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Sneak Peek - Mihama Sports Park Opening in 2024

▲Members of the Mihama Town hall taking a tour of the construction site

Mihama Sports Park is a regional revitalization project that aims to promote sports and other aspects including, health, welfare, education, and the economy.

▲View from the stadium ground

The park is located adjacent to the Meitetsu Chita Okuda Station and at the entrance of the Nihon Fukushi University. The entire park will cover an area of approximately 8.3 hectares (about the size of 15 football fields), with the Sanno River flowing through the center of the park.

▲Looking from the audience stand

Starting with the athletic field, officially recognized by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, the park will have an exchange plaza, disaster prevention facilities and parking lots, a sports plaza, a playground equipment plaza, a health plaza, and a multipurpose plaza. The park will also be equipped with a parkway for running and walking, shower rooms and, multipurpose restrooms.

▲Indoor waiting area of the stadium

In the event of an earthquake, tsunami, or large-scale fire, Mihama Sports Park will serve as a designated emergency evacuation site and accept evacuees from the neighborhood. After a disaster, the athletic field will serve as a landing place for helicopters, the parking lot as a collection point for supplies, and the entire park as a base for recovery activities.

▲Outer view of the stadium

The project was approved by the prefectural government as an urban planning project in the fiscal year 2017, and construction is in progress. The various facilities planned for the Mihama Sports Park will be developed in phases, with the opening of the athletic field and exchange plaza in 2024.

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Award Winning Organic Carrot Farm

▲Members of the Mihama Town Hall having an agriculture experience

Deguchi Takahito, owner of the organic farm, moved from Nagoya to Mihama Town ten years ago to start a career in agriculture. With a background in nutrition, he has made it his mission to cultivate crops centered around sustainable farming and use cultivation methods that rely solely on the land's natural recourses. This means the absence of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.

▲Staff of the Deguchi Akihito Farm cleaning the carrots

Organic farming is challenging, but Deguchi's hard work and expertise have produced outstanding results. Crops from his farm have gotten awards for their quality, including first place in the nutritional value content at the Organic Eco Festa in 2016, 2021 and, 2023. This is no easy feat, especially in a country famed for its farming industry, with most farmers taking pride in their crops.

▲An odd-shaped carrot picked fresh from the ground

In comparison to the national average, carrots grown on Deguchi's farm tastes sweeter and has double the amount of vitamin C and antioxidant. Nitrate nitrogen, a component that contributes to the astringent taste and bitterness, and may be harmful to the body if overconsumed, is also found to be one-third that of carrots grown using conventional farming methods.

▲Feast on the carrots after a half day of hard work

In addition to being an expert in nutrition and farming, Deguchi is also plenty capable of holding a conversation in English, and has a TOEIC score of 890. His farm also offers farm work experiences for those interested in learning the craft, so make sure to check out his social media!

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Press Your Own Cracker

▲Entrance of Ebisen Park

Established in 2015, Ebisen Park underwent a massive renovation at the beginning of 2023. The car park now fits 40 cars and 10 tour buses, and the overall facility was remodeled for wheelchair accessibility.

▲Spacious and open design

Started as a production business, the products used only to be made for distribution. As the company grew, a physical shop was built, but foot traffic was lacking due to tough competition. It was then they decided to take a dive and poured effort into providing an experience to their visitors.

▲Pettan 'pressing' experience - choose from octopus, prawn, clam, whitebait (500 yen) or whole grill squid (650 yen)

▲Seasoning available for adding - such as sesame seeds, green laver, red ginger, etc.

▲Pettan 'pressing' machine

▲Final product - DIY senbei 'cracker'

No reservations are required for the experience, and the process is relatively simple. Choose your main ingredient, season it to your liking, mix, oil the surface, press, and wait for the aroma of a freshly made cracker to hit your nose. There is also an automatic option that omits the pressing step.

▲Waiting and resting area

▲Enjoy free tea and coffee with the machine avilable at the waiting area

The entire process takes about 10 minutes and with over 20 machines available, visitors can walk up and experience it right away. However, on busy days, such as on public holidays, there may be a wait that takes about 30 minutes to an hour. In the meantime, grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea at the resting area that is entirely complimentary. You can also take the chance to explore the souvenir area and browse the massive selection available.

▲Shop No.1 item - Octopus Karaage

▲Use the tong to grab yourself a sample

With nearly 60 items available, you will surely be stumped for choices. Fret now, however, as the shop provides samples of almost all their products. According to the in-charge, their most popular item and his personal favorite is the 'Octopus Karaage'. Over at the factory, over 5 tons of octopus are used daily to meet the demand. All the ingredients are sourced within the country and you will spot some interesting options at times, like the sea urchin cracker or the hotate that was gathered from Hokkaido. Despite the high quality of ingredients used, the prices are reasonably priced, and most packets are within the range of 500 yen to 800 yen.

▲Local food truck

Ebisen Park firmly believes in involving the community, so you can often spot food trucks or outside shops at their facility. They also often collabs with local farms and traditional Japanese sweet shops, providing unexpected pettan 'pressing' experiences with ingredients such as strawberries or Japanese red bean. For those who are unable to make an actual visit, make sure to check out their online store!