🎪Wakasa Mihama "Town Travel" Expo will be held🎪 During this period, residents of Mihama Town in Fukui Prefecture will serve as "navigators" and host special programs just for this event✨ This is not just a journey to visit tourist facilities. It is a unique experience created by the locals who love their town, featuring special journeys that are not introduced anywhere else‼️ From cooking breakfast in a traditional stove to regattas on the lake, walking through the villages of the Kitamaebune, and trap hunting with hunters. We have prepared a total of 11 programs where you can meet the proud places and people of Mihama🫡 🗒️Program List 01｜ Experience Cooking Breakfast in a Traditional Stove A meal prepared with only local ingredients in the dirt floor of Deer Park Date: Monday, October 26, 2026 Duration: 2 hours (Gathering at 7:00 AM - Dismissal at 9:00 AM) Participation Fee: 3,000 yen per person (tax included) Location: Shinjō, Mihama Town (Nature Experience Center, Deer Park) Capacity: 10 people 02｜ Rainbow Line Night Tour Stargazing at the first parking lot, specially opened at night Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026 Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes (Check-in at 5:30 PM - Dismissal at 8:00 PM) Participation Fee: 5,500 yen per person (tax included) Location: Mihama Town (Gathering at Mihama Town Hall - Rainbow Line) Capacity: 15 people 03｜ Private Night Cruise DJ record event limited to the same generation With a tasting of Hayaseura Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026 Duration: 2 hours (Check-in at 5:30 PM - Dismissal at 7:30 PM, including 90 minutes of boarding) Participation Fee: 7,000 yen per person (tax included) Location: Mihama Town (Mikata Five Lakes Nature Cruises Lake Center, around Lake Kukuriko) Capacity: 20 people 04｜ Cycling Tour of About 35 km from Nyu to Sugahama With a special opening lunch of local fish at Bentenzaki Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026 Duration: 5 hours and 30 minutes (Gathering at 9:30 AM - Dismissal at 3:00 PM) Participation Fee: 7,000 yen per person (including electric bicycle rental), 5,500 yen per person (if bringing your own bicycle) Location: Mihama Town (Departing from JR Mihama Station, covering Nyu, Sugahama, and Sagaki) Capacity: 12 people 05｜ Morning Regatta Experience and Onigiri on the Lake Mihama-style morning activity Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026 Duration: 3 hours (Check-in at 7:00 AM - Dismissal at 10:00 AM) Participation Fee: 4,000 yen per person (tax included) Location: Kukuriko, Mihama Town (Mihama Town B&G Marine Center - Lake Kukuriko) Capacity: 15 people (5 people per crew x 3) / Applications are accepted in units of 5 people (1 crew) 06｜ Sea Glass Collecting and Craft Making An afternoon watching the sunset over the Sea of Japan Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026 Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes (Check-in at 2:00 PM - Dismissal at 5:30 PM) Participation Fee: 2,000 yen per person (tax included) Location: Takenami, Mihama Town (Takenami Disaster Prevention Center - Takenami Beach) Capacity: 20 people 07｜ Gourmet BBQ with Only Mihama Produce and Stargazing Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026 Duration: 3 hours (Gathering at 5:30 PM - Dismissal at 8:30 PM) Participation Fee: 7,500 yen per person (including alcohol), 5,500 yen per person (soft drinks only) Location: Shinjō, Mihama Town (Kumotani) (Kumotani Life Improvement Center) Capacity: 30 people 08｜ Walking Tour of the Kitamaebune Shipowner Village, a Japanese Heritage Site Special opening of portable shrines and floats, with a sake lees lunch Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026 Duration: 3 hours (Gathering at 10:00 AM - Dismissal at 1:00 PM) Participation Fee: 6,500 yen per person (tax included) Location: Hayase, Mihama Town (Hayase Fishing Port, Hiyoshi Shrine, Zuirinji, Nuno-e Museum, Ao-kai Cafeteria) Capacity: 10 people 09｜ Experience Making Shimekazari Take home New Year's decorations purified at the Grand Festival Date: Monday, November 23, 2026 (Holiday) Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes (Gathering at 9:00 AM - Dismissal at 11:30 AM) Participation Fee: 3,000 yen per person (tax included) Location: Miyashiro, Mihama Town (Mimi Shrine) Capacity: 8 people 10｜ Experience Trap Hunting with Hunters Includes a tour of the butchering process and a game barbecue Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026 Duration: About 3 to 4 hours (Gathering at 9:00 AM - Dismissal sequentially after 12:00 PM, including barbecue) Participation Fee: 8,000 yen per person (tax included) Location: Shinjō, Mihama Town (BON1029, nearby mountains, and the valley) Capacity: 10 people 11｜ Experience Making Dried Persimmons From persimmon picking to making persimmon jelly Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026 Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes (Gathering at 1:00 PM - Dismissal at 3:30 PM) Participation Fee: 2,000 yen per group (up to 3 people) (tax included) Location: Sagaki, Mihama Town (Kuniyoshi Kaikan - Persimmon fields in Sagaki) Capacity: 20 groups ▼For details and reservations, click here https://wakasa-mihama.jp/machitabi/... Or, From the link in the profile or DM ▼Contact Mihama Town Tourism Promotion Division TEL 0770-32-6705 Organized by: Mihama Town

