Tourism EXPO Japan 2026
A Cultural Heritage Linking the Sea to the Ancient Capital
The Case for Obama & Wakasa
Located where mountains meet the sea, Obama and Wakasa have long sustained the cultural heart of Japan through food, faith, and exchange.
Ancient temples, historic port towns, and living fishing traditions create a destination that feels grounded, authentic, and quietly profound.
Obama and Wakasa sit along the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture, within easy reach of Kyoto while feeling far removed from its pace. The area is accessed via Tsuruga, a key Shinkansen gateway linking Hokuriku and Tokyo, and has long been connected to the former capital by the Saba Kaidō (Mackerel Road). Today, this
historic corridor allows Obama and Wakasa to be included naturally in journeys through Kyoto, Kanazawa, and the wider Kyoto-by-the-Sea region—adding contrast,depth, and a practical waypoint without complicating the route
Obama/Wakasa Connections
Kyoto 🡪 1.75 hours drive
Tsuruga Station 🡪 40 mins drive
Osaka 🡪 2.5 hours drive
Wakasa & Obama USPs
1. Kyoto's Historic Link to the Sea
The Saba Kaidō and the Flow of Culture Obama and Wakasa were historically connected to Kyoto via the Saba Kaidō (Mackerel Road), the primary route through which seafood and cultural goods
were delivered to the capital. This relationship shaped the region's religious institutions, food culture, and town development. Today, the route provides a strong narrative backbone for itineraries linking Kyoto with the Sea of Japan.
2. Important Cultural Temples Without the Crowds
National Treasures in a Quiet Setting The region is home to a high concentration of ancient temples, Buddhist statues, and sacred sites designated as Important Cultural Properties. Unlike major urban temple districts, these sites remain calm and deeply rooted in local communities,allowing guests to engage with Japanese religious heritage without congestion or performative tourism.
3. Flexible Itinerary Including Kyoto and Hokuriku Off-The-Beaten-Path, yet Logistically Viable (Golden Route Adjacent)
Easily accessed from Kyoto and theHokuriku Shinkansen corridor via Tsuruga,Obama and Wakasa add depth to itineraries without logistical complexity.The region also functions as a practical waypoint for travel between Hokuriku destinations and Kyoto by the Sea—an area that is steadily growing in popularity.
4. Historic Districts That Are Still Lived In Preserved, Residential, and Unscripted
Areas such as Nishigumi preserve the architectural character of historic port towns and former hanamachi districts.
These neighborhoods are not open-air museums, but residential areas where daily life continues. This creates an atmosphere that feels genuine and uncurated, appealing to culturally sensitive travellers.
5. Outdoor Experiences Integrated with Culture
Active Travel with Human Connection Cycling routes through satoyama landscapes, sea kayaking from satoumi hamlets, and light hiking along ancient roads can be naturally combined with temple visits, local meals, and community interaction. Outdoor activity here is not isolated from culture, but woven into it—allowing travellers to move, observe, and connect at a human scale.
6. Food That Nourished the Capital A Living Miketsukuni Tradition
Obama and Wakasa were historically designated as a miketsukuni, supplying seafood, salt, and preserved foods to the Imperial Court in Kyoto. This legacy remains embedded in everyday life—from fishing
practices and seasonal preparation to local dishes shaped by restraint and preservation rather than display. For travellers, food here is not a curated experience but an entry point into regional history, coastal livelihoods, and long-standing ties between land, sea, and capital.
Located where mountains meet the sea, Obama and Wakasa have long sustained the cultural heart of Japan through food, faith, and exchange.
Ancient temples, historic port towns, and living fishing traditions create a destination that feels grounded, authentic, and quietly profound.
