Hiking and Hot Springs! Enjoy the Great Outdoors in Minami-Echizen Town!
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Minami-Echizen Town, with its mountains, coast, and villages, is overflowing with charm, even in a prefecture as rich in nature as Fukui. But did you know that Minami-Echizen Town also has several spots where you can enjoy easier hikes and hot springs for a day trip?
Beautiful mountain trails where even beginners can enjoy nature without pushing themselves too hard and hot springs where you can relax and soothe your fatigue are the perfect recipe for a refreshing day out.
Here are 13 hiking and hot springs spots for you to check out!
Plus, we have a hiking report for Somayama for you too.
Trails and Hot Springs by Area
Minami-Echizen Town can be roughly divided into three areas: Nanjo, Imajo, and Kono. We will introduce the best hiking trails and hot springs in each area.
Nanjo Area
Hiking Trails
Nomi-ga-dake Peak / Bushu-ga-ike Pond
Elevation: 678m / A mountain that straddles Minami-Echizen Town and Echizen City. It takes about 2 hours to reach the summit by a direct route. Near the summit is Bushu-ga-ike Pond (circumference 360m), which is famous for a legend of a dragon god.
・Somayama Castle Ruins
Elevation: 492m / A mountain with ruins of Somayama Castle. Enjoy a panoramic view of the town of Nanjo. Although it is a small mountain, Somayama will give your mountain climbing itch a good scratch.
・Fudoga-taki Falls
A 15m waterfall located about an hour’s walk along a mountain path. The change in elevation is not significant, making it a pleasant hike.
Hot Springs
・Hanahasu Onsen Somayama
This hot spring facility is next to Hanahasu Park and easily accessible by car, being about 7 minutes from the Imajo or Nanjo exits on the Hokuriku Expressway. Heal your mind and body in the natural hot spring water pumped up from 1000 meters underground. Don’t miss the unique lotus bath. Also, relax with trees all around you in the spacious garden-style open air bath.
Spring type: simple alkaline
Price: 650 yen for adults, 350 yen for children
Meals: restaurant available
Hours: 8am-10pm (last entry 9pm)
Closed: Tuesdays (open if public holiday)
Access: 7 minutes by car from the Imajo IC exit or Nanjo Smart IC exit on the Hokuriku Expressway
Recommended Route for Nanjo Area
Start at 9:30 by hiking Somayama and have lunch at the summit. After coming back down by around 1:00, then head to the hot spring.
Imajo Area
Hiking Trails
・Yasha-ga-ike
Elevation: 1099m / Mt. Yasha-ga-ike is located on the border between Fukui and Gifu prefectures. Yasha Waterfall is near the trailhead. It is a place rich in nature. For example, the yashagengoro is a species of diving beetle that can be found nowhere else. We recommend starting the climb in the morning and having lunch at the summit.
・Fujikurayama
Elevation: 643m / The course via Shiragi Shrine can be done on foot from Imajo Station. It is possible to traverse from Nabekurayama, but this is quite a distance, making it a so it’s a serious trek. There is a steep climb near the summit, but the beautiful beech forest soothes the soul.
・Hiuchigajo Castle Ruins
Elevation: 270m / Castle ruins at the summit of Mt. Atago, where you can enjoy the view of Imajo-shuku. It’s an easy hiking course of about 20 minutes one way. It’s part of a course that includes Fujikurayama and Nabekurayama, and many people visit these nearby peaks together.
Kinome-toge Pass
Elevation: 628m / This mountain divides Fukui Prefecture into its northern and southern parts. It is said to have been developed by Lord Kamitsugano Mutsu in 830. Even today, thatched-roof buildings remain, giving you the feeling of having traveled back in time.
・Yuno-toge Pass / Magochakushi Shrine
Elevation: approx. 200m / Key point on the old Hokuriku Road. At the top is Magochakushi Shrine and a monument bearing a haiku by Matsuo Basho. You can also see the stone walls of the Yuno Castle ruins.
・Mt. Hachibuse
Elevation: 762m / This mountain is where the Imajo 365 Ski Area is located. Even climbing the paved road inside the ski area, you can get a good hike. On a clear day, you can see the mountain range containing Mt. Haku, the Sea of Japan, Mizushima, the Mikata Five Lakes, and Lake Biwa from the summit.
Hot Springs
・今庄３６５温泉やすらぎ（2022年8月から休業中）
・Imajo 365 Onsen Yasuragi
A hot spring facility in the Imajo 365 Ski Area. The mountain ranges visible from the indoor and outdoor baths are beautiful and open. This hot spring allows you to enjoy the changing nature of the seasons. There is also a spacious sauna where you can relax away everyday fatigue.
Spring type: simple alkaline sulfur
Price: 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for children
Meals: no
Hours: 12pm-8:30pm
Closed: Tuesdays (open if public holiday)
Access: 15 minutes by taxi from Imajo Station / 20 minutes by car from the Imajo or Tsuruga exits on the Hokuriku Expressway
Recommended Route for Imajo Area
Hike Mt. Hachibuse from 10:00 and have lunch at the summit, then come back down by around 1:00 and head to the hot springs.
Kano Area
Hiking Trails
・Honokeyama
Elevation: 737m / Amazing views of Tsuruga Bay and the Sea of Japan from the summit. It is said that the name “Honokeyama” came from the fact that there was a signal tower here in the past that warned the then capital at present-day Echizen of any unusual happenings. Also worth noting are the paths made by the passage of people and horses, and the majestic beech forest.