My son, filled with anticipation, exclaimed, "I'm going to catch some bugs!" This place, where nature spreads out and the sounds of insects resonate, is a paradise for him! He seemed so happy to interact with so many creatures. (By the time we left, he had missed them all.)

In a magnificent landscape filled with trees, my son was filled with anticipation as he exclaimed, "I'm going to catch lots of bugs!" Wearing a straw hat and holding a bug net, he chased after insects, embodying the essence of a Japanese summer.

"Egings Tournament in Kōno 2026" Registration Starts We are pleased to announce that registration for the "Egings Tournament in Kōno 2026," scheduled for Sunday, October 4, 2026, has begun. Participants can apply between July 20, 2026, and September 25, 2026, using the dedicated application form (QR code). For those who find it difficult to apply through the dedicated form, please send your name (with furigana), postal code, address, and phone number via FAX (0778-48-2602). Contact Information 〒915-1111 2-16 Kōno, Minami-Echizen Town, Nanjo District, Fukui Prefecture Minami-Echizen Town Kouno Tourism Association TEL 0778-48-2240 FAX 0778-48-2602

The Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum will host the 2023 Summer Special Exhibition and the collaborative exhibition "Toyotomi Government and Sagaki – Kuniyoshi Castle and the Castle Town" starting Saturday, July 18th. This collaborative exhibition involves the Tsuruga Municipal Museum, Takefu Public Hall Memorial Museum, and Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum, and it highlights the major renovations of Kuniyoshi Castle by Kimura Hitachinosuke Sadamitsu, a direct vassal of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as well as the establishment of the castle town of Sagaki, in relation to the broadcast of the historical drama "Toyotomi Brothers!" 2023 Summer Special Exhibition and Collaborative Exhibition "Toyotomi Government and Sagaki – Kuniyoshi Castle and the Castle Town" Duration: July 18, 2023 (Saturday) to October 12, 2023 (Monday, public holiday) Location: Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum Opening Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM (April to November) 10 AM to 4:30 PM (December to March) Closed: Every Monday (the following day if a holiday) 25-2 Sagaki, Mihama Town, Mikata-gun, Fukui Prefecture Phone: 0770-32-0050 Admission Fee: 100 yen for adults, 50 yen for children (junior high school students and below) *Group discount for 20 or more people.

[Fukui Prefecture] A great place with plenty to enjoy. The campaign has started! Please check the link for accommodations participating in the campaign in Mihama Town. https://iitoko-horidakusan.jp/accommodation/?area%5B%5D=27&search=... The "A great place with plenty to enjoy" campaign has begun, providing travelers who stay in Fukui Prefecture with a charge ticket worth 5,000 yen in "Happy Coins" that can be used at souvenir shops and restaurants within the prefecture! If you bring the charge ticket without opening it to a participating store, it can also be used as a paper coupon. *If any edge of the perforated ticket is opened, it cannot be used as a paper coupon. When used as a paper coupon, it can be utilized as a 4,000 yen gift certificate at the designated stores. [Period] Phase 1: June 12, 2026 (Friday) to July 12, 2026 (Sunday) *Until check-out on July 13 (Monday) Reservation start date: May 12, 2026 (Tuesday) Point charge and usage deadline: Until 23:59 on November 1, 2026 (Sunday) Phase 2: September 1, 2026 (Tuesday) to October 31, 2026 (Saturday) *Until check-out on November 1 (Sunday) *Stays during Silver Week (September 19 to September 22) are not eligible Reservation start date: August 1, 2026 (Saturday) Point charge and usage deadline: Until 23:59 on November 1, 2026 (Sunday) Phase 3: January 8, 2027 (Friday) to January 31, 2027 (Sunday) *Until check-out on February 1 (Monday) Reservation start date: December 8, 2026 (Tuesday) Point charge and usage deadline: Until 23:59 on February 1, 2027 (Monday) [Eligibility] 1. Guests who make a reservation for two or more people. *Reservations made before the start date are not eligible for the campaign. *The campaign details may change depending on budget execution status, etc. [Contact Information] 0570-036-690 (9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, excluding December 29 to January 3)

