5 Scenic Photo Spots in Fukui

Fukui Prefecture is a treasure trove of hidden photogenic spots. Crystal-clear seas, mysterious lakes, and dramatic sunsets await — come discover scenery that few people have captured yet.

1. Tojinbo — Breathtaking Contrast of Rugged Cliffs and Sunset

One of Fukui's most iconic scenic spots, where columnar joint rock faces stretch for about 1 km. At dusk, the rocks turn golden and the sea-and-sky gradient is breathtakingly beautiful.

• Best time and season: Around sunset / Autumn to winter, when the air is especially clear and colors are vivid
• Shooting angle: Use a wide-angle lens from the cliff's edge to capture the sea and cliffs together, or go down to the rocks and shoot looking up from a low angle.
• Access: About 10 minutes by bus from Echizen Railway "Mikuni-Minato Station"

2. Mikata Five Lakes — Five Colors of Lake Viewed from Rainbow Line

Looking down at Mikata Five Lakes from the summit park (Baijodake) on Rainbow Line, each lake shines in a different shade of water — a truly spectacular view. The layers of blue, green, and emerald look just like a painting.

• Best time and season: Under the clear morning light / New greenery season from May to June is especially photogenic
• Shooting angle: A panoramic shot from the summit terrace capturing all five lakes is the classic approach. Including a person in the foreground adds depth.
• Access: You cannot enter the summit park on foot. Use a taxi or rental car from JR Obama Line "Mihama Station" and similar stations. The toll for Prefectural Road Mikata Five Lakes Rainbow Line is ¥800 for regular vehicles; the summit park entrance fee is ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for children (including lift/cable car fare). Operating hours are 9:00–17:00 in summer and 9:00–16:30 in winter.

3. Ryusoga Falls — A Mystical Waterfall Cascading Through a Moss-Covered Primeval Forest

Ryusoga Falls (Ikeda Town, Imadate District, Fukui Prefecture), selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Waterfalls, sends water plunging 60 meters down a rock face — a truly mystical spot. Bathed in negative ions, the waterfall and the green moss create a wonderfully atmospheric world.

• Best time and season: The soft light of morning / The rainy season through summer brings high water volume and impressive power. The road is typically closed due to snow from late November or December through the end of March (and partial-day closures due to construction work are also common after the road reopens).
• Shooting angle: Frame the entire waterfall in portrait orientation to convey its height. A slow shutter speed is recommended to capture the flowing water as a silky, soft effect.
• Access: Turn off National Route 476 at "Matsugatani Intersection" onto Prefectural Road 34, then travel about 7.3 km. Public transportation access is difficult, and a car is the realistic option. There is a parking area 100 meters downstream from the falls.

4. Echizen Coastline — A Dramatic Seascape Created by Winter Sunsets and Crashing Waves

The Echizen Coast, where rugged reefs meet the Sea of Japan, is utterly overwhelming at dusk in winter. The contrast between the madder-red sky and the white waves has a power found nowhere else.

• Best time and season: From 30 minutes before sunset / Winter from December to February is by far the most photogenic season
• Shooting angle: Stand on a rock jutting out toward the sea and compose with a wide horizon. Catching sea spray in the frame adds a sense of dynamism.
• Access: About 50 minutes by bus from JR "Takefu Station"

5. Heisenji Hakusan Shrine — A Green Paradise Blanketed in Moss

Known for its stunning moss covering the entire grounds, the "Hakusan Heisenji Former Precincts," which flourished as a base for Hakusan worship, has been designated a national historic site. It opens up into a fantastical green world that feels like stepping into a Studio Ghibli film.

• Best time and season: Morning after rainfall / The rainy season from June to July is when the moss is most lush and at its most beautiful
• Shooting angle: Shooting the moss along the approach from a low angle creates depth. Aim for the moment when dappled sunlight filters through the trees.
• Access: About 15 minutes by bus from Echizen Railway "Katsuyama Station"

Fukui's spectacular scenery is still largely undiscovered. The lack of crowds means you can shoot your very own, one-of-a-kind image. Grab your camera and head out on a Fukui adventure.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season and time of day: Tojinbo is best around sunset, Mikatagoko (the Five Lakes of Mikata) in the morning when the air is clear, Ryusogataki Falls from the rainy season through summer when the water volume is high, and Heisenji Hakusan Shrine on a morning after rain when the moss is at its freshest.
• Opening hours / season: Rainbow Line Summit Park is open 9:00-17:00 in summer and 9:00-16:30 in winter (tickets are sold until the last upward departure of the cable car and chairlift). The road leading to Ryusogataki Falls is usually closed by snow from late November or December through the end of March.
• Fees: Admission to Rainbow Line Summit Park is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children (including the chairlift and cable car; an annual passport costs 3,000 yen). The toll for the Mikatagoko Rainbow Line (Prefectural Road) is 800 yen for an ordinary car, 500 yen for a motorcycle, 1,500 yen for a microbus and 2,000 yen for a large or medium-sized bus. There is no admission fee to visit Tojinbo, Ryusogataki Falls or Heisenji Hakusan Shrine themselves.
• Access: For Tojinbo, take a bus from Mikuniminato Station on the Echizen Railway. The Summit Park at Mikatagoko cannot be entered on foot; use a taxi or rental car from stations such as Mihama Station on the JR Obama Line (about 20 minutes from Wakasa-Mikata IC on the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway to the first parking lot). Ryusogataki Falls is about 7.3 km along Prefectural Road 34 from the Matsugatani intersection on National Route 476, and is difficult to reach by public transport. For Heisenji Hakusan Shrine, take a bus from Katsuyama Station on the Echizen Railway.
• Parking: Ryusogataki Falls has a parking lot 100 m downstream of the falls. At the Rainbow Line, use the first parking lot or the other lots available.
• Photography rules: The moss at Heisenji Hakusan Shrine is protected. Please do not step onto the moss or stick tripod legs into it. For drone flights within shrine and temple precincts and around Tojinbo, follow the permission requirements and rules of each site's administrator.
• Safety notes: Tojinbo consists of high cliffs with many sections that have no railings, and falls have occurred there. The rocks become slippery when wet, and in rough weather there is a risk of being swept away by waves, so never go near the edge. The winter surf along the Echizen Coast is also extremely dangerous. In addition to the winter closure at Ryusogataki Falls, there are many time-limited road closures for construction work even after the winter closure is lifted.

Note: Road information and opening hours are subject to change. Please check the latest details on each official website before your visit.

(Sources: Rainbow Line Summit Park official website, "Hours and Fees" and "Access"; Ikeda Town tourism information site "Ii Ikeda.jp," Ryusogataki Falls and Ouana potholes)