5 Photogenic Power Spots in Fukui

Fukui Prefecture is home to many breathtaking power spots that remain little known. Vivid vermilion torii gates, moss-covered stone pavements, the mystical mist of sacred mountains... Set off on a journey in search of that special shot that not only looks great on your Instagram feed, but also feels as though it purifies your very soul!

① Kehi Jingu Shrine (Tsuruga City)

Kehi Jingu is home to one of the Three Great Wooden Torii Gates of Japan, alongside Nara's Kasuga Taisha and Hiroshima's Itsukushima Shrine. The roughly 11-meter vermillion torii gate, rebuilt in 1645 (Shoho 2), is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. At dusk, when the torii is bathed in an orange sky, the scene is breathtakingly beautiful. Shooting from a low angle looking up at the gate brings out its full sense of scale.

• Best time: Around sunset (magic hour)
• Best season: Autumn to winter (air is crisp and colors are vivid)
• Access: About 15 minutes on foot from JR Tsuruga Station (get off at the "Kehi Jingu" stop on the Gurutto Tsuruga sightseeing bus)

② Heisenji Hakusan Shrine (Katsuyama City)

A carpet of green covering the entire grounds — the moss-lined approach feels as though you've wandered into a world straight out of a Studio Ghibli film. In the morning hours when light filters through the towering cedar trees lining the path, mystical shafts of light may appear. Shooting in portrait orientation to convey the depth of the approach is highly recommended.

• Best time: Early morning (7–9 a.m.)
• Best season: Rainy season to summer (when the moss is at its most vibrant green)
• Access: About 20 minutes by bus or taxi from Echizen Railway Katsuyama Station

③ Eiheiji Temple (Eiheiji Town)

Eiheiji, the head temple of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism, offers a one-of-a-kind space formed by its solemn seven-hall complex and connecting corridors. Rainy days are actually the best time to visit, as the wet stone pavement creates stunning reflection photography. The deep cedar forest and muted tones of the woodwork are photogenic without any filters needed. However, this is still an active training monastery where many monks practice. Please keep conversation to a minimum and visit quietly so as not to disturb their training.

• Best time: Visiting hours are 8:30–16:30 (last entry 16:00). First thing in the morning when crowds are thin, or rainy days, are the best times to aim for.
• Best season: Autumn foliage season (late October to November)
• Access: About 30 minutes by Keifuku Bus "Express Eiheiji Liner" from the east exit of JR Fukui Station to the Eiheiji temple gate. From Echizen Railway "Eiheiji-guchi Station," it's about 13 minutes by Keifuku Bus plus 5 minutes on foot.

④ Tsurugi Shrine (Echizen Town)

Tsurugi Shrine, an ancient shrine of Echizen Province, is a hidden gem of a photo spot with a crisp, serene atmosphere. The white shrine buildings float ethereally against the backdrop of a sacred tree that is several hundred years old. Visit early in the morning before worshippers arrive, and you can have this tranquil sanctuary entirely to yourself in pure, refreshing light.

• Best time: Early morning
• Best season: Spring (cherry blossoms) and autumn (autumn foliage)
• Access: About 30 minutes by bus from JR Takefu Station

⑤ Shrines near Tojinbo × Sea Views (Sakai City)

The Tojinbo area is known for its dramatic sea cliffs. On the offshore island called Oshima — revered as a "divine island" — you cross the vermillion Oshima Bridge (about 224 meters long) to reach Ominato Shrine, an ancient shikinaisha shrine. The composition of the Japan Sea and the cliffs of Tojinbo viewed through the torii gate from the elevated shrine grounds is a shot you simply cannot get anywhere else. Silhouette the torii against the golden hues of the setting sun to complete a truly dramatic image.

• Best time: 30 minutes before sunset
• Best season: Winter (when the contrast between rough waves and the setting sun is at its peak)
• Access: About 10 minutes by bus from Echizen Railway Mikuni-Minato Station

Fukui's power spots are the kind of places where the earlier you visit, the more likely you are to capture that one truly special shot. Head out before the crowds, camera in hand, and take your time shooting in the peaceful morning hours.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Gate and worship hours / closing days: Visiting hours at the head temple Eiheiji are 8:30-16:30 (entry until 16:00). The precincts of Kehi Jingu, Heisenji Hakusan Shrine and Tsurugi Shrine can be visited at any time during the day.
• Fees: The visitor offering at Eiheiji is 700 yen for high school students and older and 300 yen for elementary and junior high school pupils, and free for preschool children. Worship in the precincts of Kehi Jingu and Heisenji Hakusan Shrine is free of charge.
• Access: For Eiheiji, take the Keifuku Bus Limited Express Eiheiji Liner from the east exit of JR Fukui Station, about 30 minutes to the temple gate area, or take a Keifuku Bus from Eiheijiguchi Station on the Echizen Railway, about 13 minutes plus a 5-minute walk. Kehi Jingu is about a 15-minute walk from JR Tsuruga Station.
• Parking: For Eiheiji, use the coin-operated car parks near the Hanshaku Bridge.
• Etiquette when visiting: Eiheiji is still a training monastery where many monks practise. Follow the marked route, refrain from chatting or raising your voice, and do not point your camera at the trainee monks without permission. The moss at Heisenji Hakusan Shrine is extremely delicate, so never step onto it.
• Photography rules: At Eiheiji there are places inside the halls where photography is restricted. Always follow the notices and instructions, and use a tripod only where it does not block other visitors.
• Safety notes: Tojinbo is a sheer cliff with no fences, and the rocks are slippery when wet. Never go near the cliff edge on days with high waves, in strong winds, or after sunset. The Oshima Bridge across to Oshima Island is also dangerous in strong winds. The stone steps at Eiheiji and Heisenji become slippery when there is snow or ice in winter.

* The shrine near Tojinbo for which official information can be confirmed is Ominato Shrine on Oshima (Anto, Mikuni-cho, Sakai City).

(Sources: Head temple Eiheiji official website / Fukui City official tourism site Fukuiro, Head Temple Eiheiji / Tsuruga City official website, The Great Torii of Kehi Jingu)