"Notice" The Kanazu Sozonomori Art Museum is Held in the "Yusuke Asai Exhibition" until August 25. Not only are the works in museums, but they are also on display in the woods, and it seems 📍 that there are three places where it is fun 😊to look for them Mr./Ms. Asai creates works using familiar materials such as soil and stones, draws pictures everywhere, and exhibits many works that can be felt and felt with the five senses You can 🉑 take off your shoes and walk around to feel and touch the work. This is quite an interesting and mysterious experience 💦💦 【Kanazu Creative Forest Museum】 Held in: Saturday, April 27, 2024 ~ Sunday, August 25, 2024 ▪️ Address Awara City Miyatani 57-2-19 ▪️ Opening Hours: 10:00-17:00 last at 16:30 ▪️ Closed on Mondays open on national holidays, closed on the following weekday *Open on Tuesday, August 13 ▪️ Admission fee: Adults 600 yen 400 yen, 65 years old and over and people with Persons with disabilities 300 yen, Caregivers of high school students and younger and Persons with disabilities 1 caregiver per Persons with disabilities free of charge Discounts for groups of 20 or more people in parentheses

🚩 We are recruiting [Diffusion hope] Fukui Prefecture's first "37th Ryuou Battle 2nd Bureau Awara Game" will be held in I think everyone knows the news, Mr./Ms.. In line with that 🌷 The 37th Dragon King Battle Awara Contest Held in 🌷 Implementation contest will be held to coincide with this "Awara Game" and other menus provided at the time of the game, which are attracting attention from all over the country. ●Recruitment Department "Competition" Category "Snacks" category "Drinks" Category * About 10 items in each category will be selected as candidate menus and Publication in the Menu Book. ●Application Period 2024 2024 Reiwa 6 July 1 Monday to July 26 Friday Must arrive at 5 p.m. ●Plenary Briefing Date: Thursday, July 11, 2024 Reiwa 6, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Venue: Awara City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Main Office

Long-established Western-style restaurant Minamoto no ya Our store is a Western-style restaurant in Hokuriku, and we are particular about Local ingredients and finish with traditional cooking methods. The Sauce katsu-don pork cutlet served on top of a bowl of rice, which is all homemade, and the old-fashioned omelet rice made by the chef are popular tastes that have remained unchanged. Address Awara City Hot Spring 1-405 1 minute walk from Echizen Railway Awara Yunomachi Station TEL 0776-77-2045 Business hours 11:00~14:00 /17:00~19:00 Regular holiday: Wednesday

The 37th Ryuo Title Match, Game 2 in Awara, Confirmed The Ryuo Title, established in 1987 after reorganizing the 26-edition Tenth Dan competition, is the highest title in professional shogi. Each year, players advance from the ranking tournaments (Groups 1–6), which begin in December, and from the final knockout tournament to become the challenger. The challenger will contest a best-of-seven series against the 36th titleholder, Ryuo Sota Fujii. The year 2024 marks two milestones for Awara City: the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Awara-Onsen Station and the 20th anniversary of Awara’s municipal status. Awara has been selected to host the Ryuo Title match, the first time this event will be held in Fukui Prefecture. 1 Overview of the Awara Match 1 Dates: Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20, 2024 2 Venues Mimatsu (the match) ※Fukui Prefecture, Awara City, 26-10 Funatsu Grandia Hosen (pre-match banquet) ※Fukui Prefecture, Awara City, 43-26 Funatsu Seifuso (large-board commentary session) ※Fukui Prefecture, Awara City, Onsen 3-chome 803 3 Organizers: Yomiuri Shimbun and Japan Shogi Association 2 Contact for the Awara Match Secretariat, The 37th Ryuo Title Match, Game 2 in Awara Executive Committee (within Awara City, Economic and Industrial Department, Tourism Promotion Division) Phone: 0776-73-8006

🍈🍈 During Held in Awara melon Fair 🍈🍈 Fair at 🍈🍈 "Roadside Station Renyo no Sato Awara" Fill out the questionnaire you get when you shop in the store ▶ You can apply for a campaign to win the king of melons, Earls Melon. Weekends only You can try a comparison of melon!!! melon Parfait is also on sale!! Business hours 9:00-18:00 Phone 0776-65-2453 #Awara City #Fruit Kingdom Awara #Melon

