The Asuma River flows through the center of Fukui City. Along the banks of 2.2 kilometers, there is a long line of 600 cherry trees planted, which is said to be Japan’s most magnificent cherry blossom colonnade and included in Japan’s 100 Sakura Views. In early April, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, you can enjoy walking under the cherry blossom tunnel. If you walk at night during “Spring Festival in Fukui” with the cherry blossoms lit up, you will feel as if you have slipped into fantasy.
In June after a religious rite of “Nagoshi-no-Ooharae; Chinowa Kuguri (Expelling sins and dirtiness of a half year by walking through a large ring made of thatch)” is held at a Shinto shrine, people cast katashiro (human-shaped puppets) including hitogata (wooden dolls) into the river to cleanse their sin or illness that was supposed to be transformed into the puppets. Deep-rooted in Fukui’s folkways, this annual event has been steadily handed down through generations as a part of people’s daily lives.