Usuki Stone Buddhas (Usuki Sekibutsu) 3
The Usuki Stone Buddhas (Usuki Sekibutsu) are in the city of Usuki in central Oita Prefecture, located approximately 40 km southeast of the city of Beppu and its famous for hot springs. Usuki has vestiges of the past that remain unchanged, including narrow streets, numerous temples and rows of samurai residences. The city is a very popular tourist site. The Christian feudal lord, OTOMO Sorin (1530-1587) built a castle in Usuki and moved there, turning Usuki into a castle town and forming the foundation of the present-day city. A large port that existed in Usuki in the mid 16th century conducted active trade with Europe and China, leading Usuki to prosperity as the heart of the 6 provinces that existed at that time in Kyushu region. It was also the center of Western culture.