Asia’s Original Gateway to Japan and Kyoto
The port city of Obama on Wakasa Bay was a hub for trade with foreign countries. It became the starting point of the Saba Kaido with the establishment of the Obama Ichiba market in 1607. Marine resources and products were transported to Kyoto along these paths.
Obama Nishiguchi, to the west of the Obama Ichiba, was a castle town built in the Edo period (1603-1867). It has separate districts for temples, merchant homes, and entertainment, and the many extant cultural properties are a testament to the wealth generated in this period. Suigetsu, a high-end restaurant in a building archetypal of the entertainment quarter, still serves traditional mackerel cuisine. This luxurious restaurant serves delicious Japanese dishes with a hint of French influence. If you truly want to splurge, hire Obama’s last remaining geisha to entertain you during your meal.
Obama’s Port is a short walk from the historic district. To learn about the origin of the name ‘Saba Kaido’, visit Obama’s fish market (or make a reservation to watch an auction) and then take a look around the Wakasa Obama Food Culture Museum. If you are a foodie who would like to dine on local marine specialties (mackerel, blowfish, etc), it is also possible to have lunch or dinner (or stay overnight) in one of Obama’s small fishing villages.
Obama Nishiguchi, to the west of the Obama Ichiba, was a castle town built in the Edo period (1603-1867). It has separate districts for temples, merchant homes, and entertainment, and the many extant cultural properties are a testament to the wealth generated in this period. Suigetsu, a high-end restaurant in a building archetypal of the entertainment quarter, still serves traditional mackerel cuisine. This luxurious restaurant serves delicious Japanese dishes with a hint of French influence. If you truly want to splurge, hire Obama’s last remaining geisha to entertain you during your meal.
Obama’s Port is a short walk from the historic district. To learn about the origin of the name ‘Saba Kaido’, visit Obama’s fish market (or make a reservation to watch an auction) and then take a look around the Wakasa Obama Food Culture Museum. If you are a foodie who would like to dine on local marine specialties (mackerel, blowfish, etc), it is also possible to have lunch or dinner (or stay overnight) in one of Obama’s small fishing villages.
