“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.

We are holding a meet-and-greet for people who have moved back to Mihama Town through a UI turn relocation. Join us for a sightseeing boat cruise and an informal meal to chat about life after moving here. Mihama UIj Turn Relocation Meet-and-Greet at Lake Center Date and Time: Saturday, October 11, 2025 16:00–16:50 Sightseeing boat tour around the Mikata Five Lakes 17:00–19:00 Dinner and social gathering Location: Mihama Town Lake Center: 24-4-1 Hayase, Mihama Town (tel 0770-47-5960) Those wishing to board the sightseeing boat should meet at 15:45. Those attending only the social gathering should meet at 17:00. Participation Fees: Boat tour + social gathering 2,000 JPY (tax included) + 1,000 JPY (tax included) Social gathering only 2,000 JPY (tax included) Child rates: Social gathering 500 JPY (tax included); Boat tour 1,000 JPY (tax included) Eligibility: People who have relocated to Mihama Town, Fukui Prefecture (UIJ turn) Mihama UIj Turn Relocation Meet-and-Greet at Lake Center Application Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdiQFekMDcixANKjmEawH3820nd-zx7nkk1Y145d8wnkELCqw/viewform...

On Monday, November 24 (substitute holiday), we will welcome Chris Glenn, a radio DJ and talent who also serves as a director of the Japan Castle Foundation (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation), to host a guided tour of the Kuniyoshi Castle ruins. Enjoy a different perspective on the Kuniyoshi Castle ruins through the eyes of Chris Glenn. A guided tour of the Kuniyoshi Castle ruins from the viewpoint of a castle-loving radio DJ Date and time: Saturday, November 24, 2025 (substitute holiday) 1:30 PM–3:30 PM Meeting place: Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum Fee: Free (advance registration required) (Call or fax between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on open days) This event will proceed in light rain. Please wear comfortable clothing and well-broken-in shoes suitable for walking. On the day of the event only, participants may enter the museum free of charge.

The annual "Connect Our Hometown with Beacon Fires at Kuniyoshi Castle" will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2025. This year we will link Kuniyoshi Castle’s main bailey and the Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum. Take this chance to experience a medieval method of communication. Participants in the day’s events will receive free admission to the Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum. Connect Our Hometown with Beacon Fires at Kuniyoshi Castle Gather at 10:00 on Sunday, October 19, 2025 Ignition at Kuniyoshi Castle site main bailey at 11:00 AM Ignition at Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum around 11:40 AM *The event will proceed in light rain.*

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?

The flyer for the “Waves of Light Project in Suishohama,” held at Suishohama from Saturday, September 27 to Monday, September 29, has arrived!! This is an evening event, so please watch your step when you come. Event Overview Waves of Light Project in Suishohama (Dates) Saturday, September 27, 2025 – Monday, September 29, 2025 (Time) 5:00 PM–9:00 PM (sunset expected at 5:46 PM) (Venue) Suishohama Beach, in front of Parking Lot No. 2 (About 200 meters of shoreline will be lit by lights) Special lighting called “Hololight” will create a breathtaking illuminated shoreline. Blue lights will play with the waves to produce a unique, otherworldly scene. This autumn, indulge in a sublime mindfulness experience of light and waves that you can only enjoy at Suishohama. *The event may be canceled without notice due to sudden severe weather or other unavoidable circumstances. If canceled, we will announce it on the town website. Contact Mihama Town Tourism and Visitor Promotion Division TEL: 0770-32-6705 MAIL: kanko@town.fukui-mihama.lg.jp https://www.town.fukui-mihama.lg.jp/soshiki/11/14780.html...

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...

Horticulture LABO no Oka offers time and space where visitors can deepen their understanding of horticulture while enjoying it through hands-on experiences of learning, creating, and eating. Full of excitement! Summer LABO news! The experience menu for October to December is packed with seasonal workshops you can only try at this time of year, including “Smoketree Autumn Garnet,” “Christmas Bûche de Noël,” and “New Year’s kadomatsu (pine gate) making.” There are also drop-in experiences that require no reservation, so please stop by when you visit Mihama. Horticulture LABO no Oka https://www.pref.fukui.lg.jp/doc/noushi/engeitaikensisetsu/event.html... Address: 35-32-1 Kugushi, Mihama Town Phone: 0770-47-6162 Hours: 9:30–17:00 Closed: Mondays (if a public holiday, the next weekday)

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 ✨😍

First-ever on the Sea of Japan side! Light Wave Project at Suishohama Beach Step away from the bustle of everyday life and find a moment of calm at Suishohama Beach, celebrated as one of Japan’s Top 88 Beaches. We present the Sea of Japan’s inaugural "Light Wave Project at Suishohama." Watch the sky shift from the moving gradations of the setting sun to an otherworldly shoreline where the special lighting system "Hololight" makes the waves glow blue. This sequence of artful moments gently awakens your senses and draws you into a space of wave sounds, sea breeze, and light. It is a truly mindful, healing time to center yourself in the here and now. Regain inner calm and sink into the dreamlike art as Suishohama’s stunning sunset and the blue-lit waves combine to create a miraculously beautiful scene. Experience it for yourself. Event Overview Light Wave Project at Suishohama (Dates) Saturday, September 27 to Monday, September 29, 2025 (Time) 5:00 PM–9:00 PM (sunset expected at 5:46 PM) (Venue) Suishohama Beach, in front of Parking Lot No. 2 (approximately 200 meters of shoreline will be illuminated) Program Details 〇 Breathtaking shoreline illumination using the special lighting system "Hololight" : Blue light plays with the waves to create a uniquely fantastical sight. 〇 Attractive food trucks on site : Warm drinks and light meals will enrich the long autumn evenings. 〇 Lantern-lit, cozy dining area : Relax and enjoy food while gazing at the enchanting scenery. 〇 Gentle ground-level decorative lighting : Lights installed along viewing areas such as bridge walkways will help illuminate your footing. Notes and Requests for Visitors To ensure a safe and comfortable experience for everyone, please observe the following. 〇 The sea at night is very dangerous. Please enjoy the event only from the designated viewing areas. We cannot accept responsibility for actions or accidents that occur outside these areas. 〇 There are no seats provided at the venue. Please bring chairs or picnic mats if needed. 〇 Coastal areas can be poorly lit at night. For safety, we strongly recommend bringing a flashlight. 〇 Parking is limited. Please share spaces considerately with others. 〇 We are not responsible for accidents or thefts that occur in the parking area. 〇 This event relies on natural phenomena; depending on weather and wave conditions, the sunset or glowing waves may be difficult to see. 〇 In the event of sudden severe weather or other unavoidable circumstances, the event may be canceled without prior notice. Cancellations will be announced on the town website. This autumn, savor an unparalleled mindfulness experience woven from light and waves that you can enjoy only at Suishohama. Inquiries Mihama Town Tourism and Visitor Promotion Division TEL: 0770-32-6705 MAIL: kanko@town.fukui-mihama.lg.jp https://www.town.fukui-mihama.lg.jp/soshiki/11/14780.html...

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%

Our official character "Yumeguri Gonzo" We are entering Yuru Verse 2025. It seems that you can vote every day, so please vote for us! ■ Awara City Official Character "Yumeguri Gonzo" ■ Nature and Hot Spring Town, Awara City, Fukui Prefecture The character "Yuzuru Brothers" was born from the "spirit of hospitality". yellowtail a tub of hot water on his head, he runs around in a yukata all year round for Awara PR. He is a little laid-back, but he is the best of the brothers, and the one who always Summary everyone is the third son, "Yu Patrol Gonzo". Search for "Yuru Verse 2025"

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.