“Kogane no Ume” is one of Minami-Echizen Town’s specialties. Because “Kogane no Ume” ripens later than other plums, it takes about one more month before it is ready to harvest. The green fruit turns yellow and fills the air with a sweet, fruity scent that makes you want to take a deep breath. They are sold at the Roadside Station Minami Echizen Sankairi during the harvest season.

Commemorative photo of a solo traveler A scene from Ono City, Fukui Prefecture, at Kuzuryuko Station on the JR Etsumi Kita Line. I am traveling alone using the Blue Spring 18 ticket, and as a commemoration of coming here, I took a selfie using the mirror on the platform.

A child who is scared when his favorite dinosaur becomes life-size! Even so, it was 😂 very cool to see them have the courage to stand up to it

My child likes dinosaurs, so I Outbound a trip to Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum in Fukui Prefecture. I was scared that my favorite dinosaur would become life-size! I took a picture 📷 of them running frantically from the dinosaurs

Cherry blossom-lined streets can be found everywhere in Minami-Echizen! We also offer bicycle rentals, so why not take a relaxed ride along the country roads? We look forward to welcoming you around April.

“Sea glass” refers to fragments of glass you can find along seashores and the shores of large lakes. Their unique muted tones and delicate beauty feel like gifts from the sea. Accessories made with that sea glass are sold at “Dotto Kitamae,” located on the grounds of the Kitamaebune Shipowners’ House Ukon Family Museum! When light passes through, sea glass shines with a distinctive glow—why not add it to your new-life wardrobe for a stylish touch?

Ukon Family Museum of Kitamaebune Shipowners — Hina Dolls These dolls were a gift in Taisho 6 (1917) to Fukuko, the eldest daughter of the 11th head of the family, Mr. Gitaro, and his wife. They are on display for a limited time; for details please check the Minami-Echizen Town tourism information site.

Autumn Lake Festa — Opening the tour boat deck on Urami River! — (October 11, 12, 13) From Saturday, October 11 to Monday, October 13, 2025, we will hold the Autumn Lake Festa. We will begin operating the Mikata Five Lakes Nature Cruise, which opens the tour boat deck from Urami River. You can experience with all your senses scenery like a jungle, with sheer rock faces and dense primeval forest close at hand. One of the highlights of the Mikata Five Lakes Nature Cruise is the Urami River, which links Kugushi Lake and Suigetsu Lake. This historic canal was artificially excavated about 360 years ago as flood control after an earthquake. The jungle-like sight of towering rock faces and lush primeval forest viewed from the tour boat deck is breathtaking. Autumn Lake Festa Overview Dates: Saturday, October 11; Sunday, October 12; Monday (national holiday), October 13, 2025 Fare: Adults: ¥1,980; Elementary school students: ¥990; Preschool children: Free Departure times: Grieve (capacity: 20) 9:30, 10:45, 13:00, 14:15, 15:30 Kuut (capacity: 25) 10:00, 11:15, 13:30, 14:45, 16:00 Cruise duration: Approximately 50 minutes Special offer: Passengers will receive Harukamaru’s buri katsu (yellowtail cutlet) while supplies last! Present the distributed flyer to receive a discount on the fare. Special events: On the 11th only, a quiz contest by the Regional Revitalization Cooperation Team (same-day registration, first 20 people each session, held at 10:00 and 14:00) In the evening there will be a Newcomers’ Exchange (advance reservation required, 17:00–19:00, 25 people, participation fee ¥3,000 includes a boarding ticket※ and food and drink) ※The 16:00 sailing will operate as an exclusive service for Exchange participants. [Apply here] ⇛ https://forms.gle/Dtmf1uxzyCqeZ8zS9...

The heat has cooled down, and it’s about time for outdoor picnics🌸 . When that time comes, I recommend the bread and baked sweets from Karion (Hanasato-ne)! They offer classic breads like anpan and melon pan, plus seasonal breads, so you’ll have a hard time choosing which one to pick💦 Their gateau au chocolat is moist inside, richly chocolatey, and more substantial than it looks😍 . Karion’s breads and sweets are also sold at the Roadside Station Minami Echizen Sanka-ri in Minami-Echizen town, Shikisai, and the Honey Nanjo store!

