This castle on a hill, located in Maruoka Town of Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, was built by Shibata Katsuie’s nephew Shibata Katsutoyo in 1576. Nowadays, only two-story and three-roofed castle tower (tenshukaku) remains, and it was registered as Important Cultural Properties in 1950. It is the oldest tenshukaku in existence in the country, and about 400 cherry trees were planted around it as part of the surrounding Kasumigajo Park. A light-up event is held when the cherry blossoms bloom, giving the tower an ethereal look.

Located in Wakaba Town, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture, this is the largest seafood market selling products from the Sea of Japan, and is host to 70 establishments like seafood shops and restaurants. Among the market stalls you’ll hear the energetic voices of the market vendors trying to sell their wares and you’ll see a wide variety of seafood delicacies on all of the stalls trucked in directly from Tsuruga Port such as fresh seafood, processed foods, and the local specialty, kombu seaweed. The seafood rice bowls, popular with tourists, are topped with a whole variety of different foods and all at a good price. Each bowl comes packed with a huge amount of seafood such as tuna, sea bream, shrimp, salmon roe and salmon, etc. The market officially opens at 10 a.m. but apart from the restaurants most stalls start trading from 8:30 a.m. onwards.

The Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse was designed by a foreign engineer in 1905, and its North building, South building and brick walls were registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property in 2009. It is a place to meet nostalgia and get a sense for the port atmosphere. You can enjoy Tsuruga history in the Diorama Building, fancy dining on Tsuruga seafood in the restaurant building, and strolls amid the sea breeze in the open garden. Seven minutes by car via Tsuruga Interchange on Hokuriku Expressway.

This aquarium is located within Echizen-Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture. It is near the scenic spot Tojinbo. There are several exhibits where visitors can observe and interact with marine and waterside life up close, as well as shows and feeding events. There’s a large “ocean fish tank” containing a school of nearly 3,000 sardines, as well as a “coral sea” featuring a water tank underneath the glass floor, making it feel like you’re walking on the surface. Visitors can also watch penguins swim from an underwater tunnel and swim along with the fish in the “jabu jabu ocean pool.”

Mikata-goko (Five Lakes of Mikata) in Mikatakaminaka County is a collective name for five lakes: Lake Mikata, Lake Suigetsu, Lake Suga, Lake Kugushi, and Lake Hiruga. Due to differences in depth and salinity, each lake is a slightly different color on its surface, and they form magical scenery. Rainbow Line Summit Park is known as a viewing point for overlooking all the five lakes.

Echizen Ono Castle was built by Kanamori Nagachika who was Oda Nobunaga’s vassal, and recently it has also been called “castle in the sky Echizen Ono Castle”. The Ono basin is surrounded by mountains on every side. The lofty castle rises up at the central part of Kameyama, however, when the castle town is wrapped in a sea of clouds, the castle appears as if it is floating in the sky. It is said that the period from October to the end of April is when this phenomenon occurs, and it is especially likely to occur around November. It is recommended to view it from Inuyama which is located to the west of Echizen Ono Castle.

At this market complex, you can enjoy seeing, buying, and eating the charms of Wakasa. The complex offers a popular 60-minute boat cruise which enables riders to take in the local dynamic scenery formed by the stormy waters of the Sea of Japan. The Sotomo Cruising boat ride operates from March to November and is offered four times a day to general customers and also runs up to four times a day for private groups (when reservations have been made). The first floor of the complex is a souvenir store carrying famous products from Wakasa. The second floor is a restaurant serving an abundance of seasonal ocean delicacies.

This park is popular for its amazing views from the eastern observation deck of the Mikata-goko Lakes, which were designated as a Ramsar Site in 2005. The park’s rose garden, which has more than 600 roses of 110 varieties, is a must-see. The best viewing periods are May 20 to June 20 in spring and October 20 to November 20 in the fall.

A famous restaurant visited by fans from far and wide and said to be the originator of sauce katsu-don, a local Fukui Prefecture specialty consisting of breaded pork cutlet soaked in Worcester sauce and served on a bowl of rice. It’s said sauce katsu-don was invented when the owner returned from a trip to Germany and, seeking to popularize the Worcester sauce he encountered there in Japan, created the dish to serve at a food fair in 1913. The shop’s pork cutlets, breaded with small panko bread crumbs, deep fried, and drenched in Worcester sauce, are so juicy and tender they can be cut with chopsticks. Served with several cutlets piled high on a bowl of rice, the shop’s sauce katsu-don is also visually impressive. The nearest station is Fukui Station.

Yo-Roppaken is the restaurant that, back in 1913, created the first “Sosu Katsudon” (a bowl of rice with a breaded and fried pork cutlet on top, served with Worcestershire sauce), the result of intensive experimentation by the restaurant owner (who had encountered Worcestershire sauce while working in Germany) to develop cuisine using Worcestershire sauce that would appeal to Japanese palates; today, “Sosu Katsudon” is a famous Fukui specialty dish. Other popular dishes at Yo-Roppaken include Pari Don (which uses menchi-katsu—a fried cake of minced meat—instead of a pork cutlet) and Shrimp Don. Yo-Roppaken is located around eight-minute drive from JR Tsuruga Station.

