is a city located in à Âita Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 26,761 in 13199 households, and a population density of 96 persons per km<sup>2</sup>. The total area of the city is .
Kitsuki is located in east-central à Âita Prefecture at the southern tip of the Kunisaki Peninsula, across Beppu Bay from the prefectural capital at à Âita City. By land, it is approximately 35 kilometers from the center of à Âita City. The northern and western parts of the city are mountainous. Tateishi Pass, adjacent to Usa City, is the border between the former Bungo Province and Buzen Province.
Kitsuki has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation is significant throughout the year, but is somewhat lower in winter. The average annual temperature in Kitsuki is . The average annual rainfall is with June as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around . The highest temperature ever recorded in Kitsuki was on 18 August 2020; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 15 January 1985.
Per Japanese census data, the population of Kitsuki in 2020 is 27,999 people. Kitsuki has been conducting censuses since 1950.
The area of Kitsuki was part of ancient Bungo Province. During the Edo period it was mostly under control of Kitsuki Domain and was ruled by a cadet branch of the Matsudaira clan, with smaller areas under control of Hiji Domain. After the Meiji restoration, the town of Kitsuki within Hayami District, Ã Âita was established on May 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. On April 1, 1955 Kitsuki merged with the villages of Yasaka, Kita-Kitsuki and, Nakarie and was raised to city status. On October 1, 2005 Kitsuki merged with the town of Yamaka from Hayami District and the village of Ota from Nishikunisaki District, Ã Âita
Kitsuki has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 18 members. Kitsuki contributes one member to the à Âita Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of the à Âita 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries are the main industries, but due to its favorable location between Oita Airport and à Âita City/Beppu City, advanced technology industries, such as semiconductor production are now established.
Kitsuki has 15 public elementary schools and three public junior high schools operated by the city government and one public high school operated by the à Âita Prefectural Board of Education.