About Awara The happiest town in the happiest prefecture Located at the northernmost tip of Fukui Prefecture, Awara borders Mikuni in Sakai to the west, Sakai and Maruoka in Sakai to the south, and Kaga in Ishikawa Prefecture to the northeast, while its northwest faces the Sea of Japan. Covering 116.98 square kilometers, Awara features Lake Kitagata and the Sakai northern hills in the north; two urban centers centered on JR Awara-Onsen Station and the Awara hot spring district in the center; farmland in the southwest; and forested mountains rising 500–600 meters in the east. Major north–south transport routes cross the city, including the JR Hokuriku Main Line (Awara-Onsen Station), the Hokuriku Expressway (Kanazu I.C.), and National Route 8. The area includes rice paddies north of the Kuzuryu River, hilly zones known for vegetables and fruit production, satoyama countryside landscapes, the coastline and Lake Kitagata within the Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park, and the Awara hot springs, which will soon mark 140 years—together offering a diverse and rich environment. History of Awara Awara Onsen is known for its pastoral views from the inns. It began in 1883 when a warm, slightly salty spring unexpectedly bubbled up while villagers were digging an irrigation well in a rice paddy. Villagers later dug more wells and hot springs appeared in many places; today the springs are limited to 74 wells. Shrines were built and the hot spring district was divided into three areas, and those structures still protect the springs. Each ryokan soothes travelers with lavish gardens designed with care, fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan, and warm, attentive hospitality. About 30 lodging facilities operate today, each offering a different style. Guests can choose accommodations that suit their tastes and travel party. Spring qualities and benefits of Awara Onsen Awara Onsen has no joint public management of its waters; each facility owns one or more spring wells. As a result, mineral content varies slightly by facility, letting visitors enjoy baths with subtly different textures. Known by those in the know as a hot spring area with many beautiful proprietresses, it is celebrated as “baths for beautiful skin.” [Spring Type] A neutral to slightly alkaline saline earth chloride spring containing sodium and potassium [Spring Temperature] 33.5–77.5°C [Benefits] For bathing: rheumatism, chronic dermatitis, neuralgia, atopic dermatitis For drinking: chronic gastritis, chronic hypochlorhydria

June 29 Sat Pool OPEN! ⛱️ Shibamasa World Shibamasa World has one of the largest resort pools in Japan. Tomorrow, the pool will finally open 😆🎬 for business In addition to the standard stream pools, slides, and kids pools, there is a water slide "The Monster Wing" that looks like a roller coaster that repeats rapid ascents and plummets, and a huge yen slider "The Monster Slider" with a height of about 30 m. Guinness World Records 2005 certified "Float Slider Triple Zaurus" and "Caribbean Beach", one of the largest wave pools on the Sea of Japan side, are full 💃🌺 of attractive pools In addition, at the Limited Time event "Dinosaur Water Park", you will 🦕🦖💨 be greeted by cute dinosaur floats and slides And! At the "Dinosaur Forest", which has just opened in this Spring, there will be a "Dinosaur Forest Night Tour" from July 13 Sat ~ July 15 Mon, holiday, July 20 Sat ~ September 1 Sun Held in 🔦 After enjoying the pool, why not 🦖💚 go to the forest at night shrouded in darkness to investigate the ecology of dinosaurs It is ☺ also full of delicious Shibamasa gourmet food and Souvenirs that can only be found here! ࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶ Shibamasa World Fukui-ken Sakai City Mikuni Town Hamachi 45 TEL 0776-81-2110 🌅 Pool opening period: Saturday, June 29, 2024 ~ Monday, September 23, 2024 🌃 Starlight Pool is open: July 13 Sat ~ July 15 Mon, July 20 Sat ~ September 1 Sun

Wakaichioji Shrine Summer Purification Ritual and Mantō Festival🏮 Today, June 30 and July 1, the Summer Purification Ritual and Mantō Festival took place at Wakaichioji Shrine. The summer purification ritual cleanses the impurities accumulated over the past six months and prays for safety in the coming six months. Lanterns donated by local businesses lit up, creating a magical atmosphere in the shrine grounds at night🏮

