🗺️ Wakasa Kobama Food Culture Museum御食国若狭おばま食文化館

Introducing the history, culture, and facilities of "御食國" (Mikuni), which contributed salt and seafood ingredients to the imperial court. It is not only a museum but also features a cooking classroom where you can participate in cooking classes or processing experiences using local ingredients by making a reservation in advance. In the cooking classroom, you can challenge yourself to make various seasonal dishes, including festival foods and New Year’s dishes. The processing experiences include making mackerel pressed sushi, temari sushi, fish paste products, and葛饅頭 (kuzumochi), which are local specialties of Wakasa. The museum showcases themes through food models and screens, displaying "Zoni," a traditional Japanese New Year dish, recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, as well as "Washoku," and the Japanese heritage site "御食國若狹和鯖魚街道" (Mikuni Wakasa Mackerel Street). There is also a special section introducing the origin and delicious secrets of "authentic sushi," which attracts many foreign tourists. Wakasa was not only one of the ancient regions that contributed salt and seafood to the imperial court but also supports the culinary culture of Kyoto. Additionally, Obama is famous as the starting point of the Mackerel Street. The area offers a rich variety of mackerel delicacies, including mackerel sushi and mackerel pickled in rice bran. The traditional food and activities passed down through generations have been recognized as part of the Japanese heritage "Cultural Heritage Group of the Ancient Road Connecting the Sea and the Capital, Mikuni Wakasa and Mackerel Street."

If you want to participate in a cooking class or processing experience, you need to make a reservation in advance. The attached "Wakasa Workshop" allows you to engage with traditional crafts such as Wakasa lacquered chopsticks, Wakasa washi paper, and Wakasa agate craftsmanship. The attached restaurant offers traditional dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.