Fukui Prefectural Seaside Nature Center — Attraction in Wakasa

Mikata Marine Park was established here next to the area of scenic wetland called Mikata Goko ( five lakes of Mikata ). Mikata Goko is registered as one of the wetlands under the protection of international convention of wetlands called the Ramsar Convention for the purpose of preservation of marine lives. This facility displays what kind of marine lives can be seen in this area of Mikata. Mikata Marine Park provides opportunities for visitors to get in close touch with lives in the sea. The building is right next to a beach with its balcony facing to the sea so you can enjoy viewing the bay area as you dip your feet into a footbath. Right next to the entrance there is a deep aquarium where you can enjoy feeding fish. The facility is devided into several sections each with its own theme such as fish great for eating, marine lives of Mikata Goko, type of fresh water fish we see in canals and rice fields, poisonous creatures. The second flloor has a museum of wild birds. This place also offers educational film of marine lives in its theater. Doctor fish aquarium and touchable pool are some of the highlights of this place. ( Trans-word+ : TGM...

For a free-entry facility, this is excellent, and the Fukui prefectural government should be commended for providing it. There are a range of exhibits, mostly concentrating on natural history, but some on e.g. fishing (which I would like to see expanded). Some of the fish tanks allow visitors to feed the fish (100 yen to buy the food; my wife thoroughly enjoyed this). It’s cheap enough, and I did not begrudge the price at all. There is a walking track around the peninsula that starts here, and free car parking (which looks even better given there is 1000 yen paid parking just down the road). The 15-minute hourly screened 3-d film is quite...

Fukui Prefectural Seaside Nature Center is free of charge and has many great interactive activities for children. Kids can not only learn about sea life through its exhibits, but there is also a petting zoo area. The only drawback for foreign tourists is the lack of English signage, but many things (petting zoo, crafts area) can be enjoyed with little or...