Takeda Watermill Melody Park — Attraction in Sakai

Takeda Water Wheel Melody Park is a quirky little place in a town you might not otherwise notice as you drive through. Google's characterization of this place as a 'tourist information center' is not really accurate, although the friendly staff will be happy to tell you about the local area (but like most places in Japan, you will have to speak to them in Japanese). Here you can buy some very reasonably priced local fresh produce or, weirdly, oversize shogi (Japanese chess) pieces for the equivalent of a couple of hundred bucks. There is also a kitchen and the staff will also whip you up a bowl of soba or udon noodles. Soft serve ice-cream is also available in a variety of flavors.In spring they also sell oyaki (bread balls with a kind of bitter pickled spinach inside) which can be very pleasant to eat. It's never crowded here, but it's an important hub for the town. You will often seen cyclists stopping here before they attack the last climb towards Yamanaka-Onsen. It's also at the mid-point of the best trail run course on the Fukui-Ishikawa boarder, after linking the summits of Kanmuri peak, Mt. Johouji and Mt. Takekurabe you descend to Takeda, refuel on a bowl of soba, maybe an ice-cream before continuing north over Mt. Hitomoshi, Mt. Kogura and Fujisha Peak, then taking the road up to Yamanaka Onsen. (To be sure this is a pretty epic run, we're talking about 50km with 3000m of climbing. I don't know anyone else who has successfully completed this so if you do it please...

Takeda Waterwheel Melody park is located in an idyllic district of Takeda in Sakai City which is surrounded by beautiful mountains with flow of Takeda River in the view. The park was opened in 2010. Those waterwheels in the park are the two largest waterwheels in entire region of Hokuriku. One is 8 meters and another one is 5 meters in diameter. Ever since those massive structures became the new symbol of Takeda.

** Sound of Takeda たけだの響き

There is a gigantic structure of melody chime called " Takeda no Hibiki " plays signature sound of Takeda which gently resonates through the entire mountainous village of Takeda. The melody chime is a creation of local high school ( Harue Kogyo High School ). It plays a song " Our favorite view " written by local artist " Takako Hina " every half an hour. Drawing power from the electricity generated by those waterwheels, cute animal characters start hitting hammers into the chimes to play music. It operates from 9:00 to 17:00.

** Takedaya ( Shop of Takeda ) たけだや

The shop built in this park sells fresh vegetables harvested in local area. The shop also sell some rice processed food such as Okowa ( steamed mochi rice ), Mochi ( rice cake ) etc. There is a space for you to sit and relax. This place serve buckwheat noodle of local specialty called Takeda Soba as well as handmade pudding and ice cream. Opens from 9:00 to 16:00 ( opens until 17:00 for weekends and national holidays ).

( Trans-word+ : TGM...

Nice, quaint little park with a small store, a couple of water mills, and a small building that houses a music machine of sorts that plays a melody, as the name suggests, after you...