On June 14th (Sunday), the "Mikata Goko Future Conference" will be held! Tourist destinations that attract people from around the world are always inhabited by those who love and take pride in their land. With the theme of "Creating a Region Chosen by the World," we invite Hiroshi Mizobata, a leading figure in the Osaka-Kansai Expo and inbound tourism, to explore the potential of Mikata Goko that can compete globally, while re-examining the value (treasures) of Mikata Goko from a global perspective and envisioning the next future together with everyone. Overview of the Mikata Goko Future Conference Date: June 14, 2026 (Sunday) Time: 13:30 - 16:00 (Doors open at 13:00) Venue: Mihama Town Lifelong Learning Center Nabiasu (29-3 Gōichi, Mihama Town, Mikata District, Fukui Prefecture) Participation Fee: Free Application: Not required Organized by: Mikata Goko Wide Area Tourism Council Co-organized by: Mihama Town, Wakasa Town Event Details [Part 1] Keynote Speech When the region gets excited, the world moves! ~ The energy and humanity of the region to become a "Chosen Tourist Destination" ~ Hiroshi Mizobata, Chairman of the Osaka Tourism Bureau (Former Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency) [Part 2] Panel Discussion Rediscovering the 'Value' of Mikata Goko from the World ~ The life we enjoy is a value we can proudly present to the world ~ <Panelists> Hiroshi Mizobata, Chairman of the Osaka Tourism Bureau Tomohide Tanaka, Director of the Tourism Region Promotion Division, Japan Tourism Agency Yoshikazu Tanaka, General Manager of the Osaka Tourism Bureau Mitsuru Hayashida, CEO of Rainbow Line Co., Ltd. Julian Giri, CEO of TARGET JAMM Co., Ltd. Katsuyuki Oka, CEO of Okasamiya Co., Ltd. <Facilitator> Masaki Yamashita, Fellow at JTB Corporation Research Institute https://www.town.fukui-mihama.lg.jp/soshiki/11/16289.html...

A 200,000-year-old guide to water The Mikata Five Lakes Nature Cruise website has been renewed! https://mihama-lakecenter.com// It is now easier to check the operating status for the day. Mihama Town Lake Center Location: 24-4-1 Hayase, Mihama Town, Mikata-gun, Fukui Prefecture Phone: 0770-47-5960 Closed: Wednesdays (the following day if a public holiday) Year-end and New Year holidays: December 29 to January 3

Happy New Year. I look forward to your continued support this year. This year’s NHK taiga drama, “The Toyotomi Brothers!”, has begun, and it feels like another castle boom is on the horizon. The Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum will open its Winter 2025 Special Exhibition, “The Toyotomi Brothers and Mihama – The Truth of the Retreat at Kanagasaki,” from Saturday, January 10. This exhibition highlights the Echizen invasion when the three great leaders Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu all gathered at Kuniyoshi Castle, and it focuses on “the retreat at Kanagasaki,” which launched Hideyoshi’s rise to prominence. Also, a New Year limited edition of the castle seal is on sale through the end of January. Please take this opportunity to visit the Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum. The Toyotomi Brothers and Mihama – The Truth of the Retreat at Kanagasaki Period: Saturday, January 10, 2026 – Sunday, April 19, 2026 Location: Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum Opening hours: 10:00 AM–4:30 PM (through March); 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (from April) Closed: Every Monday (the following day if Monday is a public holiday) 25-2 Sagaki, Mihama Town, Mikata-gun, Fukui Prefecture Phone: 0770-32-0050 Admission: Adults 100 yen; Children 50 yen (junior high school age and under) Note: Group discount for 20 or more people

Shirahige Shrine sits a little off the main road of Imajo-shuku Post Town. It is affectionately known as the Lower Shrine in contrast to Shilla Shrine, which is called Kaminomiya or the Upper Shrine. This quiet, sacred place is lined with towering cedar trees around a slightly long flight of stone steps.

