Did you actually miss it? Go to Fukui Prefecture to look for the secret hidden in Tojinbo!

  • Fukui
  • Sightseeing
One of the highlights of Tojinbo is "Senjyoshiki" (Thousand Tatami mats).
What do you imagine when you hear the name Tojinbo? Many of you probably imagine rough winter waves crashing against the big rocks, or a famous scene in a TV drama in which a detective chases down a criminal to the cliff. This time, we would like to introduce to you an unexpected aspect of Tojinbo.

Tojinbo, one of Fukui Prefecture's representative tourist attractions

Tojinbo, located in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, is one of the prefecture's representative tourist attractions. Tojinbo, whose name is said to have originated from a monk at a temple called Heisenji in Fukui Prefecture, is only a few minutes' walk from the nearest bus stop or parking lot along a shopping street where you can enjoy walking and eating. The rugged rocky terrain spreads out before your eyes, and as you walk toward the sea, you will find yourself on a 25-meter-high cliff. The cliff is so high that your feet tremble when you look down.
The 25-meter-high "Great Pond
The cliffs of Tojinbo, which stretch about 1 km along the coast, are called "sea cliffs," and the rough waves of the Sea of Japan have been carving the rock surfaces for many years to give them their present appearance. The rock surface is called "columnar joints," and this characteristic shape was created about 13 million years ago when underground magma cooled and hardened underground, creating columnar cracks. A columnar jointed joint on such a large scale is rare even in the world, and Tojinbo is designated as a national natural monument and a place of scenic beauty.

Senjidashiki was created by human hands in the Meiji period (1868-1912)

It is a short walk from the main spot of Tojinbo, the Great Pond, to the destination, Senjojiki. The view of the flat-cut rocky terrain is completely different from that of the large rocks standing tall in front of you. Do you know why the topography is so different in such a short distance? In fact, the rocks were mined by human hands in the Meiji period (1868-1912) and took on their present appearance.
The Sea of Japan looming right in front of you

When you visit Senjidashiki, pay attention to the marks left on the rock surface!

Mikuni Port is located about 5 minutes by car from Tojinbo. This was once an important commercial center, with Kitamae-bune ships calling at the port, connecting Hokkaido and Osaka. However, the port of Mikuni had a problem with sediments flowing into it from the nearby Kuzuryu River, causing the water to become shallow. To solve this problem, an embankment called the Mikuni Port Jetty was constructed at the mouth of the river during the Meiji period (1868-1912). Some of the rocks used for the foundation of the jetty were mined from Tojinbo.

Traces of quarrying work still remain

Do you know what was used to mine the rock from Tojinbo? It was dynamite. A hole was drilled in a large pillar of rock, dynamite was loaded, and the rock was blasted to a manageable size. The remains of the holes where the dynamite was loaded can still be observed in Senjyobashiki, but they are not very obvious, so look carefully!
The rectangular hollow in the center is the site of dynamite loading.
Holes the size of your fist that you can see when walking around Senjyobiki. These are not holes loaded with dynamite, but rather embedded posts for equipment used to transport rocks. A crane-like device combining a prop and pulley was used to load many rocks onto the ship and transport them to the port of Mikuni. When you visit Senjyojiki, be sure to pay attention to this as well!
The remains of embedded support pillars in the rocky terrain

Let's visit Tojinbo!

Tojinbo can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons, from the sunset over the Sea of Japan to the sight of the rough sea lapping against the rock face, and from the delicious local cuisine. You can enjoy Tojinbo in all four seasons, from the sunset over the Sea of Japan to the sight of the rough sea crashing against the rock face, as well as the delicious local food and drink. When you visit Tojinbo, please take your time and experience the history of Tojinbo at the Senjyobashiki!

Take your favorite train and lodging combination for a budget-friendly trip!

You can create your own original trip!

The " JR East View Dynamic Rail Package " is a variable-price individual travel product available only on the web, which allows you to choose your train and accommodations freely and make a reservation at once. Depending on the timing and conditions of your reservation, you may be able to save even on the day of departure at the earliest! We also offer one-day trip plans! We also offer one-day trip plans!

Click here for details

For train + inn "Fukui Area" reservations, please visit [ JR East View Dynamic Rail Package ]
Tags related to this article
Previous post Back to list Next
related articles