The Silence of Early Summer Nagano Prefecture Yachiho Highlands Yachiho Lake Along the pass of the fairy tale highway from Sakuho Towns to Tateshina, There is one of the largest birch growing area in the Japan, and this pond There are a little below it. I came here on a holiday, but it was a quiet space with only a few Mr./Ms. fishermen coming This view! I've had ♪ a blissful time The wind was almost windless, so I was very satisfied to take a picture of the reflection of the majestic Highlands ♪ Shinshu in summer is full of ♪ charm

Lunch has started 😋✨ "Heshiko Workshop Resting Place Minami" A restaurant 🍴 loved by Locals in Mikuni Minato, a port towns that flourished in the Kitamae ship trade from Edo to Meiji It is ♪🙌 a restaurant where you can enjoy plenty of Fukui Prefecture's local cuisine, "Heshiko" What is "Heshiko"? 👀🔍 Local cuisine in which the internal organs of the fish are taken out, pickled in salt, and then pickled in rice bran. In the case of Minami no, it is pickled in rice bran, which condenses the delicious taste of the high-quality fat of mackerel, and because it is shallowly pickled with low salt content, it is a 💘 Gastronomical delicacies 💁🏻 ♀️✨ that you should definitely taste at least once This time, we will introduce the following: "Minami's best set that takes advantage of the characteristics of Heshiko rice bran" A lunch menu that takes advantage of the characteristics of Minami no popular menu and Heshiko rice bran, and is limited 👀 to 15 meals a day! The fried horse mackerel pickled in homemade Heshiko rice bran is decomposed by the characteristics of fermented Heshiko rice bran, and the contents are surprisingly crispy ~ plump! 😻💕 In addition to deep-fried kombu skewers and fried chicken, which are also Minami no big Popular menu, it is a well-bari set full of recommendations such as taste Jade, broiled Heshiko flakes 💃, etc 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 Heshiko Workshop Minami Resting Place　 3-5-26 Sanno, Sakai City Mikuni Town, Fukui Business hours: Open only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays *Course meal reservation required 2 days in advance 11:00 ～ 15:00L.O.14:15 16:30～21:00L.O.20:30 Regular holiday: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Other temporary closures available Parking lot: 5 cars in Parking Lot 1, Parking Lot 2 6 cars 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 𓈒 𓂃 In addition to lunch, you can Use for various occasions such as banquets, ceremonies, and dinners at the beginning of meals, and Souvenirs can also be purchased 🎁🙆🏻 ♀️

Tojinbo Mikuni Hot Spring Yuaport ♨ Located at the southern end of Mikuni Mr./Ms. Set Beach, it is a popular One-day hot spring facilities not only for Local but also for tourists who can take a bath while looking at the Sea of Japan ☺️🍹 From "Minato Yu", the Nine-headed Dragon River flows into the ocean, From "Kamome no Yu", you can ✨ see Mikuni Mr./Ms. Set Beach where the Sunset sets The spring quality of "Tojinbo Mikuni Hot Spring" is a sodium-calcium-chloride spring. Salt covers the skin like a veil and keeps it warm and moisturized, so it is effective for cold sensitivity and Relief from fatigue! Healing your ♨ daily fatigue And after 🪄 taking a bath We recommend 💖 taking a break or dining at the Mr./Ms. Lounge where you can see the Horizon or the sea terrace on the 2nd floor Photogenic sweets, Seasonal menu, and photogenic interiors... ✨ It is a 🥰 space where you can relax and unwind. Also, the morning bath that is Held in regularly and the Fun performance are also noteworthy 👀! 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 Tojinbo Mikuni Hot Spring Yuaport Fukui Prefecture Sakai City Mikuni Town inn 2-18-1 TEL: 0776-82-7070 Phone reception: 10:00~23:00 Business hours: 10:00~23:00 Last reception 22:30 Closed: 3rd Wednesday of every month 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍

