeling local products with the prefectural name.

Economic development of Ōita was greatly aided by the One Village One Product movement of long-time governor Morihiko Hiramatsu.

As of December 2009, Ōita was ranked as having the highest number of foreign students relative to population in Japan.

[13] This is contributed to the fact that Ritsumeikan Asia-Pacific University (APU) in Beppu accepts many foreign students.

As of November 1, 2009, there were 4,160 foreign students in Ōita total, from 101 different countries and territories, with the majority being from Asia (e.g. China and South Korea).

There is also traditional song and music known as "gaku" that is performed in the Kunisaki Peninsula Area and is accompanied by characteristic dances such as the Yoshihirogaku in Musashi Town.

The community is situated in the Hiko mountain range, about 17 kilometres from the centre of Hita City, and is said to have been established in 1705 to make large wares – lidded jars for pickled vegetables and fruit, water crocks, ash burners, and pouring vessels with small spouts – for local farmhouses.

Onta pottery is now produced full-time by ten families in Sarayama, five of whom continue to share and fire an eight chambered climbing kiln.

Festivals using bamboo shoots as candle holders are carried out yearly in the autumn in Usuki, Taketa, and Hita Cities.

Shinbutsu-shūgō (神仏習合), or the syncretism of Buddhism and Shinto, is said to have begun in this region out of the unique Rokugō Manzan culture.

Other works of his can be found throughout the prefecture including B-con Plaza in Beppu, Bungo-No-Kuni Information Library, the Audio-Visual Center in Oita City, and Yufu Train Station.

The Oita-Asian Sculpture Exhibition (see external link below) is a biennial event that takes place in Asaji Town in Bungo-Ono City.

This exhibition is carried out to commemorate Oita sculptor Asakura Fumio, and to encourage rising artists throughout Asia.

Exhibition winners are given generous prizes and their works are kept on display at the Asakura Fumio Memorial Museum in Bungo-Ono City.

The Oita International Wheelchair Marathon (see external link below) is a yearly event held in October.

[24] The city of Beppu is a busy passenger port with regular ferry links through the inland sea to Osaka and several other destinations, and offers a variety of cultural experiences.

It is known for its onsen, shopping streets, ryokan, Mount Yufu (由布岳, Yufudake), and Lake Kinrin (金鱗湖, Kinrin-ko).

[25] The Kunisaki Peninsula is well-known for its hiking trails, many mountain valleys, and the temples and Buddhist statues located throughout the area.

The reserve was initially established to prevent the monkeys from raiding the region's fruit crops, a behavior that brought them into conflict with local farmers.

Hachimen in Nakatsu was home to Concert on the Rock, a music festival held as an annual charity event which saw over 30 international acts performing over a weekend in June 2004.