Wakasa Bay Quasi-National Park (若狭湾国定公園)
Wakasa Bay Quasi-National Park was designated as covering an area which includes the coastline around Wakasa Bay from the left bank of the mouth of the Shono-kawa River in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, to the right bank of the mouth of the Yura-gawa River in Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture. In August 2007, its total area was 191,940,000 square meters. It had once covered the northern part of Tango Peninsula in Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, but now the area of the Yura-gawa River and to the west is part of Tango-Amanohashidate-Oeyama Quasi-National Park.
Summary
The sawtooth coastline facing Wakasa Bay is popular among tourists with its varied views of cliffs, rock tunnels, caves and reefs. The park covers the following: the area around the coastline of Wakasa Bay, Kanmuri-jima Island and Kutsu-jima Island which are specially protected areas within the bay, Mikata Marine park, Mikata Goko (Five Lakes of Mikata), a wetland designated by the Ramsar Convention, and its neighborhood.
History
June 1, 1955: Coastline of approximately 115 km was designated as the Quasi-National Park.
August 3, 2007: The area of the Yura-gawa River and to the west was removed to join the newly established Tango-Amanohashidate-Oeyama Quasi-National Park along with some additional areas, however the park was extended to cover further areas to the east to Yura-gawa River, and in some areas expanded inland, with Kanmuri-jima Island and Kutsu-jima Island being upgraded to special protection areas.
Related municipalities and prefectures
Fukui Prefecture
Tsuruga City
Obama City
Mihama-cho, Mikata-gun
Wakasa-cho, Mikatakaminaka-gun
Oi-cho, Oi-gun
Takahama-cho, Oi -gun
Kyoto Prefecture
Maizuru City
Places to see
Tsuruga Bay
Kehi no Matsubara (a scenic beach with many beautiful pine trees)
Wakasa Bay
Mikata Goko (三方五湖) (Five Lakes of Mikata)
Sotomon (蘇洞門) (a gate-like rock on the coast which small boats can pass through)
Maizuru Bay
Mt. Goro-gadake
Otomi Dangai (Otomi Cliff)