[Fukui Prefecture] Eat, drink, and take home! Enjoy the gourmet food and souvenirs of Oi Town

• Table of Contents
• What is Oi Town, Fukui Prefecture like?
• Recommended gourmet food in Oi Town
• Sake you'll want to try in Oi Town
• If you're looking to buy souvenirs in Oi Town, this is the place to go!
• How to get to Oi Town

What is Oi Town, Fukui Prefecture like?

Oi Town , located in the Wakasa area of ​​Fukui Prefecture , is surrounded by abundant nature, with 90% of the town covered in mountain forests and the sea facing Wakasa Bay-National Park. The views of the ria coast are beautiful. Summer is a recommended season, with plenty of facilities for families to play and enjoy, in addition to swimming and camping.

Every summer, the town is bustling with tourists, hosting the grand "Wakasa Oi Super Fire Festival" and "Star Fiesta." There are also facilities for families to enjoy, such as the Yatsugamine Family Travel Village and Kinoko no Mori, as well as unique cultural facilities such as the Jakushu-itteki-bunko and the Koyomi Hall, so you can enjoy not only nature but also fascinating culture and history.

Oi Town is a place where you can easily enjoy the flavors of both the mountains and the sea, and is home to many delicious foods, including mountain produce such as wild yam and fresh seafood caught in the Nihon Sea.

Recommended gourmet food in Oi Town

Wakasa Guji

When it comes to seafood from Oi Town, the first thing that comes to mind is "Wakasa Guji." "Guji" refers to red tilefish, as it is called in the Wakasa region. It has been prized as a luxury food ingredient since ancient times, and has been a favorite in Kyoto's traditional restaurants.

Of the red tilefish caught in Wakasa Bay, only those that meet strict standards can be called "Wakasa Guji." It has also been certified as a brand fish of Oi Town , and more than 80% of the " Wakasa Guji" caught in Wakasa Bay is landed on Oshima Oshima in Oi Town .

Only fish caught by longline fishing or line fishing in Wakasa Bay that weigh over 500g, are fresh, and have a beautiful appearance are recognized as "Wakasa Guji." Because tilefish are delicate and easily damaged, they are caught individually, placed in specially insulated boxes, and brought back to the port under strict temperature control.

Among them, the "Wakasa Guji Wakasa" is a top-quality brand that was launched in November 2020. It weighs over 800g and has thick flesh. It has been processed to be able to be eaten raw for a longer period than conventional "Wakasa Guji," and its taste is exquisite.

Wakasa yaki is a local cooking method that allows you to enjoy every bit of Wakasa Guji, where the fish is salted without removing the scales and then carefully coated with layers of sauce. The crispy texture of the fragrant scales and the elegant, lovely white meat that melts on your tongue are a must-try delicacy.

Wild boar hotpot

"Botan nabe" is a traditional Japanese hotpot dish made by simmering wild boar meat and seasonal vegetables in a miso-based broth. It is a winter specialty dish that represents the Nadasho area of ​​Oi Town. Wild boar hunting is permitted from early November, and you can enjoy "Botan nabe" every year from mid-November to late March.

The name "Botan Nabe" comes from the fact that the wild boar meat is arranged in a circle like peony petals. The contrast between the pure white, high-quality fat and the beautiful red meat is visually appealing.

The wild boars, which run energetically through the mountains of the Nadasho area and grow up eating an abundance of acorns, are characterized by their deep flavor and light fat, without the strong odor that is typical of wild boar meat. Even those who don't like wild game find it easy to eat and it is popular. The hot pot dish, packed with fresh local vegetables and mushrooms, will warm you to the core.

Japanese yam

Grown in the clean air and lush forests, "Jinenjo" (wild yam) is one of Oi Town's representative winter delicacies, along with "Botan Nabe" (botan stew). A type of yam unique to Japan, it has been prized since ancient times for its strong stickiness, rich flavor, and high nutritional value.

In particular, the wild yam grown in the Nadasho area is said to be of better quality and more tenacious than those from other regions.

They are sold at local farm stands from late November through January. In Oi Town , traditional ways of eating wild yam are handed down to bring out its full potential, including in grated yam rice, wild yam soba noodles, miso soup, and tempura.

● Nadasho Shokai Co., Ltd. 3-42-1 Kusaka, Nadasho , Oi Town, Fukui Prefecture
http://natasho.co.jp

Sake you'll want to try in Oi Town

Local sake "Myoseishu"

Along with "Botan Nabe" and "Wakasa Guji", be sure to try some local sake. One of the recommended local sakes is "Myo Masamune", a pure rice sake made from sake rice grown in Oi Town.

"Myoseishu" is a reproduction of a famous sake that was made in the past, and is made using 100% sake rice from Oi Town. It is a refreshing and easy-to-drink sake, and is a hidden favorite among locals.

Enjoy the crisp, dry taste when chilled, and the full, deep flavor when warmed. Please enjoy this local sake, nurtured in the rich natural environment of Oi Town .

●Hyosuke Co., Ltd. 120-4 Oi Town, Fukui Prefecture
https://www.hyosk.jp/

If you're looking to buy souvenirs in Oi Town, this is the place to go!

If you're looking to buy souvenirs in Oi Town , we recommend the roadside station, which sells a variety of local specialties.

Uminpia Oi Roadside Station

Located inside Uminpia Oi , the gateway to Oi Town , Roadside Station Oi Oi sells fresh local vegetables, processed foods, seafood from Wakasa Bay, etc. The craft corner is lined with accessories and pottery made by pearl specialty shops and individuals in Oi Town.

There is also a fast food corner with a wide selection of fresh, locally caught seafood, and you can enjoy gelato made with seasonal fruits.

Uminpia Roadside Station Oi 1-1-2 Narumi, Oi Oi Town , Fukui Prefecture
https://michinoeki-ohi.com

Roadside Station Nadasho

Natasho Roadside Station, located in the Natasho district, is a facility that sells local specialties and serves as a rest area for road users. It sells seasonal vegetables and fruits shipped by local producers, pickles, heshiko (a type of jellyfish), and other specialty products. There are also many souvenirs made with wild yam, a specialty of the Natasho district. We recommend the wild yam cookies and wild yam gelato.

Also, at the soba restaurant "Yottetei" located within the facility, the "Jinen-yam Soba" made with Nadasho's Jinen-yam is popular. Jinen-yam Soba is made by kneading Jinen-yam into soba noodles, boasting a firm texture and delicious flavor, and "Saba Soba" is a combination of Jinen-yam and mackerel from Wakasa Bay , and is a specialty of the "Western Mackerel Highway."

Roadside Station Nadasho 109 Nadasho , Oi Town , Fukui Prefecture
https://www.natasho.co.jp/michinoeki/

How to get to Oi Town

Take the train to Oi Town

●From Kyoto Station

From JR Kyoto Station, take the Maizuru Limited Express to JR Higashi-Maizuru Station. From JR Higashi-Maizuru Station, take the Obama and get off at JR Wakasa Station. It takes about 3 hours from Kyoto Station.

●From Tokyo Station

From JR Tokyo Station, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to JR Kyoto Station. From JR Higashi-Maizuru Station, take the Obama and get off at JR Wakasa Station. It takes about 5 hours from Tokyo Station.

Drive to Oi Town

From Kyoto, take National Route 9 to the Kyoto Jukan Expressway and get off at Kutsukake IC. From Kutsukake IC, go through Ayabe JCT, enter the Maizuru Wakasa Expressway, and get off at Oi Takahama IC.

Click here for tourist information about Oi Town