2026 Murakami Kambayashi Pool: A Full Day of Fun

This is a one-day course in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, centered on Murakami Kambayashi Pool, which typically opens from late July to late August. The venue is Kambayashi General Gymnasium, operating in two sessions: 10:00-12:00 and 13:00-15:30. So the plan is to spend the morning leisurely exploring nearby spots, then enjoy plenty of water play in the afternoon session. Start at Obakuba/Oike Rest Forest, a pleasant spot with a pine grove where the wives of the Murakami domain lord are said to have viewed cherry blossoms in the Edo period, and a walking path around a large pond where waterfowl gather. Next, have lunch at Michi-no-Eki Kambayashi while enjoying local produce and flavors. In the afternoon, head to Murakami Kambayashi Pool. Admission is 200 yen, and free for high school students and younger who live in the city. Nurtured by the Sea of Japan and the Miomote River, Murakami is a town known for salmon, shiobiki (salted salmon), and its castle-town atmosphere. This course lets you savor a genuine local summer through a pine grove stroll and an outdoor pool.