Taketa, Mountain castle town in Oita Prefecture, Japan
Taketa is a city in Oita Prefecture nestled in a mountain valley surrounded by several high peaks. The settlement spreads across gentle hills, with rural areas and smaller villages distributed between the mountain ridges.
The city developed during the Edo period as a castle town of the Oka Domain, ruled by the Nakagawa clan. After the Meiji Restoration, the region lost its feudal structure and transformed into a modern administrative center.
The town is known for making Princess Daruma dolls, hand-painted figures with bright faces that have been created here for generations. These dolls are part of daily life for many residents and are often taken home as souvenirs.
The city is reachable by train via the JR Kyushu Hohi Main Line, with Bungo-Taketa Station as the main entry point. Road connections through several national routes link the city to surrounding areas and allow visitors to explore the mountain landscape.
The area relies on natural spring sources from the mountains for artisanal products like tofu and local fish farms that depend on the pure water quality. These resources have long shaped the local economy and how residents and visitors interact with the landscape.
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