Obama and Wakasa sit along the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture, within easy reach of Kyoto while feeling far removed from its pace. The area is accessed via Tsuruga, a key Shinkansen gateway linking Hokuriku and Tokyo, and has long been connected to the former capital by the Saba Kaidō (Mackerel Road). Today, this
historic corridor allows Obama and Wakasa to be included naturally in journeys through Kyoto, Kanazawa, and the wider Kyoto-by-the-Sea region—adding contrast,depth, and a practical waypoint without complicating the route
Obama/Wakasa Connections
Kyoto 🡪 1.75 hours drive
Tsuruga Station 🡪 40 mins drive
Osaka 🡪 2.5 hours drive
Wakasa & Obama USPs
1. Kyoto's Historic Link to the Sea
The Saba Kaidō and the Flow of Culture Obama and Wakasa were historically connected to Kyoto via the Saba Kaidō (Mackerel Road), the primary route through which seafood and cultural goods
were delivered to the capital. This relationship shaped the region's religious institutions, food culture, and town development. Today, the route provides a strong narrative backbone for itineraries linking Kyoto with the Sea of Japan.
2. Important Cultural Temples Without the Crowds
National Treasures in a Quiet Setting The region is home to a high concentration of ancient temples, Buddhist statues, and sacred sites designated as Important Cultural Properties. Unlike major urban temple districts, these sites remain calm and deeply rooted in local communities,allowing guests to engage with Japanese religious heritage without congestion or performative tourism.
3. Flexible Itinerary Including Kyoto and Hokuriku Off-The-Beaten-Path, yet Logistically Viable (Golden Route Adjacent)
Easily accessed from Kyoto and theHokuriku Shinkansen corridor via Tsuruga,Obama and Wakasa add depth to itineraries without logistical complexity.The region also functions as a practical waypoint for travel between Hokuriku destinations and Kyoto by the Sea—an area that is steadily growing in popularity.
4. Historic Districts That Are Still Lived In Preserved, Residential, and Unscripted
Areas such as Nishigumi preserve the architectural character of historic port towns and former hanamachi districts.
These neighborhoods are not open-air museums, but residential areas where daily life continues. This creates an atmosphere that feels genuine and uncurated, appealing to culturally sensitive travellers.
5. Outdoor Experiences Integrated with Culture
Active Travel with Human Connection Cycling routes through satoyama landscapes, sea kayaking from satoumi hamlets, and light hiking along ancient roads can be naturally combined with temple visits, local meals, and community interaction. Outdoor activity here is not isolated from culture, but woven into it—allowing travellers to move, observe, and connect at a human scale.
6. Food That Nourished the Capital A Living Miketsukuni Tradition
Obama and Wakasa were historically designated as a miketsukuni, supplying seafood, salt, and preserved foods to the Imperial Court in Kyoto. This legacy remains embedded in everyday life—from fishing
practices and seasonal preparation to local dishes shaped by restraint and preservation rather than display. For travellers, food here is not a curated experience but an entry point into regional history, coastal livelihoods, and long-standing ties between land, sea, and capital.
Co-exhibitor of Japan Heritage
"Iza, Kamakura" Kamakura, a city of history and culture :
"What on Earth?!" Flame Pots and Snow Counry Culture in the Shinano River Basin :
140 Years of Japanese Wine ~ A Fermented Masterpiece of Japanese Culture ~ :
A 1,300-Year-Old Buddhist Pilgrimage :
A Cultural Heritage Linking the Sea to the Ancient Capital :
A Landscape Interwoven with Vineyards -Kyotoh-Yamanashi Wine County- :
A Legacy of Stonework : the craftsmanship of Yatsushiro's masons :
A miniature garden city from the middle ages built around the onomichi channel :
