Japan Rider: The Blog: Beaches in Tsuruga, Fukui-ken

The heat wave here is not letting up, and this worked in our favor this past weekend.

As planned, Brian and I went to Tsuruga city, in Fukui Prefecture, on Friday night. Brian left from Shizuoka right after work - around 5:30 pm, and I left from my sobetsukai (farewell party) at ARC Academy. Luck was really on our side, as my party was moved up to be in the afternoon, so I was done by 5:30 p.m., and had time to get back to my apartment, pick up my packed beach bag, and actually meet Brian on the train in Maibara.

We pulled into Tsuruga city station at about 9:40, and checked into our hotel, the Route Inn, just one minute too late to be able to dine in the hotel restaurant. No biggie, though, as we went to a nearby izakaya, and were really too tired from travelling and earlier partying to stay out late.

We got up in time to catch the bus to Takenami Beach (see map below), where we had a reservation at the Matsuya minshuku.

The white sandy beach was simply pristine, and neither of us remembered swimming in such crystal clear water in Japan - so clear, that even from way up top, where we floated in the salty Sea of Japan, we could count the stones and rocks on the bottom.

We had originally planned to stay just one night, and head back to our respective abodes on Sunday, as Brian had to work on Monday. However - by mid-day on Sunday, Brian figured out a way to take Monday off, and I began combing the area for another night's lodging. It was really impossible to get another night, although the Matsuya was willing to have us but without meals (NOTE: I think the bubble has long ago burst, especially here, and though there were many minshuku around, none of them seemed to be taking customers, at least not at the last minute on a Sunday. My personal guess is that they get a government subsidy if they have a tourist-oriented business, but few are actually in business!). So, we decided to catch the evening bus back to Tsuruga, and make our way to a closer beach on Monday.

The closer beach, called Kehi Matsubara, is only 2.5 km from Tsuruga station, and we didn't really expect it to be awesome. However, we were very pleasantly surprised to find, although a less soft-sandy beach, just as beautiful as our earlier find.

And there was even a nearby inlet with a bridge that we saw some locals jumping from. Not to be out done, Brian and I gave it a try, too! (Not posting pics of my leap, since they are less than flattering!)

All in all, a great long weekend on the Nihonkai (Sea of Japan).