Introduction of Echizen-cho
"Working towards creating a town utilising the townspeople and their skills, the sea and the land. The pleasant and comfortable home town of Echizen."
On February 1 2005, a new Echizen Town was formed after the amalgamation of Asahi Town, Echizen Town, Ota Town and Miyazaki Village. I would like to express my gratitude to the people of Echizen, whose support has enabled me to become the Mayor of Echizen Town. I understand that I have a substantial obligation to the townspeople to create a town that lives up to their expectations. I am honoured and thrilled to have been elected as mayor and I will do my best to achieve the goal of creating a bright future for Echizen Town.
"Citizen-orientated" is the key concept and "Information disclosure" is the keyword in my vision of creating the Echizen Town. In my vision, every citizen of Echizen Town is involved in the town administration; everyone plays the main role. By involving citizens of all ages in administrative roles and by listening to their opinions, I hope that we are able to build a community that reflects upon, and utilises, the originality and diversity of the people of Echizen Town.
In Echizen Town, we are extremely fortunate to be surrounded by rich historical and traditional culture, diverse nature, a very supportive regional help system and an excellent living environment. As is the trend in many areas of Japan however, we face some social problems. There is a declining birth rate and an equally increasing proportion of elderly citizens, a lack of successors in the industries and as a result of increasing lifestyle convenience, there are a number of social services that need to be improved. I believe that working on improving the daily lives of the citizens is a top priority.
Echizen Town is our stage on which we are to live our lives. It must therefore be safe and comfortable so that people can live as happily as possible. Echizen Town will be a place where everyone wants to live. I will use my flexible way of thinking and my fresh approach to action planning to encourage the citizens to realise their dream and plan their future.
Takanobu Seki
Introduction of Echizen-cho
Echizen Town is located in the western region of the Reihoku area of Fukui
Prefecture. It is 17.8km from east to west and 17.2km from north to south,
covering a total area of 152.93 square kilometres. Echizen Town's western
boarder is the Sea of Japan, for which the coastline is famous. Fukui City
lies to the north of Echizen Town, while Sabae City is to the east and
Echizen City and Minami Echizen Town are to the south.
Stretching from the west coast to the northern part of Echizen Town is the Nyu Mountain Range, which, including forests, makes up 74.8% of the total land area. The mountains are all over 500m in height, which sets Echizen Town at an above average altitude. With the majority of land being mountains and forest, arable land is limited to the Echizen Plains in the east and the flat land of Ota and Miyazaki basins.
With the mountains near the coast forming a natural divide, the eastern side of the range is known as the Tennou River Valley and the west is Umeura River. Both areas have picturesque basins, rivers and small valleys amid the mountainous terrain.
Information on events
Festivals
Asahi Festival (early August)
Asahi Festival is a fun summer event for people of all ages. The main attraction of the festival is the parade of floats (andon dashi) which go through the streets of the area. People in the parade wear the traditional summer festival clothing of yukata (summer kimono) and happi coats. The floats, made by the townspeople, light up the mid summer night and create a very festive atmosphere.
Echizen Pottery Festival (last Saturday, Sunday & Monday of May)
The Echizen Pottery Festival is held in the grounds of Echizen Pottery Village and attracts approximately 100,000 people from both within and outside of Fukui Prefecture. The festival features a ceramic ware fair, which is extremely popular because of the 20% to 30% discount off all pieces. Visitors to the festival can also enjoy a vast array of events such as musical entertainment, village specialities food stalls, folk entertainment performances and a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Echizen Summer Festival (mid July)
The main feature of the Echizen Summer Festival is the display of handcrafted portable shrines (Echizen urara mikoshi). Other attractions of the lively festival include costume, bon dancing, delicious food stalls and fireworks. The brilliant display of fireworks is set off over the Sea of Japan and the reflection in the water has visitors to the festival in awe each year. Definitely a must see!!
O-TA-I-KO Hibike Festival (3rd Saturday of August)
This exciting and breathtaking Japanese drum festival features performances from amateur groups and professional drummers from all over Japan. The main attraction of the show is the 1.6m "Myojin" Drum which is played during the finale by Ota's group of drummers, "O-TA-I-KO za Myojin". The beat of the Japanese drums will be sure to penetrate the souls of each and every spectator!
Event Schedule
| January | from middle to end of Jan. | Echizen Daffodil Festival (Echizen coast) |
|---|---|---|
| February | 11 | Sagicho (Tsurugi shrine) |
| May | last Saturday, Sunday and Monday | Echizen Pottery Festival ( Echizen Pottery Park) |
| June | 30 | Summer Ooharai Prayer (Tsurugi shrine) |
| July | mid July | Echizen Summer Festival |
| 8-10 | Echizen Konpira Festival (Konpira Shrine) | |
| 14 | Gion Festival (Yasaka Shrine) | |
| 18 | Mt. Ochi Festival (Mt. Ochi) | |
| August | first Sunday | Airing of the treasures in Tsurugi shrine (Tsurugi shrine) |
| early Aug. | Asahi Festival | |
| late Aug. | O-TA-I-KO Hibike Festival (Otaiko Hills) | |
| October | first Sunday | A tour of kiln ruins and Autumn tea ceremony (Echizen Pottery Park) |
| early Oct. | Ota festival (Tsurugi shrine) | |
| November | 3 | Mandoue (Ootani temple Daicyouin ) |
| from Nov. to end of March | Echizen Crab Fishing season (Echizen coast) |
Access
JR
From Tokyo : Tokaido Shinkansen via Maibara (change to Limited Express) / 3h20m
From Osaka : KoseiLine Limited Express via Osaka (change to Hokuriku Line) / 3h, Hokuriku Line With a change to Hokuriku Line / 2h
From Nagoya : Hokuriku Line Limited Express / 2h
Car
From Tokyo : Tomei → Meishin → Hokuriku Expressway / 7h
From Osaka : Meishin → Hokuriku Expressway / 3h
From Nagoya : Meishin → Hokuriku Expressway / 2h