Nakatsu, Ōita


Nakatsu is a city on the northern border of Ōita Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan. The city is on the border with Fukuoka Prefecture. Nakatsu was founded on April 20, 1929.
As of March 2017, the city has an estimated population of 84,701 and a population density of 170 people per km2. The total area is 491.09 km2.

History

Nakatsu is a castle town centered on Nakatsu Castle, which is open to visitors. The modernised interior comprises a museum with samurai armor, old maps and information about Rangaku, for which Nakatsu was an important center in the Edo period. There are views from the top of the castle keep.
Visitors can see the residence of the most celebrated member of the Okudaira clan of Nakatsu, Fukuzawa Yukichi, and the memorial hall there. It is close to the castle and a 15-minute walk from the station.
Nakatsu's Mt. Hachimen was home to the popular music festival, Concert on the Rock.

Geography

Nakatsu is in the northwest corner of Ōita Prefecture, Kyushu. To the east of Nakatsu is Usa and to the southwest is Hita. Nakatsu touches the border of Fukuoka Prefecture on its west. To the northeast is the Suohnada Sea. The city covers an area of 491.09 square kilometers, 80% of which is mountainous. There is a wide stretch of flat, agricultural land which begins at the mouth of Yamakuni River and extends to Mt. Hiko.

Notable people from Nakatsu