This photograph was taken at Nanjo Elementary School in Minami-Echizen Town. The light pink cherry blossoms stand out beautifully against the reddish-brown school building!

Here is an introduction to Temari, a sweets shop located in Imajo-shuku Post Town. This time I chose kuromitsu matcha. The shiratama rice dumplings on this plate look like flowers and are so cute ♡ They mix tofu into the dumplings, which makes them soft and very delicious! ★Shop Information★ Shop name: Kanamidokoro Temari Hours: 11:00–17:00 Address: 76-31 Imajo, Minami-Echizen Town, Nanjo District, Fukui Prefecture Phone: 0778-45-1112 Closed: Monday and Tuesday (subject to change in winter) Parking: Available (free parking near the shop)

Would you like to try a glass fishing float with netting experience? This glass fishing float with netting is ideal as a single-flower vase and makes a great room decoration. ★ Glass Fishing Float with Netting Experience ★ (Reservation required) Location: Kitamae Senshu-no Yakata,Ukon-ke 　　　　 Fukui Prefecture, Nanjo District, Minami-Echizen Town, Kono 2-15 Price: ¥1,400 per person Participants: 1–5 people (please consult us for groups of more than 5) Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Reservation: Please make a reservation at the Ukonke Museum (Kitamaebune Archives Center) at least one week in advance. 　　　　TEL: 0778-48-2196 https://www.minamiechizen.com/en/spot/19168/...

Yamanaka Tunnel, registered as part of the Japan Heritage "Railways Across the Sea: Miracles of Tracks Connecting to the World." This brick tunnel makes for a charming, retro photo spot. It’s recommended not only for railway and tunnel enthusiasts but also for photography lovers!

Let me introduce Hakuryu Falls in the Kono Area of Minami-Echizen Town. This waterfall sits on the border between Minami-Echizen Town and Echizen Town along the Echizen Coast. Many people ask whether Minami-Echizen Town and Echizen Town are the same, but they are different towns. A legend says that when 19 people drifting in a small ship from Izumo Province washed ashore at Nukaura, a dragon protected their boat and climbed to the mountain summit to heal itself in a warm pool. We don’t know which pool healed the dragon, but the nearby Kono Seaside Onsen Yubae offers soothing warmth—wouldn’t you like to be healed like the dragon?

The Japanese archipelago!? There is a rock in Kouno that looks like the shape of the Japanese archipelago. Can you see the "Japanese archipelago"? You’ll find it about 400 meters south from Kono Elementary School along Route 305. It’s hard to spot, but give it a try!

"ShinobazunoikenoMadara" is a rare lotus that blooms in two different colors on the same species. Among them, flowers that display two colors of petals on a single bloom are said to be especially rare! You can see such rare lotuses at Hanahasu park in Minami-Echizen Town. https://www.minamiechizen.com/en/spot/19388/...

The white-petaled lotus flower. The lotus comes in charming colors like pink and white and makes a lovely sight. It first blooms in mid-June and reaches its peak from early to mid-July. Some varieties close their petals in the morning, so visiting in the morning is recommended. https://www.minamiechizen.com/en/feature/80061/...

At Hanahasu park, water lilies are blooming beautifully. That said, since the park mainly features lotus blossoms, there are not that many water lilies, but the ones floating on the water look refreshing and charming. To tell water lilies and lotus apart: water lilies bloom close to the surface, while lotus flowers bloom higher above the water compared with water lilies. There are many more subtle differences, so please use this as a reference!