Winter in Fukui brings many cloudy, rainy, and snowy days, and the sky is often leaden. That makes a sunny break all the more precious! A winter sunset seen after a long time looks especially beautiful against the clear air.

The Nakamura family built great wealth as owners of cargo-buying ships. The Nakamura House is a large mansion of a Kitamaebune shipowner, featuring a distinctive estate layout and a three-story guestroom wing. It has been open to the public since April 2024. Can you feel the history and romance of the Kitamaebune captains who endured and thrived on the majestic Sea of Japan?

Because soba breaks more easily than other noodles, it came to be eaten on the night before New Year’s Eve as a way of symbolically cutting off the misfortunes of the past year. In the Imajo area, families make soba at home at the end of the year to serve as their year-crossing noodles.

In the Kono Area, narcissus flowers bloom across the slopes facing the Echizen Coast in winter. How about enjoying the elegant narcissus with its pleasant fragrance?

Itadori-juku in Imajo offers a charming retro atmosphere! This site contains the remains of a checkpoint that once marked the entrance to the Hokkokukaido. By establishing the checkpoint, it served an important role in regulating travelers on the road.✨ Nearby stand four traditional houses with thatched roofs built in the kogashira style, and they are certified under Fukui Prefecture’s Traditional House Recognition System. If you’re curious, visit and you might enjoy a nostalgic atmosphere.

The soba in Imajo district of Minami-Echizen Town is superb. Come and taste the fragrant, exquisite soba for yourself!

Ripe astringent persimmons are exquisite♪ You might even eat some as you harvest if you get hungry...

Autumn tradition: persimmon harvesting! Using a bamboo-handled scissor pole made for harvesting, each persimmon is picked one by one. That skill is a craftsman’s art! The technique of a mother who has harvested persimmons for 50 years is truly impressive ✨😍

There are many scenic spots on the way up to Yashagaike. As you climb, enjoy the sound of the river and the birdsong!

Yashagaike shows different faces depending on the season. The deep greens of spring and summer are lovely, but how about the fiery autumn foliage? From the trailhead on the Fukui Prefecture side, it takes about two hours to reach Yashagaike. Try climbing at various times of the year!

"Akariyanse" Around October, it takes place centered on Ukon House, the Kitamaebune Shipowners' Residence. The event lights up the area around Ukon House with LED candles and andon lanterns. The fantastic lights decorate Kono Kitamaebune Shipowners' Street, letting visitors enjoy an atmosphere different from usual.

🚩 Program Overview (Awara Hot Spring/Local Sake Pairing Experience) ■ Contents: Sake course by a proprietress who is qualified as a sake master 　　　　Toast with a welcome drink (sparkling Sake "Landlady's AWA") 　　　　Tasting 3 kinds of local sake built into Fukui Prefecture 　　　　Pairing experience with Local cuisine 　　　　Use of sake vessels of traditional crafts such as Echizen pottery and Echizen lacquerware ■ Held in: Local Sake Brewery Kondo (1 501 Hot Spring, Awara City, Fukui Prefecture) 　　　　　　　Echizen Railway "Awara Yunomachi Station" Get off and walk for about 2 minutes ■Implementation Time: 14:00~15:00 (Opening 10 minutes before) ・Duration: Approximately 1 hour ≪ schedule≫ 14:00 Start of the experience Welcome Toast with a drink 　　 　　　　　　Explanation of Sake / How to drink Sake / Sake tasting / Pairing experience 　　15:00 End / Dismissal　　　 ■ Number of participants: Minimum 4 people, capacity 12 people (will be closed as soon as the capacity is reached) 🚩 Special Terms and Conditions for Fees and Monitors Regular participation fee: 6,000 yen (tax included) / 1 person ▶ Special price for this limited monitor: 2,000 yen / 1 person ■ Conditions for participating in the monitor: (1) Posting the Scene of the experience on social media, etc. (2) Cooperate with a simple questionnaire after participation. * Basically, people under the age of 20 and Car are not Subject to participate 🚩 How to apply (payment is cash only on the day) Google Forms or Email kanko-k@awara.info 🚩 Held in Events Held in "October Festival" at Awara Hot Spring Yunomachi Square (2 minutes walk from the venue) 15:00~21:00 🔄 Cancellation Policy Up to 3 days in advance: 30% of the Fee 2-1 day ago: 50% Same-day or no-show cancellation: 100%