"koto.koto." 🍴💕 Located on a street called Hiroko alley in Mikuni Minato, "koto.koto." is a restaurant ✨ where you can enjoy macrobiotic rice and healthy sweets based on the concept of "body, joy, and feast" The interior of the storehouse, which was renovated five years ago in the Meiji era, is a 💁🏻 ♀️ wonderful space that retains the atmosphere of that time When you hear the word "macrobiotics", "It looks good for your body", "Diet meals" or "Will you be full?", etc., what people who usually care about beauty and health eat! Squid may have 👀 a strong image Of course, if you are such a person! However, the rice of "Kototo" is so satisfying that I am surprised that "this is macrobiotics!?", and everything is very satisfying 🥰, including the ingredients, cooking, and appearance In particular, the Popular "Car Cutlet" for lunch is exquisite ✨ The savory flavor crisped with brown Rice flour is addictive! In addition, sweets using Rice flour and amazake are also available 💕. The "Chiffon Mr./Ms." made with brown Rice flour and soy cream in the photo has a fluffy texture 🥰 that you wouldn't think of as brown Rice flour After having a delicious and healthy meal with "Kototo", you will really feel that your body is in order... ✨ When you come nearby, please enjoy ☺♪ the retro towns of Mikuni Port and the "feast of joy in the body" ◌◍┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈⿻*.· koto.koto. Fukui Sakai City Mikuni Town Minami Honmachi 3-3-34 TEL：0776‐82‐2000 Business days: Wednesday 　　　　Thursday 　　　　Friday 　　　　Saturday Business hours:11:30~16:00 Lunch and café menus are available for takeout! ◌◍┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈⿻*.·

Fukui: 💗 Lots of love! Welcome to Sakai City! In front of the Mikuni Station Tourist Information Center on the Echizen Railway Mikuni Station A local capsule toy is now available 🤩🎉. There are two patterns of shapes, an acrylic stand and an acrylic object, and there are a total of 9 types Restrooms available of patterns, and ✌️✨ there are a lot of cute sights and Specialties that are perfect for Fukui souvenirs. You can only get the Hokuriku Shinkansen W7 series and Fukui Station designs at Fukui Station, Nanjo SA, and Mikuni Station Sightseeing Information Center 👀! Squid 💗 for memories and souvenirs of your trip Please feel free to stop by ☺️

This Spring Renewal 📢 "Wind Forest" Located on a small hilltop in Mikuni Town, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, it is a popular inn as a tourist base.•* ̈* 🍀 The wallpaper in the Inside the Museum uses precious Katsugaya stone, which is also used for the tiles of Maruoka Castle, and Echizen washi paper, which is counted as one of the three Daiwa papers in Japan. The interior of the newly renovated guest room 1 room has a glossy lacquered floor and Echizen washi wallpaper. 💎 It has 😌🪄 a profound and modern Japanese atmosphere The orange sunset that can be seen from the guest room is sure 🌅👌🏻✨ to heal your tired mind and body Restrooms available are large public baths with open-air baths and Roux with semi-open-air baths ♨️ For dinner, we recommend 🍴✨ eating out courses that you can choose from miyoshiro teppanyaki, S'Amuser French, Birdland Italian, Ushiwakamaru yakiniku, etc. You can 👍🏻✨choose from a wide variety of partner stores that Representative the gourmet Towns︎ ́- 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍 Forest of the Wind 〒913-0048 4-5-16 Midorigaoka, Sakai City Mikuni Town, Fukui TEL：0776-97-9880 Reservations 9:00~19:00 Check-in/15:00 Check-out/10:00 Parking: Free 8 cars All rooms are equipped with WIFI ◈ Japanese modern 12 tatami Roux 1 room new! ◈ Roux with double semi-open-air bath 1 room ◈Japanese-style room 12 tatami Roux 4 rooms 𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍𓂃◌𓈒𓐍

Sakai City's uniqueness shines. Official character⭐ "Hoyamaru Sakai" What is "Sakai Hoyamaru"? 🔍👀 An apprentice detective dog Pomeranian 🐾 who is an official character of Sakai City who just exploded on March 23 and is looking for the "uniqueness" of Sakai City Although I am looking for "uniqueness" in Tojinbo and Maruoka Castle, I'm not good at heights and I tremble ... ꒰ᐢ´• ·̭ •`ᐢ꒱💦 The hat with the image of columnar joints "Tohiro hat" is a charm point ⭐ Please come 🍮🐾 to "Sakai Hoyamaru"

