Sister city since November 7, 1971
| City Emblem |
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■Location Faces Wakasa Bay in the southwest part of Fukui prefecture
■Average temperature Approximately14℃
■Average yearly rainfall Approximately1,700mm
■Population 34,000
■Area 232.85km2
■City flower, City tree
| Azalea | Maple |
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【Location & Temperature】
Obama city is located in the southwest of Fukui prefecture. The north part faces the Wakasa Bay, designated a quasi-national park, which consists of the longest rias coastline along the Sea of Japan. On the south part, it is mountainous. The mountains run from east to west from the north region of Kyoto and on the border of Shiga prefecture.
The two big rivers, the Kita River and the Minami River, run through the city and across the fertile plains along the coast, and to the Obama Bay.
The city belongs to the Hokuriku region, but the snowfall is less than other places in this region. Average temperature is around 14℃. Average rainfall is 1,700㎜. Average humidity is around 60%. It is warm and mild.
【History】
Obama city prospered as a good natural harbor along the Sea of Japan since ancient times. It kept company with Korea and China to do the foreign trade via the Sea of Japan since old times, while they introduced the advanced culture of the continent. It was known to Nara and Kyoto as the closest port to the capital through the Saba Road (salted mackerel road).
There are many old temples and ruins that own treasures and secrets, so the city is called "Nara City by the ocean". During the Middle Ages to the Modern Ages, the trading ships from the Obama home port sailed all over Japan, and also it prospered as a center of commerce for transporting goods to Kyoto by a land route.
Takatsugu Kyogoku was appointed Wakasa Lord from Otsu, and built the castle using the Kita River and the Minami River as a moat in 1600. In 1634, Tadakatsu Sakai became the Obama Clan Lord, and maintained it as a castle town till the Meiji era.
Obama-town was ruled by the Town and Village system in 1889. The national railroad Ohama line was opened to traffic in 1918. It became the home port of fishery in the Wakasa Bay instead of shipping.
One town and seven villages consolidated, and a it is recognized as a city in 1951, and two more villages consolidated in 1955.
Obama city has been working on making the city known as the historical city surrounded by ocean, and famous for its marine research.
【Transportation】
Railroad: To JR Obama from Tsuruga via Kyoto on the Obama line (4 hours)
Road：（Kosei Road）→Imazu→（National Highway 303 , 27）→Obama city（3 and a half hours）
【History of Development, Industry and Culture】
The port in Obama city prospered as the leading port on the Sea of Japan by trading with the countries on the opposite shore since ancient times. The culture of the Continent of Asia and imported products were introduced into Omi, Kyoto and Nara through the Saba Road (salted mackerel road). It can tell that, from a lot of ruins in the city, there existed the relationship between Obama and the Continent of Asia. The traditional industry with a long history and high technology is preciously inherited till now, such as Wakasa work in agate, the national traditional industrial art, Wakasa Japanese paper, Wakasa tiles, and Wakasa lacquered chopsticks.
The city also has a long history of fisheries, as the city was called "Food country" in ancient times, and is called "Kitchen in Kansai Area" in present. Wakasa flatfish, tilefish, fish preserved in soybean paste, Zuwai crab, and the broiled whole mackerel are famous.
In recent years, the city has marine attraction for tourists from Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, meanwhile it is an agricultural center from old times.
【Partnership Progress】
The tradition says that in the festival "Omizu Okuri" of Obama, yearly on March 2, the water is sent to Wakasai well of the Todai-ji Temple in ten days, and is used in the traditional ceremony "Omizutori" of Nara.
So, the cultural exchange between Wakasa and Nara has been active since ancient times, and it is said that Wakasa and Nara have had a historical relationship since the 8th century.
Therefore, the signing ceremony of the sister city relationship was held at Obama city on November 7, 1971.
【Community Substance】
Since the sister city relationship was established, Nara and Obama have been exchanging actively in economy, tourism, culture and sport.
Especially it holds in each city the display of its specilal products to promote tourism, which is quite successful.
The letter of thanks was given to the organizations and citizens who had promoted the ties of friendship when the ceremony of the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship was celebrated in Obama on March 4, 2001.