[Fukui ]has many hidden charms! 8 recommended spots
![[Fukui ]has many hidden charms! 8 recommended spots](https://assets.deep-exp.com/assets/img/uploads/media/633/main_front_detail.jpg)
2023-04-28
Fukui Prefecture is surrounded by the great nature of the sea and mountains, and has many historical architectural monuments. It is a prefecture that is not often on the list of potential travel destinations, but in fact there are many attractive spots to visit! In this issue, we will introduce some of the must-visit spots in Fukui Prefecture.
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Table of Contents
- 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.
Yongpyongji Temple
One of the main temples of the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism, this Zen temple was founded by Zenji Dogen in 1244 during the early Kamakura period (1185-1333). It is synonymous with Zen temples in Japan. Unlike temples in tourist destinations such as Kyoto, this temple still attracts young Soto Zen monks from all over Japan for training. "It is also said that training at Eiheiji is the most rigorous "in Japan.
At Eiheiji Temple, trainee monks are called unsui ( ") ", and they engage in rigorous ascetic training from 3:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for more than a year, almost without a break. When you visit Eiheiji, you may pass such Unsui in the corridors, or see them doing their cleaning work, and feel a dignified atmosphere that is different from that of other temples.
At Eiheiji, general visitors can also experience various practices. "One-day zazen experience (zazen) "allows visitors to experience zazen for about 50 minutes. For an overnight experience, visit ". For a two-day and one-night zazen experience, visit ". This includes zazen, sakumu (cleaning), yakuseki (dinner), and koshoku (breakfast), and allows visitors to experience some of the practices of Unsui.
Of course, you can enjoy just visiting the temple, which covers 330,000 square meters and has more than 70 halls and towers, including "Shichido-garan ", seven buildings essential to the practice of Buddhism, connected by corridors. There are also numerous attractions such as the magnificent old cedars along the approach, the long corridor polished by Unsui, and the 230 colorful paintings in the Kanshokaku (umbrella pavilion).
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Eiheiji Temple
Address: 5-15 Shibi, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui 910-1228
Hours: 8:30-16:30 (last admission 16:00) *Subject to change according to events
Closed: No holidays
Admission: Adults 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students 200 yen, preschool children free
Parking: Available *No private parking; many coin-operated parking lots nearby
URL：https://daihonzan-eiheiji.com
Hiraizumiji Hakusan Shrine
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It is a mysterious and venerable shrine, also called Nori Temple """ Nori Palace "because the grounds are covered with beautiful green moss. "It is nationally famous as the location for the JR Adult Holiday Club "commercial.
This historic shrine was founded in 717 by a monk named Taicho, and was built as a center of worship for the sacred mountain Hakusan. Hakusan is a 2702-meter-high mountain that straddles Fukui, Ishikawa, and Gifu prefectures, and is "called one of Japan's three most sacred mountains "along with Mt. When the temple was founded, it was a branch temple of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hieizan "Hiraizumiji Temple ", in other words, it was opened as a temple, but in the Meiji era (1868-1912), the Shinto and Buddhism Separation Order was issued and the temple-related buildings were dismantled to make way for a shrine.
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The highlight is "a carpet of beautiful green moss that spreads all over ". The green world spreading out in the clear air creates a mysterious atmosphere as if fairies are coming out of nowhere. It is said that the best time to see the moss is around July, after the rainy season, but I was able to see beautiful moss even in early May when I visited!
In the precincts of the shrine, there are buildings and ponds associated with the shrine, including the main shrine, the hall of worship, the Mitarashi Pond, and the torii gate, as well as a rock on which Benkei's footprints are said to have been left and the remains of a well where the infamous monk Tojinbo is said to have lived.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Heisenji Hakusan Shrine
Address: 56 Heisenji, Heisenji-cho, Katsuyama-shi, Fukui 911-0822
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Closed: No holidays
Admission: Free
Parking: Available (free of charge)
URL：http://heisenji.jp/
Tojinbo
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It is also famous as a location for suspense dramas and is one of the most famous tourist spots in Fukui Prefecture. It is one of the most famous tourist spots in Fukui Prefecture, famous as a location for suspense dramas, etc. The precipitous cliffs with columnar joints (cracks formed when lava or magma cools) stretching for about 1 km are a scenic spot that will make you lose your footing.
Tojinbo "is an unusual place name for a scenic spot on a sea cliff "Tojinbo is an unusual place name for a scenic spot on a sea cliff. """"In 1182, dozens of Hiraizumi-ji priests visited "Tojinbo "and were enjoying a drink when Magara Kakunen, an ardent rival, got "Tojinbo "drunk by offering him a drink on the precipice and, seeing an opportunity, pushed him over the cliff into the sea. He pushed him off the cliff into the sea. The sea became very rough due to Tojinbo's regret for the next 49 days, and the place came to be called "Tojinbo ".
At Tojinbo, there are no handrails and you can go right up to the very edge of the cliff. The maximum height of the cliff is 25 meters, which is very impressive! It is said that there are only three places in the world where columnar joints of pyroxene andesite are found in such a wide area, making it a very valuable spot from a geological viewpoint.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Tojinbo
Address: 64-1 Yasushima, Mikuni-cho, Sakai-shi, Fukui-ken, 913-0064
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Closed: No holidays
Admission: Free
Parking: Available (both free and paid)
Awara Onsen "Ashiyu "
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This is a footbath in Awara Onsen, one of the most popular hot springs in Fukui Prefecture, which opened in 1883.
When you think of footbaths, most people think of "footbaths the size of a pavilion in a hot spring resort area ". However, this "Ashiyu "has five footbaths in a magnificent horizontal long building of sukiya style! Inside, hinoki cypress, Fukui Prefecture's specialty Kotsuya stone, and stained glass are used in abundance, creating a very luxurious space.
