5 Scenic Photo Spots in Fukui | Stunning Natural Landscapes Worth Sharing

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.

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1. Tojinbo | Breathtaking Contrast of Rugged Cliffs and Sunset

Tojinbo is Fukui's most iconic scenic destination: a nearly 1-kilometer stretch of basalt columns (columnar jointing) shaped by millions of years of volcanic activity and ocean erosion. At sunset, the rocks glow golden as the gradation of sea and sky shifts through shades of orange and crimson — a spectacle that genuinely takes your breath away.

• Best time and season: Around sunset; autumn through winter when the air is clearest
• Shooting angle: Use a wide-angle lens from the edge of the cliff to capture both sea and rock face together, or descend to the rocky shore at low tide for a dramatic low-angle perspective
• Access: Approximately 40 minutes by bus from JR Awara-Onsen Station. By car from the Maruoka IC (Hokuriku Expressway), approximately 30 minutes

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2. Mihama Waterside Park / Mikata Five Lakes | Mirror-Like Reflections in Layered Lake Colors

In the Wakasa area of southern Fukui, the Mikata Five Lakes (Mikata-goko) are a cluster of five interconnected lakes, each with its own distinctive water color — ranging from vivid blue to deep green to almost black — due to differences in salinity and depth. The landscape, with its layered greens reflected in the still water surface, offers a photography subject unlike anything else in Japan.

• Best time and season: Early morning in spring or autumn, when the air is still and the reflections are most perfect
• Shooting angle: The panoramic viewpoint at the Suishohama Campground gives you a sweeping view over multiple lakes simultaneously
• Access: Approximately 20 minutes by bus from JR Mihama Station

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3. Kehi Pine Grove (Kehi-no-Matsubara) | One of Japan's Three Great Pine Groves

Located near Tsuruga City, Kehi-no-Matsubara is one of Japan's "three great pine groves," a coastal forest of over 17,000 pine trees stretching along the shore. The combination of ancient, gnarled pine trunks and the blue sea visible between them creates a scene of serene, classical Japanese beauty. On calm mornings, when the light filters softly through the branches, the grove feels otherworldly.

• Best time and season: Early morning or late afternoon for the most atmospheric light; spring and autumn are ideal
• Shooting angle: Walk deep into the grove and shoot along the tree trunks toward the sea for a depth-of-field effect that emphasizes the forest's age and scale
• Access: A 10-minute walk from JR Tsuruga Station

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4. Eiheiji Temple | Ancient Cedar Forest and Zen Atmosphere

Eiheiji, founded in 1244 by Zen Master Dogen, is the head temple of the Soto sect of Japanese Buddhism and one of the most atmospheric religious sites in Japan. The temple complex is embedded in a deep cedar forest; the ancient trees, some over 700 years old, tower above the wooden corridors and gate towers. Walking through the covered corridors that connect the various halls, with cedar columns rising into the mist on both sides, feels like entering another world entirely.

• Best time and season: Autumn foliage (late October to mid-November) and winter snow create especially dramatic scenes. Early morning, before the tourist groups arrive, is the best time for photographs.
• Shooting angle: The stone stairway leading up through the forest to the main gate, framed by towering cedars on both sides, is the most iconic shot
• Access: Approximately 30 minutes by bus from JR Fukui Station (Eiheiji Line Keifuku Bus)

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5. Hagachise Beach (Obama City) | Translucent Blue Water on the Sea of Japan

The Obama area of southern Fukui, along the Wakasa Bay coastline, has some of the most clear, brilliant water on the Sea of Japan coast. Hagachise and the surrounding beaches of the Wakasa Obama area offer a marine landscape — with transparent water revealing the seabed in shades of turquoise and emerald — that feels more like Okinawa than the Japan Sea coast.

• Best time and season: Summer for swimming, but the water is most brilliantly colored on clear days in spring or early autumn when the beaches are less crowded
• Shooting angle: Shoot from an elevated viewpoint looking down over the bay to capture the full range of water colors from turquoise nearshore to deep blue offshore
• Access: From JR Obama Station, take a local bus toward the Sotomo coastline (approximately 15 minutes)