DISCOVER FUKUI

Since much of the Echizen Coast in Fukui faces west, there are plenty of spots to enjoy beautiful sunsets!

Wouldn’t it be romantic to wrap up a day of travel by watching the sunset sink into the sea together?　

It’s not just about the sunset, though—in fact, the “magic hour” and “blue hour” that follow sunset, when the sky takes on deeper shades of red and blue, are actually the best times to capture stunning photos!

This majestic landscape, featured in the top image, is of the Tojinbo Cliffs! Tojinbo boasts a coastline with a series of columnar joints—a rare sight even on a global scale.

The view itself is stunning, but the cliffs, bathed in the colors of the setting sun, create an even more majestic atmosphere.　

Although it’s all part of Tojinbo, the area is very large, so you can enjoy taking photos from a variety of spots!

It’s so beautiful that you’ll want to keep exploring until it gets dark, but since the cliffs are steep and the ground is treacherous, be sure to head back before it gets completely dark.

One spot I personally really love is this “Benkei-no-Sentaku Iwa.” Even though it’s by the ocean, there are so many rocks that it forms a sort of tide pool, so the waves don’t get very big. That means you can take photos of reflections on a water surface that’s almost as smooth as a mirror—just like the Salar de Uyuni!

The trick is simply to hold your camera or smartphone right at the water’s surface.

During sunset, the wind tends to die down, and the water’s surface stays especially calm, so you’re sure to get some great shots!

*The second photo is by @kayo.photoaka, a fellow photographer and Instagrammer from Fukui.

Hokojima, which is also famous as a spot with a beautiful starry sky, is a great place to watch the sunset!

You might even want to wait through the sunset to catch the starry sky as well (though you’ll have to wait quite a while for the stars to come out...).

You can see the same columnar jointing as at Tojinbo, making it a hidden gem that’s actually a great place to enjoy unique rock formations and scenic views! You can cross the bridge to the island and walk all the way to the shrine at the summit. Even though it’s called the “summit,” it only takes two minutes to get there!

*The first photo is by @kayo.photoaka.

Gamejima, which enshrines Benzaiten, a beloved East Asian Buddhist dharmapāla and a prominent Shinto kami, is located right next to Hokojima, but since you have to take a narrow path to get there, it’s a hidden gem that even locals rarely visit!

Since the island is positioned so that the sunset is behind you, you can enjoy a truly mystical view!

Gamejima Park is right in front of you, making it a very pleasant place to spend time. The water is shallow here, so it’s a great spot for families to play in the water while waiting for the sunset!

Mikuni Sunset Beach, as the name suggests, is a sandy beach where you can watch the sun set over the horizon. It’s also a popular beach for enjoying the sunset!

Right next door is “Mikuni Onsen Yua Port,” and since you can soak in the hot springs right after a day at the beach while enjoying the sunset, I highly recommend it!

Sunset is the perfect time for shooting backlit silhouettes, and the “magic hour” after the sun has set—when the light spreads evenly—is ideal for capturing flat, well-lit photos and dramatic portraits!

Why not try taking portraits of couples or families, not just landscapes? After the sun sets, there’s less light, so as long as you’re careful to avoid camera shake, you’re sure to get some great shots!

*The model in photos 1 and 2 is Ryoko, an Instagrammer from Fukui (@ailes_5pht).

The sky and sea take on different colors depending on the time of day, and you can enjoy how they change with the weather!

The Echizen Coast is home to several hot spring facilities, such as the Isaribi Open-Air Public Bath, Mikuni Onsen Yua Port, and Nami no Hana Onsen. It’s a great way to unwind after watching the sunset, and some facilities even let you soak in the hot springs while gazing at the sunset.

My advice is that even if there are too many clouds to see the sunset itself, the color of the sky may still change after the sun has set, so it’s worth sticking around and waiting patiently.

I recommend visiting the same spot multiple times!