"Railways Across the Sea: Miracles of the Tracks Connecting to the World" The railway linking Nagahama, Tsuruga, and Minami-Echizen Town, along with the railway-related culture, has been registered as a Japan Heritage. List of Japan Heritage cultural properties in Minami-Echizen Town ・Yamanaka Tunnel ・Dead End Tunnel ・Yamanaka Signal Station Remains ・Yamanaka Rock Jet ・Oto Station Remains ・Yuoo Tunnel ・Imajo Soba ・Imajo Station Water Tower and Coal Supply Facility ・Imajo-shuku Post Town What is Japan Heritage? Japan Heritage is a designation by the Agency for Cultural Affairs that recognizes stories conveying Japan's culture and traditions through the historical attractions and distinctive features of a region. (Excerpted from the Japan Heritage portable site)

What are you praying for? Hakusan Shrine in the Seto area of Minami-Echizen Town. It’s a place where you can feel a nostalgic atmosphere.

Have you ever seen the many white flowers you spot around town? They are soba flowers! A field of soba blooms looks charming, a sea of white and green.

Minami-Echizen Town Hot Spring Information ★Imajo 365 Onsen Yasuragi Hours: 11:00 AM–9:30 PM (last admission 8:30 PM) Closed: Tuesday . ★Hanahasu Onsen Somayama Hours: 10:00 AM–10:00 PM (last admission 9:00 PM) Closed: Tuesday . ★Kono Seaside Onsen Yubae Hours: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM (last admission 8:00 PM) Closed: Wednesday

Along the coast there are days so warm it feels as if winter has ended. The sea can be so calm that not a single wave stirs. When there are no waves, the deep blue of the Sea of Japan becomes even more striking. I love the contrast between this intense blue and the paler, greenish-blue. Even the Kitamaebune captains' ships look more lively.

Winter has finally arrived. This photo shows the snowy scenery at Hirono Dam. Heavy snow can be troublesome, but seeing a snowy landscape always makes me feel, “Ah—this season has come.”

We’ve decorated the tanks with Christmas trees again this year 🎄 Keeping adding more Is it just me, or do they seem more and more gorgeous each year?! 🧑‍🎄On weekends and holidays through December 25, Santa will appear between 12:00 and 12:30🧑‍🎄 Also, on December 24 and 25 at 12:00 there will be an “Underwater Santa Raffle”🐟 You can get a good deal with a digital ticket♪ *Before normal admission, buy the “Sightseeing Digital Ticket” and let’s go🙌 📍Echizen Matsushima Aquarium ◾ Address: 74-2-3 Saki, Mikuni Town, Sakai City ◾ Phone: 0776-81-2700 ◾ Hours: 9:00–16:30 (winter season)

“Zatsu Tabi - That's Journey -” (author: Kenta Ishizaka) episode “Journey 46” takes place in Fukui Prefecture, exploring the Reinan region. In Mihama Town, the visit includes overnight stays and stops at major attractions such as the Rainbow Line, Roadside Station, and the Lake Center. It is currently available for a limited time on Kadokomi (ComicWalker), so please take a look when you have time. https://comic-walker.com/detail/KC_002635_S/episodes/KC_0026350009500011_E?episodeType=latest...

Special exhibition until Sunday, December 14th "Mago Nagasaka Exhibition" Mago Nagasaka’s solo show, his first museum exhibition in the Hokuriku region. From paintings to three-dimensional works, this rare opportunity presents the trajectory of Nagasaka’s creative practice on an unprecedented scale that uses the natural setting of Kanazu Forest of Creation. To support Nagasaka’s global efforts driven by his strong belief that art exists to save people and promote world peace, the museum will attempt artwork sales second only to the Ueno Royal Museum. Through this exhibition, we aim to convey the future roles and possibilities of art and foster a sustainable cultural environment. 📌Hours 10:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30) 📌Venue Kanazu Forest of Creation Museum Artcore and open-air museum 57-2-19 Miyanoyatsu, Awara City, Fukui Prefecture 919-0806 📌Admission General 300 yen (200 yen), 65 and over / people with disabilities 150 yen, Free for high school students and younger, and one caregiver per visitor with a disability Prices in parentheses apply to groups of 20 or more ★Part of the admission fees will be used to support activities in Ghana.

Hina dolls are displayed for the Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri) at the Ukon residence, the house of a Kitamae shipowner. You might be able to see them if you visit the Ukon residence around March 3rd.