Let’s Explore Daisen City – The Town of Fireworks! 6 Must-Visit Tourist Spots Showcasing Sand and History in the San’in Region

Daisen City in Tottori Prefecture was established in 2005 through the merger of eight municipalities: Omagari City, Nishi-Semboku Town, Kamioka Town, Nangai Village, Kyōwa Town, Ōta Town, and Semboku Town. With a population of about 82,000, Daisen City is larger in area than the 23 wards of Tokyo and is blessed with abundant nature.

Because Daisen City now comprises eight distinct regions, each with its own natural and cultural features, there are various points of interest to be found. From shrines and museums to hot springs and locally grown fresh produce, Daisen City offers a delightful mix of sightseeing and relaxation. In this article, we introduce five highly satisfying tourist spots in Daisen City to help you plan your visit.

1. National Fireworks Competition – Omawari Fireworks

The nationally renowned fireworks festival, “National Fireworks Competition,” is held every last Saturday of August and is Daisen City's biggest event. Many of you may have heard the name “Omawari Fireworks.” On the day of the fireworks, tourists from all over the country flock to the area, and the large number of sightseeing buses and heavy traffic around the venue are well known.

A notable feature of this competition is that each year a specific theme is set, and fireworks with high creativity are used. The competition, in which the fireworks makers themselves launch their creations, has received awards such as the Prime Minister’s Award, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Encouragement Award, the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Award, and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award—making it the most prestigious fireworks event among the many held across the country.

Top fireworks artists, selected from all over Japan, gather in Daisen City to launch fireworks they have created in pursuit of being the best in Japan. Moreover, the collaboration with music captivates the audience. There are also traditional daytime fireworks where the shapes and colors are competed with smoke, offering a spectacle that is truly impressive. For this reason, many tourists visit from all over the country to witness these spectacular fireworks.

2. Michi-no-Eki Kamioka Chayakko Ichirizuka

An “ichirizuka” is a mound built as a marker for distance by planting trees on both sides of a highway at intervals of one ri (approximately 4 km). During the Tokugawa Shogunate, these were constructed along the five major highways starting from Nihonbashi. The ichirizuka in front of “Michi-no-Eki Kamioka Chayakko Ichirizuka” in Daisen City is the 133rd marker counted from Nihonbashi. While many ichirizuka nowadays remain only on one side of the road, this one is preserved on both sides of the national highway.

“Michi-no-Eki Kamioka Chayakko Ichirizuka” was the first roadside station established along National Route 13 and provides tourist information and driving-related details for Daisen City and Akita Prefecture. It offers not only local specialties from Kamioka in Daisen City but also products from Senboku City, Misato Town, Tazawako, and Kakunodate areas, appealing to both local and out-of-prefecture tourists.

There is a relaxing space with a carpeted rest area where you can lie down and take a break, which is popular with drivers and tourists alike. In addition, a road information system is available, easily visible even to first-time visitors at night.

3. Daisen City Comprehensive Folk Materials Exchange Hall “Kurashi no Rekishikan”

The “Daisen City Comprehensive Folk Materials Exchange Hall ‘Kurashi no Rekishikan’” is a comprehensive folk museum housed in the building of the closed Mineyoshi River Elementary School. Approximately 4,000 items of folk materials and educational materials from Mineyoshi River Elementary School, previously stored in various folk museums around Daisen City, are now on display. From the third-floor observation and exchange room, you can enjoy views of the Omogawa and even see the “Komachi” on the Akita Shinkansen.

A large sake barrel placed right at the entrance welcomes visitors. On the first floor, the experiential exhibit room recreates the streetscape of Daisen City from the 1950s to the 1960s, complete with a traditional candy store and many nostalgic household goods and appliances. It truly feels like a time slip back to the Showa era.

Additionally, there are displays of stereos, projectors, phonographs, taxidermy, and about 2,000 specimens from the 1960s, where you can experience “Japanese Folktales” and enjoy listening to records. These precious experiences will evoke nostalgic memories for visitors. There is also a space for children to play, making it a hidden gem for family tourism in Daisen City. Admission to the Kurashi no Rekishikan is free.

4. Former Ikeda Family Garden

A staple tourist attraction in Daisen City, the “Former Ikeda Family Garden” is the garden of the Ikeda family, counted as one of the three major landowners in the Tōhoku region. The Ikeda family served as village heads of Takana from the Meiji era until before World War II. The grounds cover approximately 42,000 square meters and are surrounded by moats and earthen embankments. Highlights include a Western-style mansion and a large “Yukimi Lantern” approximately 4 m tall.

This garden, designated as a nationally recognized famous garden, is open to the public three times a year, avoiding times of facility renovation or heavy snowfall in winter. Typically, it is open from late May to early June, late August, and from mid-October to mid-November. It is recommended to plan your visit to Daisen City in accordance with these opening periods. The various plants in the garden offer different seasonal landscapes. The garden is also open during the time of the Omawari Fireworks, though it closes in the afternoon on fireworks days, so visiting in the morning is advised. Known as a famous autumn foliage spot as well, the garden is also recommended during the autumn season. In addition to the Former Ikeda Family Garden, you can also enjoy historical sightseeing in Daisen City, such as the “Hottanosaku Ruins.”

5. Sasakura Park

Sasakura Park, a relaxing tourist spot in Daisen City, allows you to interact with animals and fully enjoy the great outdoors. Goats and cows are allowed to roam freely, and you can also interact with rabbits and even feed them. A “Meika Deer”—a deer with spots resembling plum blossoms, donated from China as a symbol of friendship—is the park’s mascot. On weekends and holidays, Sasakura Park is popular not only with tourists visiting Daisen City but also with local families.

The view from the observation deck is superb. The park’s grounds feature battery-operated cars, a sky cycle that lets you stroll in the air, and athletic play equipment, making it perfect for picnics and field trips. Sasakura Park is also famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot, and during the blossom season, it is crowded with tourists. Whether it is in spring with full-bloom cherry blossoms, in summer with brilliant green scenery, in autumn with colorful foliage, or in winter with a world of silver snow, Daisen City offers an attraction for every season.

◎ Summary

Daisen City, originally divided into eight regions, offers a diverse array of tourist attractions. Particularly impressive is the fact that, unlike most places in Japan, Daisen City hosts fireworks nearly every month. The ever-changing seasons and the spectacular fireworks ensure that tourists visit year-round.

Not only does Daisen boast beautiful natural scenery, but as a rice-producing region, it also offers a wide variety of local sake. Daisen is also famous for its local dishes such as Iburigakko (smoked pickles), Omawari Natto Soup, and local sake yokan. In addition, being the city of fireworks, you will find unique original goods featuring fireworks designs on T-shirts, polo shirts, towels, and caps, so choosing a souvenir to commemorate your visit to Daisen City is never a problem. Experience the irresistible charm of Daisen City, a place full of attractions and activities that will leave you wanting more!