Walking the castle town of Usuki, Oita

We went to Oita and Kumamoto for 2 days on October 14 and 15. 

First, we walked around the castle town of Usuki. Usuki is a historic town where Otomo Sorin, a Japanese feudal lord who was believed in Christianity, built the Usuki Castle in 1562 on the Island Nyu-jima, in Usuki Bay as his head castle. He has also exchanged with foreign countries, such as Portugal. 

Kagi-ya (鑰屋), a well-established soy sauce shop in Haccho Oji/Honmachi Shopping Street. Founded in Keicho 5 (1600), it is deeply rooted in local.

Sala de Usuki is a multi purpose facility located in the heart of Usuki's historic district. There are some fancy shops like cafes, a civic gallery, a workshop and so on.

 

Kuge no Okura is just the other side of Haccho Oji Main Street. It was built in the late Edo period and used for a sake storage until now.

This is a great wall painting by Rogerio Ribeiro, a famous Portuguese azulejos (=tile) artist. He's making use of blue in paintings. 

Going back to Haccho Oji Street, then we headed for the Nioza Historical Road.

Nioza Historical Road with Zensho-ji Temple in the background.

This area is like a big maze, of roads, of temples and of samurai houses etc. lined up in a row.