Usa has one of the most beautiful shrines in Japan, including a stunning Studio Ghibli-style bridge. Usa Jingū Shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit when you’re in Kyushu! We also went strawberry picking and wisteria flower viewing in Usa. Here’s how to make the most of your day trip to Usa.
Top 3 things to do in Usa, Oita
- Visit Usa Jingū Shrine and Kurehashi Bridge – A UNESCO World Heritage site with a Studio Ghibli-style bridge.
- Explore Senzai Farm – Beautiful wisteria (especially in spring – roses in summer, and fall).
- Go Strawberry Picking – A must-do activity in spring.
How to get to Usa
🚌 By Bus: Hourly buses run from Usa Station to Usa Shrine (7 minutes, 240 yen one way). Alternatively, a taxi ride costs about 1600 yen one way from Usa Station.
🚕 By Taxi: Taxis are readily available around Usa Station.
✈️ From Oita Airport: There are about four bus round trips per day between Oita Airport and Usa Shrine (60 minutes, 1550 yen one way).
Proposed itinerary:
Morning – Usa Jingu Shrine
Start your day by taking a taxi from Usa Station to Usa Jingū Shrine. When we were there, the temple was under slight renovation, but it wasn’t too bothersome. The site of the shrine has different facilities such as shops, restaurants and there is a walking route. There are multiple temples on the site. After visiting the shrine, walk to Kurehashi Bridge. This was truly one of the most beautiful bridges we had seen in Japan.
Address: 2859 Minamiusa, Usa, Oita 872-0102, Japan
Hours: 5:30 AM to 7:00 PM (from 6:00 AM from October to March)
Admission: Free
Noon – Lunch
Make sure to plan your lunch accordingly, as most lunch places close by 2:00 PM. There are several lunch places around the Usa shrine but they are quite limited. We enjoyed eating at Kakumasa Udon which is a Udon restaurant. This restaurant is walking distance from the shrine.
Address: 2213-1 Minamiusa, Usa, Oita 872-0102, Japan
Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Price: 1000 – 2000 yen
Afternoon: Strawberry picking at Act Strawberry Farm
If you’re in USA around spring, I highly recommend going to Act Strawberry Farm. They have seven types of delicious strawberries, and they are the best I’ve ever eaten. For 1600 yen, you can enjoy unlimited strawberries. They have an Instagram account @harucoco888 where you can follow them for daily updates on availability and opening hours. The trip was truly worth it, we ate over 30 strawberries ( my mom ate 80! ). Afterwards, they also called a taxi for us to take us to the next destination.
Address: Oita Pref. Usashi Ninagi 2215-51
Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (information desk closes at 3:00 PM)
Admission: Adults (Junior high school students and older) 2000 yen, Children (Elementary school students) 1600 yen, Free for children under 2 (accompanied by a guardian)
Phone: 080-6456-4115 & Instagram: @harucoco888
Afternoon: Visit Senzai Farm
During spring, Senzai Farm has an amazing display of wisteria flowers, ranging from white to purple to pink. It was very fun to walk through, take pictures, and enjoy the beautiful wisteria. There were a lot of Japanese tourists there as well. Afterwards, you can enjoy wisteria ice cream and buy some matcha or green tea, as they grow it on the farm. The staff called a taxi for us to go to the next stop.
Wisteria Season: Late April to early May
Rose Season: Mid-May to early July, early October to late November
Address: 4388 Yokkaichi, Usa, Oita 879-0471, Japan
Hours: from 9 am to 5 pm
Admission: Free
24 hours in Japan 
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