A temple in Heisenji-cho, Katsuyama City. It was founded in 717 CE as a location to worship the holy mountain, Mt. Hakusan. By the time of the warring states period it had swelled into a massive holy city housing 8000 monks. Though prosperous the monastery was then destroyed during the Ikko-Ikki Jodo Shinshu Buddhist uprising. Remnants of the massive temple grounds still remain and the area has been designated a national historic site called the Old Temple Grounds of the Hakusan Heisenji Temple. It is also called the Kokedera or Moss Temple because of the beautiful scenery of the grounds completely covered in moss.

A driving road along Prefectural Route 107 in Obama. It runs from Anojiri up 619 meters to the summing of Mt. Kusuyagadake. From the summit you will have a magnificent view stretching from Wakasa Bay to the Echizen Cape far in the North-East.

With roughly 17,000 red and black pine trees, Kehi no Matsubara (a pine covered area, near the seashore) is a famous location and one of Japan’s Top 3 Pine Forests, along with Miho no Matsubara and Niji no Matsubara. It is about 400,000 squre meters and 1.5 kilometers in length, and provide strong contrasts with the white sand and blue-green pines. It is also open as a bathing area in summer, and since there is a good pathway, so you can take a stroll and enjoy the scenery. Approximately 13 minutes by car via Tsuruga Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway.

This center is a seafood market housing 11 fish shops, most of which are intermediate wholesalers, selling freshly-caught fish from local fishing ports and dried and processed marine products. It is also popular for its charcoal brazier area in a corner of the car park where you can cook the fish or dried products that you bought at the center. The best time to visit is the morning.

These ruins were once the manor house of the Asakura Clan, which ruled Echizen Province during the warring states period. The ruins are part of the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins, which serve to convey the history of the Asakura Clan. It is said that it was the residence of Asakura Yoshikage, the fifth head of the Asakura Clan. Its vast grounds are surrounded by earthen walls and moats on three sides. The home’s tsunegoten (master’s pavilion), main building, tearoom, kitchens, and other buildings were once neatly arranged within this enclosure. The flower beds in its gardens are believed to be the oldest in Japan. The garden’s large scale and refined appearance can still be seen in its beautifully-designed rock arrangements.

This western restaurant was established in 1973, in Takagichuo, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture. Its locally-made gourmet Sauce Katsudon is particularly famous. The large cutlets laid on top of this hearty Katsudon bowl have so much volume that the lid of the bowl cannot close. Many fans of the store come from outside the prefecture, seeking the sweet taste of the sauce that seeps into the breaded cutlets. The restaurant’s classic western meals such as spaghetti and hamburgers are also popular.

Tojinbo Tower rises to a height of 100 meters above sea level and 55 meters above the ground, giving spectacular views; its status as the only large observation tower on the Sea of Japan coast has made it very popular. From the second floor level of the Tower, visitors can view the Tojinbo Coast, with its precipitous cliffs (sculpted by the action of the Sea of Japan’s fierce waves) which extend for a length of around one kilometer, as well as Oshima Island and the Echizen Coast; looking the other way, they can see the peaks of Mt. Hakusan. Tojinbo Tower is also famous as a great place for bringing couples closer together. The Tower is located approximately 25-minute drive from the Kanazu Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway.

Founded in 1981, the Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum exhibits roughly 500 pieces unearthed from the Ichijodani Asakura Clans Ruins, including many items that are Nationally Designated Important Cultural Properties. Also, on display are excavated materials and topographical models of Ichijodani as well as a reproduction model, offering a look at the history of the ruins and the Asakura family.

A place to feel the ocean breeze while you enjoy autocamping, tennis, and grand golf, the Kyukamura Echizen Mikuni gives you a great sense of open space, facing the Sea of Japan. There are several things you can try out including kids’ programs, so it’s great for families. They also have set plans for events plus lodging in the hotel located in Kyukamura.

A swimming beach in Sonobe, Takahama, Oi. Stretching out from Torii Beach, the beach has beautiful white sands and blue waters. On the east side is Wakasa Wada Beach, and nearby you'll find Wakasa Shirahama BBQ Park and Wakasa Wada Camping Ground.

A 12 meter high, 44 meter long rope bridge spanning the Asuwa River in Ikeda Town, Imadate County, Fukui Prefecture. This unusual bridge was made from hardy kiwi and other vine plants. The bridge crossing is a thrilling experience—you can view the swift river below through the large gaps between the bridges footboards. The bridge sways significantly whenever anyone crosses, and even adults will need to dig up some courage to make the journey. The distinct, seasonal beauty of the valley is a must-see. The bridge is closed from early December until the end of March.

The Fukui Prefectural Museum of Cultural History is a museum in Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture that is dedicated to the history and industrial heritage of the Fukui region. The authentic artifacts on display and the section dedicated to the period from the mid-1950s through to the early 1970s are of particular interest. In the “Life in the Showa Period” corner, which recreates life in both rural communities and towns in that era, there is plenty to inspire nostalgia among visitors who remember those times, including a reconstruction of a traditional farmhouse and of a Dagashiya (traditional Japanese sweet shop). The lighting, sound effects and other aspects of the displays are changed with the seasons, further enhancing the experience for visitors to the Museum. The Museum is around 10 minutes’ drive from JR Fukui Station.