【Kiso Town, Otaki Village】Mt. Kiso Ontake has opened! On Monday, July 1, the opening ceremony of Mt. Kiso Ontake was held at the Ontake Ropeway in Mitake, Kiso Town, in the 6th year of Reiwa 2024 Reiwa 6. Although it was raining heavily on the day, Local officials gathered at the Ropeway Center House to pray for the safety of the mountain this season. As a result, the entry restrictions around Kengamine have been relaxed, and it is now possible to climb the summit until 10/16 Wednesday. * Regarding Otaki Exit, the Mountain trail from Tanohara Haruka Worship Hall will be deregulated from 7/10 Wednesday. This year marks 10 years since the 2014 Eruption disaster. Let's not forget the disaster, keep in mind that Mt. Ontake is an active volcano, and climb safely and happily. Don't forget to report your climbing. ♦ For more information about Kurosawaguchi, please visit the official website of Kiso town ♦ For more information about Otaki Exit, please visit the official website of Otaki village. Please check.

Kono Summer Festival 20th Anniversary of the Merger!! Put the best thoughts on it Kono's fireworks, opening party! In a fantasy world that colors the night sky Spend a special time with your loved ones. Date & Time: Saturday, July 27, 2024 Reiwa 6 　　　　* In case of stormy weather, it will be postponed to the next day. Place: Minami Echizen Town Korakujo Beaches Contents Open stalls Village from 4 p.m. 　　　　Fireworks start at 8 p.m. Contact us 　　　　Minami Echizen Town Tourism and Town Planning Division 　　　　TEL　0778-47-8002

Nagaoka Fireworks 3 Shaku Jade 1945 Showa 20, the "Nagaoka Reconstruction Festival" was Held in the following year as a memorial to those who died in the Nagaoka air raid on August 1 and to pray for the reconstruction Origin of Nagaoka, Restrooms available later the 2nd and 3rd were designated as "fireworks festival Days" and are still passed down to this day. Taken from about 5 km away, it is a masterpiece 3 shaku Jade

Nice to meet you! We are Fukui Prefecture DMO Sakai Tourism Bureau. Sakai City in Fukui Prefecture is a charming area where rich nature, beautiful landscapes, and history and culture intersect. Sakai City lies in northern Fukui Prefecture facing the Sea of Japan. In our Cool Japan video, we will introduce Sakai City’s recommended sightseeing spots, local specialties, and historical background in detail. We appreciate your interest! ■■■ Access Rail and car travel provide convenient access to Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture. The opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen has improved access from the Tokyo metropolitan area. From JR Awara-Onsen Station on the Hokuriku Main Line, buses run to various locations around the city, making it easy to reach sightseeing spots. You can also drive via the Hokuriku Expressway, using Kanazu I.C. or Maruoka I.C. ■■■ Nature and Scenery Sakai City offers many beautiful natural landscapes. The most famous is Tojinbo. Tojinbo is a series of sheer cliffs jutting into the Sea of Japan; formed over more than 10,000 years, its dramatic scenery overwhelms visitors. Nearby is Mikuni Port, where you can enjoy fresh seafood. ■■■ History and Culture Sakai City is also rich in history and culture. During the Edo period, Mikuni prospered as a port for Kitamae-bune trading ships. The historic townscape of Mikuni Minato remains preserved today, and a stroll there evokes the atmosphere of the Edo era. The Mikuni Festival, held every May, features ornate floats parading through the streets and draws many visitors. ■■■ Local Specialties and Gourmet Food Sakai City offers many delicious dishes made with local ingredients. Especially famous is Echizen crab. In winter, visitors flock to savor freshly caught Echizen crab. Also exceptional are Mikuni Port’s sweet shrimp, Fukui-grown Koshihikari rice, Wakasa beef, and Echizen soba, allowing you to fully enjoy local flavors. ■■■ Sightseeing Spots Sakai City has plenty of attractions beyond its history and nature. Below are popular sights in Sakai City with their highlights. ■ Tojinbo Tojinbo, one of Fukui Prefecture’s premier attractions, has served as the filming location for many dramas. Facing the Sea of Japan, the cliffs rise more than 20 meters high and extend roughly one kilometer, presenting overwhelming natural beauty. Such extensive columnar jointing is rare worldwide and is listed among the world’s three great columnar formations. The sight of cliffs over 20 meters tall in succession is worth seeing. You can also enjoy a sunset cruise—the cliffs glowing in the sunset are unforgettable. ■ Mikuni Minato This historic port town prospered in the Edo period as a Kitamae-bune port. The nostalgic old streets remain, offering a pleasant historical stroll. Notable sights include the former Kishina family residence, the former Morita Bank head office, and Mikuni Shrine. You can also taste fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan and Mikuni’s spicy soba topped with grated karami daikon (hot radish). ■ Maruoka Castle Also called Kasumi-ga-jo, Maruoka Castle is famous for having one of Japan’s oldest surviving main keeps. Built in 1576, it still stands today and is designated as one of Japan’s Top 100 Castles and a National Important Cultural Property. In spring, cherry trees around the castle bloom beautifully, and the site is selected among Japan’s 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots for hanami. ■ Shibamasa World A large family-oriented amusement park spanning 560,000 square meters. It features one of the country’s largest dinosaur attractions and an indoor play area called Kids Paradise, making it a theme park you can enjoy all day. In summer, it operates one of Japan’s largest resort pools and offers limited-time night pools. Golf, barbecue, and other year-round activities are also available. ■ Echizen Matsushima Aquarium This aquarium facing the Sea of Japan is popular for its dolphin and sea lion shows. It offers hands-on feeding experiences and overnight aquarium stays among many activities. With exhibits of various marine life, it entertains both children and adults. ■■■ Summary of Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, blends natural beauty, rich history and culture, and delicious local specialties into a compelling destination. We will continue sharing more information about its many attractions, and we hope you will visit Sakai City in Fukui Prefecture!

