A Road Trip Along the Fukui Coast

Driving northwest to the coastal city of Sakai, you can find rare examples of columnar jointing. This striking geological phenomenon occurs in cooling lava flows and produces outcrops of polygonal columns. Tojinbo Cliffs are a series of cliffs made of these dramatic columnar formations. From the cliffs, you can see the striking red pedestrian bridge that connects Oshima Island to the mainland. The densely forested, uninhabited island has a shrine and lighthouse, along with stone paths that provide routes for exploration. It too has outcrops of columnar jointing, best viewed from the bridge.

Overnight in nearby Awara Onsen, a hot spring resort with varied accommodations with baths to unwind in.

Several attractions and museums on the way to Tsuruga allow for a break from driving. In the quiet fishing town of Kunimi, the Kunimi Jellyfish Aquarium has mesmerizing displays of jellyfish floating in illuminated tanks. The coastal town of Minamiechizen was home to several prominent shipowning families in the Edo period (1603–1867) and features a full-scale replica of a wooden kitamaebune cargo ship. The Kitamae Shipowner Ukon Family Residence is a Western-style mansion that belonged to one such family. It serves as a museum with exhibits on the kitamaebune trade that flourished between the eighteenth to late nineteenth centuries.

Tsuruga is a vibrant port city and an ideal stop for the night, with a range of accommodations and historical sites including museums, and brick warehouses from the early twentieth century.

Take a 10-minute drive west from Kumagawa-juku to visit the moss-covered grounds of Tentokuji Temple, then walk to Uriwari no Taki Falls. These low falls are fed by a spring and resemble a series of small rivers. There are faucets around the parking area where you can bottle the delicious spring water for a small fee.

Make the most of the surrounding scenery by staying at Akagurisaki Auto Campground on the tip of the Oshima Peninsula in Oi. You can spend a leisurely afternoon fishing in Obama Bay or simply relaxing in a log cabin.