Blog
Blog Fukui
-
Sashimi in Obama City
Obama is just under a two-hour drive from Kyoto City. For those born in Kyoto, it is one of the most accessible seaside resorts. It is also well known that when Barack Obama became President of the United States in 2008, the town of Obama was abuzz with excitement and thronged with tourists, simply because it shares the same name. Wakasa Bay, which Obama faces, boasts a short distance between the fishing port and the fishing grounds, allowing visitors to enjoy fresh sashimi. Furthermore, mineral-rich freshwater flows in from the neighbouring mountains, and the abundance of plankton adds a rich,…
- Fukui
- Spot introduction
-
Chokushi-mon Gate of Eiheiji Temple
When you visit Eiheiji Temple, the Chokushi-mon Gate is the first thing you see as you approach. This gate was originally reserved exclusively for the Emperor’s envoys (chokushi) and is usually kept closed. For this reason, the imperial chrysanthemum crest, symbolising the Japanese Imperial Family, is displayed on its façade. It has become such a symbol of Eiheiji Temple that if you search for ‘Eiheiji’, you will find numerous images of this Chokushi-mon Gate rather than the temple complex itself. Eiheiji Temple was founded in 1244, but it was destroyed by fire on several occasions, including during the Ikko-ikki uprisings…
- Fukui
- Spot introduction
-
Sanshōkaku Hall at Eihei-ji Temple
Eiheiji Temple is a popular destination among foreign tourists. Sanshōkaku Hall is a place where visitors stop to rest before entering the Shichidō Garan (Seven Main Halls), which form the centre of the temple’s ascetic practices. The ground floor serves as a waiting room for visitors, whilst the first floor houses a large hall. The most striking feature here is the 230 ceiling paintings, created by 144 Japanese painters in the early Shōwa period. The project was overseen by Komuro Suiun, a master of Japanese painting who was active from the Meiji to the Showa periods. However, although he created…
- Fukui
- Spot introduction
-
Eihei-ji, Temple of Eternal Peace
Recently, Eihei-ji Temple has become a popular Zen pilgrimage site for visitors from abroad. While group coach tours are fewer, the number of individuals visiting independently is increasing. It is also popular as a sacred site among visitors from France, who have a strong interest in Zen. I was requested to guide them and travelled to Fukui for this purpose. It is not uncommon to see monks from overseas practising here, partly because Steve Jobs, drawn to the teachings of Zen Master Dōgen who founded Eihei-ji and practised the most rigorous training, trained here in his youth. Although only offered…
- Fukui
- Spot introduction
-
Kehi Shrine
The Kyoto-Kanazawa-Shirakawa-go-Takayama route is popular with foreign tourists. However, as the Hokuriku Shinkansen has not yet fully opened, train travel between Kyoto and Hokuriku has become very inconvenient and expensive. It is necessary to change from the limited express Thunderbird to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tsuruga Station. If you come all the way to Tsuruga, you may want to drop in at Kehi Jingu Shrine, which is known as the largest spiritual site in the Hokuriku region. It is a 15-minute walk from Tsuruga Station, so it is a good spot to visit while waiting to change trains. The Chomeisui (long-life water),…
- Fukui
- Spot introduction