Would you like to join a white corn harvesting experience in Azumino this summer? The kernels gleam pure white like pearls and are so tender they can be eaten raw! Their juice bursts with sweetness over 15 degrees Brix, and the plump texture is addictive. The farm owner will give a full lesson on harvesting tips. While interacting with local farmers, you can see vegetables being grown firsthand, enjoy the pleasure of harvesting yourself, and savor the taste of freshly picked produce! For details, please see the Azumino City Tourism Association website!

There are 287 stone steps leading to the main hall of Minobu-san Kuon-ji Temple, the head shrine of Nichiren Buddhism. It is said that if you climb to the top, you will reach nirvana...

Gokoichi Bus now in service! Operating as a way to travel from the station to tourist sites, the Gokoichi Bus departs from Tsuruga Station or mihama station and runs a loop around the Mikata Five Lakes. [Service period] Saturday, March 16, 2024–Sunday, November 24, 2024 Service runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only (daily service from Saturday, April 27 to Monday, May 6). [Route] Departing from Tsuruga Station or mihama station, the bus returns to Tsuruga Station or mihama station after calling at tourist spots such as Mihama Town Lake Center, Rainbow Line Summit Park, Kumagawa-juku Jomon Roman Park, and stops including Mikata Station. See the leaflet or the official website for details. Note: Seats cannot be reserved. Note: Service may be altered or suspended depending on the COVID-19 situation. Please check service status in advance. (Phone inquiries) Fukui Railway Reihoku Sales Office TEL 0778-21-0712

[Bicycle Diary] This morning, just as we opened the counter, two inbound guests came to rent bicycles. They wanted to ride around the Mikata Five Lakes, so we added them to the cycling tour originally planned for tourism association members. Everyone cycled slowly together, enjoying the nature. Partway through, there was a fuss about a tire losing air, and a nearby person kindly lent us a pump, which was a big help. They had already been staying in Japan for several nights and visiting many places, and they were very pleased with the Mikata Five Lakes, so it likely became a wonderful memory for them.

Did you know Shiojiri is one of Japan’s top wine regions? Japan has about 400 to 500 wineries, and roughly 80 of them are in Nagano Prefecture. Shiojiri City has the most wineries in the prefecture, with 15 operating producers. Some of these wineries have operated for more than a century since the Meiji era, while others are brand new, founded in the Reiwa era; each of the 15 crafts wines with its own distinct character. There is even a high school in Shiojiri that makes wine, giving students the chance to learn winemaking while still in school. What makes the wine industry so vibrant here is the ideal growing environment: at about 700 meters elevation the large day–night temperature swings and long hours of sunlight, combined with gravelly and volcanic-ash soils, create perfect conditions for growing grapes. High-quality grapes from this land produce high-quality wines. Among the wines made in Shiojiri, merlot earns especially high praise. In 1989 a merlot from the area won a major gold award at a prestigious international competition. The annual Shiojiri Winery Festa draws visitors from across Japan who sample wines from all over Shiojiri, often drinking to their heart’s content. Please try Shiojiri wine.