Kitamaebune Shipowners’ Street runs along the Shiokaze Line. Here stands the Ukon House, a Kitamaebune shipowner’s residence designated as a Japan Heritage site. The building I’m introducing this time is the Western-style house a few steps up from the Ukon House. What view opens up from the second-floor veranda? That’s a surprise to enjoy when you visit. . When you come to the Ukon House, be sure to climb up to the Western-style house on Kitamaebune Shipowners’ Street for a different experience—the unique scenery you can only see here awaits you. https://www.minamiechizen.com/en/feature/64468/...

Fukui Prefecture is the birthplace of Koshihikari rice! Fertile land, nutrient-rich water flowing down from the surrounding mountains, and the large day–night temperature differences in the mountainous areas all make this region suitable for growing Koshihikari, and Minami-Echizen Town is exactly such a place.

The Echizen-Wakasa Castle Festival 2025 will be held again this year on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26, 2025! The venues are in Obama City, home to Obama Castle and Goseyama Castle. This is the largest castle-related event in Fukui Prefecture, bringing together castle enthusiasts and organizations from inside and outside the prefecture. From Mihama Town, the Sakaki-Kunikiyo Castle exhibit will be on display! In addition, four routes are offered as coordinated tours under the “Historical Exploration Bus Tours” program. These will be full days of conversation with local curators, so please be sure to apply. Echizen-Wakasa Castle Festival 2025 Date Saturday, October 25 to Sunday, October 26, 2025 Venue ・JA Fukui Prefecture, Obama Branch └ Booths by castle organizations and sales of limited goods such as castle stamps (goshuin) ・Obama City Comprehensive Welfare Center (Sun Sun Home Obama) └ Keynote lectures and talk sessions ・Wakasa History Museum, Fukui Prefectural Museum └ Hands-on booths and panel exhibits For details, please see the linked page. https://fukushiro.com/etizenwakasa_oshirofes2025/...

Products made in Minami-Echizen Town are being enjoyed in Zanzibar! Heshiko from Sahei, a guesthouse in Minami-Echizen Town, crossed the sea to reach Japanese restaurant Masaru in Zanzibar☆ Heshiko is a fermented food made by salting mackerel and curing it in rice bran for more than a year. You can use it not only for ochazuke, rice balls, and sushi, but also in pasta and pizza, or as a filling for fried rice—there are many ways to enjoy it! https://www.minamiechizen.com/en/spot/35084/...

The sea is great, but the mountains are also worth visiting! Minami-Echizen Town has the sea, of course, and also rivers and waterfalls☆ Even at this time of year the river water is very cold and feels wonderful♪ Refresh yourself while soaking in the negative ions.

The fireworks festival in Echizen City, called “Old Takefu,” is a source of local pride. The fireworks take many shapes, and you can truly appreciate them in photos. They represent the fireworks master’s crowning achievement. Perhaps it’s the viewer’s state of mind, but impressions and preferences change with how you watch. Right now, I prefer thin, flowing trails.

Ichijo Falls in Fukui Prefecture. This is a place deep in the mountains, where you can find flowers, flowers, and cobwebs everywhere. Ichijo Falls in the middle of summer is very thin, but even so, the hydrangeas, which have become unbearable in this year's heat, have become dry and have been webbed by spiders everywhere. Nature is not only beautiful, but I don't want to lose it.

When I went to Ichijo Falls in Fukui Prefecture, I saw summer hydrangeas. In Japan, where summer began early, the hydrangeas, which had been beautiful, were turned into carakaras and ephemeral appearances.

Asakura Ruins in Fukui Prefecture. This is the place just past the Kara Gate. There was a road like this. I wonder if I can peek, walk, and peek into that era.