Along the Ley Lines – Sanctuary of Sun and Earth ~ Ueda Shiodadaira: a town that lives with dragons :
An Edo Travelogue through Four Hokuso Cities :
Awa – The Home of “Ai”: Searching for the Supreme Blue of Japanese indigo :
Bantan Throughway - Gin no Bashamichi and Koseki no Michi Japan Heritage Site :
Defense Network of Satsuma Samurai Districts in the Edo Period :
Educational Heritage and World Heritage Registration Promotion Council :
Eternal History Told Through Iwami's Volcanoes — Trip of Discovery to the “Jomon Forest” and “Silver Mine” — :
Even Edo is not as busy as Esashi in May －The town made prosperous by herring :
From Forest Railway to Yuzu Road-The Story of Japan’s Largest Yuzu-Growing Region :
Japan Heritage "Shikoku Henro" ～Circular pilgrimage route and unique pilgrimage culture～ :
Japan Heritage Administration Team :
Japan's Largest Livestock Market Born of Jizo Bodhisattva Worship :
Kakaa Denka – The Peerless Wives ~ The Story of Silk in Gunma Prefecture ~ :
Kasama and Mashiko: The Story Woven by Twin Pottery-Making Districts :
Kurashiki and the Story of Fiber - East meets west through cotton - :
Land of Izumo,Tatara Chronicle ～A Thousand Years of Iron～ :
Living with Whales :
Masuda glows with the brightness of the Age of Regional Revitalization :
Merchant Ships Carrying Goods, Culture, and Big Dreams :
Mitake Shosenkyo Gorge, the Source of Koshu's Craftsmanship — Faith, Skills and Advanced Technology Led by the Crystal's Pulse :
Mt. Mitoku and Misasa Onsen: Thrills and Spills - An Exciting Climb and Healing Hot Springs- :
No Landslide Anymore! Crossing ‘Kamenose',the heart of the ancient Tatsuta Kodo :
Okayama, the birthplace of the Legend of Momotaro, a piece of Japan Heritage-A tale of ogre conquest handed down through ancient Kibi heritage- :
Preserving the Mountain Forests of the Kiso Region :
Reki-Manzan Takaosan – The Story of Mulberry city Woven by Locals' Prayers - :
Saiku: The Palace of Saio - the Imperial Princess Prays :
Shinobi-no-Sato Iga and Koka – Exploring the Birthplace of the Real Ninja :
Six Ancient Kilns - Ceramics Born and Raised in Japan - :
The birthplace of Shugendo, a tradition passed down through generations of believers and villagers :
The Border Islands ~ A 2300-year story of trade, cultural interaction, and conflict.~ :
The down of Japan～woman in the Asuka Period～ :
The Geiyo Islands, home to “JAPAN’S GREATEST CORSAIR” reviving the memory of the Murakami KAIZOKU :
The Intricate World of Indigo Shibori Tie-Dyeing :
The Lake Biwa Canal: The Canal of Hope Connecting Kyoto and Otsu― Walk and boat along the canal to experience a day in the Meiji Era :
The Oldest National Highway: A 1,400-Year Legacy of History - Takenouchi Kaido & Yokooji (Daido) - :
The Prehistoric Burial Mounds of Miyazaki :
The Railway That Crossed the Sea~The Railway of Miracle and Trajectory that Connected with the World~ :
The Stone Working Skills of Fukui - Building Blocks of History :
The Story of Komatsu's Gems & Stones - A Heritage of Stone Polished by the Flow of Time :
The Story of MICHINOKU GOLD -Zipang,the Land of Gold:Tracing the Origins of Japanese Gold- :
THE STORY OF THE LORD AND HIS CITIZENS WHO TURNED A CRISIS INTO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY :
Tracing the History of a Medieval Rural Landscape :
Treasure House of Scenic Beauty Wakanoura :
Tsuwano: Then and Now: A Walk through the Hyakkeizu :
Ultimate Snow Country Tokamachi - The True Story! A Story of a heavy snowfall :
Underground Adventure ～Utsunomiya,Home of Oya Stone～ :
Yaji and Kita’s journey through Sunshu, gave rise to the first travel boom in Japan :
”Kunisaki” -where Oni and Buddhas coexist as one :
| Booth No | Y-30 |
|---|---|
| Area | Travel-related companies（Inbound to JAPAN） |
| Official site | https://www.japan.travel/japan-heritage/popular/wakasa-sea-kyoto-imperial-food-mackerel-road-fukui |
| SNS Links |     |
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