Sagaki Kuniyoshi Castle 1. A formidable fortress that held back the seemingly impregnable Asakura forces 2. A “stone-walled castle” revealed by archaeological excavation 3. Seasonal colors of the castle ruins and the stunning views of Wakasa visible from the site Kuniyoshi Castle was a mountain fortress located in Sagaki in the eastern part of Mihama Town. During the Sengoku period it served as a border castle protecting Wakasa Province and Tsuruga Province. It is said that Awaya Ecchu‑no‑Kami Katsuhisa, a senior retainer of the Takeda family who governed Wakasa, rebuilt the old castle in Koji 2 (1556). The castle’s fame was made by the “Siege of Kuniyoshi,” which began in Eiroku 6 (1563) when the Asakura clan from Echizen attacked and were repelled. From that year until the fall of the Asakura in Tensho 1 (1573), Asakura forces launched attacks almost annually, but the Awaya-led defenders held inside Kuniyoshi Castle and never lost it. An old tale by the local samurai Tanabe Handaifu Yasutsugu, who took part in the defense, spread as the war chronicle Kuniyoshi Siege Record. Incidentally, the castle had been called Sakaki Castle at the time, but the popularity of the Kuniyoshi Siege Record fixed the name Kuniyoshi Castle. In Genki 1 (1570), the castle welcomed Oda Nobunaga and his 30,000-strong army on the march to attack the Asakura. According to the Kuniyoshi Siege Record, Nobunaga entered Kuniyoshi Castle with Kinoshita Tokichiro Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Akechi Mitsuhide—the subject of this year’s historical drama—and met with Katsuhisa and the local samurai who had endured the siege, praising their efforts. Later, in Tensho 11 (1583), Kimura Hitachi no suke, a vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, became castellan and developed a castle town. This marked the origin of the current Sakaki Settlement, which prospered in the Edo period as a post station on the Tango Highway. The townscape still preserves strong traces of that era. The castle was abolished in Kan’ei 11 (1635) early in the Edo period when Sakai Tadakatsu replaced the Kyogoku clan as lord of Obama Domain, and the Sakaki Town Magistrate Office was built on the south side of the ruins. On that site the Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum opened in Heisei 21 (2009). Designated a town historic site in Showa 58 (1983), Kuniyoshi Castle’s ruins are a local historical asset. Excavations that began in fiscal 2000 aimed to preserve and utilize the Sengoku‑period mountain fortress that had seemingly survived the fierce Asakura assaults. The investigations, however, overturned the existing image of the castle when they uncovered large groups of foundation stones for buildings, stone walls showing traces of deliberate collapse in which the upper halves had been systematically removed and the lower halves buried, giant foundation and facing stones at the northwest gate of the hilltop main bailey, and building remains on the southern corner mound of the main bailey that may have been a keep. These features appear to reflect major renovations by Kimura Hitachi no suke to assert the new lord’s power, although no documentary records described them. The excavations thus revealed the “truth” for the first time. In Heisei 29 (2017) the castle was selected as one of the Continued Top 100 Castles of Japan by the Japan Castle Foundation. In spring the castle town of Sagaki and the ruins are brightened by cherry blossoms and blooming shaga irises; in summer by masses of hangesho (plants whose leaves turn pale); in autumn by the maple leaves at Shourenji and Tokusho‑ji Temple; and in winter by a blanket of white, welcoming many visitors through the seasons. A promenade leads to the main bailey, but the winding switchback slope seems endless, giving a real sense of the castle’s former impregnability. Yet once you finally reach the main bailey, the majestic nature of Wakasa and the beautiful scenery greet you and make you forget the effort it took to get there. Sagaki Kuniyoshi Castle Sagaki, Mihama Town, Mikata‑gun, Fukui Prefecture Contact Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum (Tel. 0770-32-0050)