There are a total of five bathtubs: two types of spring water and three types of spring water mixed with two types of spring water. There are also various shapes, such as large horizontal footbaths and boat-shaped footbaths. There is also a circular footbath with a table in the middle like a sunken kotatsu, allowing visitors to relax and soak in the footbath while watching TV or reading a book.
It is a clean and well-equipped footbath spot that you would not expect to find for free, so it is well worth including in your driving itinerary, whether you are staying overnight or taking a day trip to Awara Onsen or not.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Awara Onsen Ashiyu
Address: 1-203 Onsen, Awara-shi, Fukui 910-4104
Hours of operation: 7:00 - 23:00
Closed: No holidays
Admission: Free
Parking: Available (free of charge)
Ruins of the Ichijodani Asakura Clan
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This is the site of Ichijodani, the castle town of the Asakura clan, which flourished for five generations after Takakage Asakura conquered Echizen Province in the Warring States Period. 1573, the Asakura clan was defeated by Nobunaga Oda in a battle to unite Japan, and Ichijodani was set on fire for three days and three nights by Nobunaga's army, and was completely burned to the ground. After that, the area where the Ichijodani castle town used to stand was buried under rice fields, but excavations began in 1967, and the site began to attract attention as an archaeological site.
The castle town of Ichijodani is said to have been home to some 10,000 people at its peak. The townscape of those days, including samurai residences, temples, town houses, artisan residences, and roads, has been excavated in almost complete condition, and a 200 meter section of the townscape consisting of samurai residences and town houses has been reconstructed.
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"The Karamon Gate of the Asakura Yoshikage Hall, the symbol of the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Site ", was donated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to mourn the bodhisattva of Asakura Yoshikage, and is a valuable historical site with both the crest of the Asakura family "Mitsukiguri "and the crest of the Toyotomi family "Gosan no Kiri "engraved on the top of the gate.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Ichijodani Asakura Clan Site
Address: Kidoinouchi-cho, Fukui-shi, Fukui 910-2153
Business hours: 9:00-17:00
Closed: No holidays
Admission: Fudawara Machinami - Adults 330 yen, elementary and junior high school students 100 yen, over 70 years old 100 yen, preschool children free of charge
Parking: Available (free of charge)
Akechi Shrine
"Located about a 10-minute drive from the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Site ", this shrine is dedicated to Mitsuhide Akechi. The shrine is located on the site of the residence of Mitsuhide Akechi when he was living with the Asakura clan, and the people of this area have continued to protect this shrine in honor of Mitsuhide until the present day. It is also the birthplace of Akechi Mitsuhide's daughter, Hosokawa Garasha (Akechi Tama).
If you are a fan of the Warring States period, you should visit this spot together with "Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins ".
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Akechi Shrine
Address: Todaimi-cho, Fukui-shi, Fukui 919-0312
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Closed: No holidays
Admission: Free
Parking: Available (free of charge)
Roadside Station Echizen
This is a roadside station where you can enjoy dining, hot springs, and shopping in an excellent location with a view of the Sea of Japan right in front of you.
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"At the restaurant Kaneichi ", you can enjoy hearty meals using seasonal local fish from Fukui Prefecture. In addition to sashimi, seafood rice bowls, fried fish, etc., you can enjoy abalone and turban shells in summer and seiko crab and Echizen crab in winter. The fried fish is especially recommended, as the fish meat is both juicy and sweet.
And I recommend "Echizen Onsen Open-air Bath Fisher Fire "at this roadside station. Both the indoor and outdoor baths offer ocean views of the magnificent Sea of Japan! Especially at sunset, the view of the setting sun and the Sea of Japan is truly spectacular. It is a superb place to enjoy the spectacular view while being healed by the hot springs.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Michi-no-Eki Echizen (Roadside Station Echizen)
Address: 〒916-0422 Fukui Prefecture, Tanso-gun, Echizen-cho, Kitchen 71-335-1
Hours of operation: 9:00-22:00 *depends on the facility
Closed: Antenna store and open-air bath fishing fire: Tuesdays *Open during summer vacation; closed on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from November to March
Admission: Open-air bath Fishermen's Fire Adults 520 yen, elementary school students 310 yen, infants 200 yen
Parking: Available (free of charge)
Maruoka Castle
There are 12 castles in Japan that still have keepers built before the Edo period, and Maruoka Castle is one of the most valuable ones, first built in 1576 by Katsutoyo Shibata, a nephew and adopted son of Katsuie Shibata, and the present building is believed to have been constructed during the Kan'ei period (1624-1644) of the Edo period.
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Maruoka Castle is famous for "Maruoka Castle Projection Mapping Night: Hikari Knot "is held every night. Colorful images are projected onto the castle tower and walls. There are two showings each night, one at 8:00 p.m. and the other at 9:00 p.m. The content of the showings changes with the seasons. In the park in front of the castle tower located on the west side of Maruoka Castle, "Park Mapping "is held every day from sunset to 10:00 p.m., allowing visitors to move around and enjoy themselves. The light and sound of the projection mapping changes in accordance with the movements of people, and when people move, fish jump and flower petals dance.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Maruoka Castle
Address: 1-59 Kasumi-cho, Maruokamachi, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture 910-0231
Opening hours: 24 hours *Castle tours are available from 8:30 to 17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
Closed: No holidays
Admission: Free *Tour of the castle is 450 yen for adults, 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and free for preschool children.
*No charge to see the projection mapping.
Parking: Available (free of charge)
URL：https://maruoka-castle.jp/
summary
How about our recommendations for places to visit in Fukui Prefecture? Please visit Fukui Prefecture, which is full of natural and historical sights!
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