FUKUI – Hit the Road
If you wish to really see Japan, get behind the wheel. Notable places and interesting people are waiting just off the beaten path. This time we’re traveling to the Hokurika region on the Sea of Japan, Fukui Prefecture. In 2024, it became reachable by Shinkansen or bullet train from Tokyo station. We’ll start at Fukui station and head to Kumagawa. A post station town that thrived as a hub for trade with Kyoto. Kumagawa Juku is a rare place where much of the old townscape remains intact even today. And as always, we’ll enjoy the freedom that only a car journey can offer, visiting various sites and diving deep into their charm. Let’s hit the road. Welcome. I’m your navigation system. Buckle up for another drive with can’t miss sights. We’ll be starting from Fukui station. Visitors can arrive by Shinkansen and be greeted by these dinosaur monuments. Fuku is known for its many dinosaur fossil discoveries, making it a popular spot for dinosaur enthusiasts. Up ahead, look, it’s the Shinkansen. How lucky to see it up close during your drive. While we could follow the Shinkansen route directly to Kumagawa, let’s take a detour to Ono City, a charming castle town famous for its historical atmosphere. Just 5 minutes from the station, we leave the town behind and find ourselves surrounded by lush rice fields. This area is primarily known for its rice production. We’re approaching the center of Ono City now. And there it is, the town symbol, Etchisen Ono Castle. It’s often called the castle in the sky. Ono City is a basin surrounded by mountains. When conditions are just right, you can see the mystical fortress rising through the morning mist from nearby mountains. In the castle town at the base of the mountains, you’ll find the secret to successful rice cultivation. That’s the rich, pure spring water for which the town is renowned. Oleno is known for its heavy snowfall in winter. Mountain melt water resurfaces as mineral-rich spring water. This blessing from the mountains is a vital resource not just for Olo city, but for farming throughout Fukui Prefecture. There’s a mitinoi or rest area nearby. Why don’t we stop for a quick visit? Enjoy looking for local ingredients brought to life by the area’s water resources. Could you say Welcome back. From here, we’ll hop on the expressway to reach our destination. We’re leaving the mountain scenery behind and heading for a coastal town. Exit at the Wakasa Mikata interchange. Allow me to guide you to the most stunning view in the area. It’s a spot where you can see five lakes at once. Let’s drive along the scenic Rainbow Line. At the top there’s a breathtaking viewpoint. Look, the lakes are coming into view. These five lakes were formed by volcanic activity and have undergone countless changes over time. Each lake is unique thanks to varying levels of salinity and distinct ecosystems due to the mix of fresh water and seawater. Among them, Lake Sugettu stands out for its immense scientific value. At this museum, you can see sediment layers extracted from the lake bed displayed horizontally. These striped sediment layers are called vavves. They provide an exceptionally wellpreserved record spanning around 70,000 years, offering highly accurate insights into Earth’s environmental history. The VAVs are even registered as a UNESCO memory of the world site. Did you feel the wonder of Earth’s mysteries? Look, we’ve reached the coastline. Let’s enjoy the views of Wakasa Bay as we head to our final destination. Along the way, we absolutely have to stop in Obama City, a treasure trove of seafood. Wakasa Bay connects to the Sea of Japan and features a Ria coast made up of many small bays. The gentle currents here make it ideal for fish and shellfish farming. We’ve arrived near the fishing port in Obama City. There’s a large market here where you can buy fresh seafood directly. From prized etches and crab to locally caught fish, dried and processed products, it’s all gathered here. One of the signature seafood items is mackerel. In the late 18th century during the midtoe period, mackerel caught at Obama port was transported to Kyoto. Cherished by aristocrats and merchants and became a key part of its culinary culture. This road stretching straight from the fishing port is called Sabakaido or mackerel road. In the past, it was the main route for transporting mackerel to Kyoto. Today, Sabakaido stands as a symbol of history, sharing the rich culture and charm of the region with visitors. There’s a mitinoi along the Sabakaido. Let’s stop by. Enjoy the delicious mackerel dishes. Have fun. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Nana nah for you. Mhm. Welcome back. Did you enjoy experiencing the traditional crafts of Wakasa? Let’s continue along the Sabakaido. From here, it’s about a 25-minute drive to Kumagawa. Enjoy this scenic route showcasing the beauty of nature through the seasons. In autumn, the vibrant fall colors are especially breathtaking, offering a calming escape. Old buildings are coming into view. We’ve arrived at Kumagawajuku. My guidance for today’s journey ends here. We’ve covered 205 km just over 4 hours. Enjoy exploring.
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Take a fantastic voyage through Fukui, a region rich in seafood and farmland, a land of volcanic lakes where a castle appears to float above the clouds.