The daylilies on Mt. Meshimori are at their best♪ On a clear break in the rainy season, I wondered how the daylilies on Mt. Meshimori were doing and went to take a look🤔 — they were almost in full bloom✨🙌 From past years it looks like the next two weeks will be the peak viewing period😚 Today was lively with a school hiking group as well🦉 #Minamimaki Village #Nobeyama Highlands #Mt. Meshimori #daylilies (nikko-kisuge) #alpine plants #spectacular views #flower fields #hiking

Hello, this is Jewelry Town. This year has seen many days hotter than 30 degrees. Amid that heat, the hottest power stone right now is rutile quartz! Rutile quartz is the ultimate power stone for boosting wealth and financial luck. Try wearing it You might feel the difference Rutile quartz is thoroughly cleansed in top-grade crystal clusters, so you can wear it with confidence. After a walk outdoors, the shop is cool and comfortable inside, so please come and visit us😄

◆Origin of the Otegata Suwa Shrine and the Otegata Stone◆ The origin of the Otegata Stone lies in the large handprint found on a huge rock enshrined at Suwa Shrine. Long ago, a messenger came from Takamagahara, the heavenly plain where the eight million gods gather, to Izumo to urge Okuninushi to submit. Okuninushi immediately agreed and surrendered, but his young son, Takeminakata, refused, breaking off negotiations and eventually fighting with Takemikazuchi from Takamagahara. Takeminakata was defeated and fled, but Takemikazuchi pursued him relentlessly and finally caught up with him in the area of Sahara. Takeminakata surrendered, pressed his hand onto a nearby stone as a pledge of submission, and peace was made between the two deities. This place came to be called "Ooinokubo" (the Chase Hollow). The stone is said to have been formed because Takemikazuchi chased Takeminakata here.

Shinshu Kankōchi Suwa!!! Around Suwa lies the Kirigamine Highlands, where gentle rolling terrain stretches from Kurumayama to Washigamine. In late June, alpine plants such as azaleas (Renge tsutsuji), daylilies (Nikkō kisuge), and scabious (Matsumushi-sō) paint the green meadows in vibrant colors. You can also enjoy sweeping views of Japan’s famous peaks, including Mt. Fuji, the Japanese Alps, and the Yatsugatake Range. The area generates strong updrafts favorable for glider flight, and Kirigamine is known as the birthplace of gliding in Japan. Kirigamine contains the “Three Great Kirigamine Wetlands.” Together, Kurumayama, Yashimagahara Wetland, and Ikeno Kurumi Odoriba Wetland host more than 400 subalpine plant species year-round. They are designated a National Natural Monument and are wetlands rare even on a global scale. In early summer you can see the renge azaleas in bloom, their vivid orange flowers at their most beautiful. In summer, as in the photo, the Nikkō kisuge daylilies come into full bloom 🌼. Most of the photos were kindly provided by staff at our Kirigamine Nature Conservation Center. This year the blossoms may appear a little earlier than usual. Thanks to local Kirigamine caretakers, deer damage seems reduced, so this could be an exceptional season. Why not breathe in the clear, nature-filled highland air of Suwa and visit to refresh your body and mind? ※ The photos are from 2023.

[Nakasendo Narai-juku] Located beneath Torii Pass — one of the Nakasendo’s most notorious difficult stretches — Narai was known as 'Narai Senken' ('a thousand houses of Narai') and was the most prosperous post town among the eleven post towns of Kiso. The townscape has been designated by the national government as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and it still strongly retains the atmosphere of the past. The roughly 1‑km stretch of buildings along the Narai River forms the longest post‑town streetscape in Japan. More than a preserved site, Narai‑juku’s charm lies in the fact that people still live there today. This award‑winning post town was also used as the setting for the 2011 NHK morning drama 'Ohisama'. As a place where visitors can experience Japan's unspoiled beauty, it attracts many people from Japan and abroad every year, who are captivated by this historic post town. ◇Basic Information ・ Parking: Please use the nearest Roadside Station 'Kiso-no-Ohashi' parking lot (free), or the Gonbei Parking Lot (paid). ・Inquiries: Narai-juku Tourist Information Center TEL 0264-34-3160