Hot Springs
・Kano Seaside Onsen Yubae
A hot spring facility in the Kono area facing the Sea of Japan. You can soak in the hot spring while looking at the beautiful Sea of Japan that spreads out before you. We recommend visiting during the day or at sunset, when the sea is clearly visible. There is no open-air bath, but there is a sauna where you can refresh your mind and body.
Spring type: chloride
Price: 650 yen for adults, 350 yen for children
Meals: Yes / Catered from local inns. Ice cream and drinks are for sale onsite
Hours: Weekdays 11am-9pm; Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10am-9pm
Closed: Wednesdays (or the following day if Wednesday is a holiday)
Access: Approximately 30 minutes by car from the Nanjo exit on the Hokuriku Expressway. 30-50 minutes by local bus from Takefu Station or Oshio Station
Recommended Route for Kono Area
Hike Honokeyama from 9:00 and have lunch at the summit. Head back down by around 1:00 and head to the hot spring.
Somayama Hiking Report
We tell you all about our hike up Somayama in Nanjo!
Here are the items for the hike:
Recommended Hiking Gear
・Comfortable walking shoes (preferably hiking boots)
・Water
・Trail Food
・Bear bell
・Rain gear
others
Here’s how the climb went!
Somayama has four trailheads and four trails:
・Himeana Trail: This trail starts at Trailhead 2, passing by ruins of a residence. In addition to the Himeana ruins, you can also see Tonoike Pond and Western Palace, making this route the one with the most sights.
・Monjudo Trail: This trail also starts at Trailhead 2, passing Monjudo, and heading towards Western Palace. There are many stairs. You can also drive by car partway up from the trailhead number 1 and join up with this trail.
・Inumodoshi-Komagaeshi Trail: This trail starts from Trailhead 3, passing by Inumodoshi-Komagaeshi, and heading towards the main castle. There is a cliff that can be climbed using a ladder.
・Shaya Trail: This trail starts from the South Trailhead and heads towards the main castle. There are many steep stairs.
This time, we headed for the summit via the Monjudo Trail from Trailhead 2, and then descended via the Inumodoshi-Komagaeshi Trail. The hike took about three hours, including breaks.
Starting the Hike, 1pm
Trailhead 2 is about a 10-minute walk west from the parking lot at Hanahasu Park. There is a parking lot for about 10 cars at the trailhead, but we did not use it this time because we were planning to return via a different trailhead.
There is a gate to keep wild animals out of the fields. Please be sure to close it behind you.
Our route passed by the Monjudo. Since it was autumn, the trail was covered with a carpet of soft fallen leaves.
The Monjudo is found soon after you start climbing.
Finding the many Jizo statues during the climb was fun.
There were some places with stairs along the way, but it wasn’t too difficult as we could enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves and Jizo statues along the way.
We arrived at the lookout point on the way up Somayama. You can get there by car, and there is parking space for 2-3 cars. It is a place where you can get a panoramic view of the Nanjo area.
There is a trail map. From here, we pass the remains of the Western Palace and Uchigikake-iwa Rock and head towards the main keep.
It was late November, when the autumn leaves were beautiful. It would be nice to visit in other seasons as well.
We arrived at the ruins of the Western Palace. Along the way, there are hints of castle ruins, such as moats, and you can feel the history of Somayama as a mountain castle.
Uchigikake-iwa Rock: It’s like a mini Northern Alps!
After crossing a small rocky area, you will reach Uchigikake-iwa Rock! Legend has it that upon hearing that Echizen Province warlord Uryu Tamotsu had been killed in battle, his wife and other ladies-in-waiting hung their kimonos here and jumped to their deaths. Although it is a place with a sad story, the view from here is truly spectacular!
From Uchigikake-iwa, we could see both the Nanjo and Imajo areas. Beyond Nanjo, we could see the Oshio district of Echizen City. It was hard to climb the many stairs, but the beautiful view made us forget our fatigue.
After a short rest, we started heading towards the summit.
Reaching the Summit!
After a short walk along up a ridge, we reach the summit!
There was a cute wooden sign with “Somayama” written on it. The summit is a spacious area, so it’s a good place to have a coffee. We started out the day’s hike at 1pm, stopped often for pictures, took plenty of breaks on the way, and arrived at the summit around 3pm, making it a leisurely two-hour hike to the top.
Serious Mountain Climbing on Such a Small Mountain!? Ladder Down the Cliff at Inumodoshi-Komagaeshi
Ladder down the cliff at Inumodoshi-Komagaeshi
On the way back down, we went via Inumodoshi-Komagaeshi. The name Inumodoshi-Komagaeshi is said to come from the fact that a steep cliff forces both dogs and horses who have climbed up to this point to turn back. We were careful with our footing and holding onto the ladder. In addition to the cliffs, the Inumodoshi-Komagaeshi Course also has a series of somewhat steep slopes and stairs, so we actually got to experience a bit of mountain climbing, rather than easy hiking. We took our time, careful not to slip on the wet leaves.
So absorbed in our hike, after about an hour after leaving the summit, we found ourselves suddenly on flat ground at the bottom of the trail’s many steps. Surrounded on all sides by cedar trees, the space has a sacred feel to it.
Continuing along the path, we finally arrived at Trailhead 3 behind Hanahasu Onsen Somayama. The end of the hike!
Recap of the Day’s Hike up Somayama
1pm Meet at Hanahasu Park parking lot
1:20 Head to Monjudo trail from Trailhead 2
Leisurely hike with many stops for photos
2:30 Arrive at Uchigikake-iwa and take short break
3:00 Arrive at the summit and start heading down
4:00 End
The hike took us about three hours, including breaks. For those not in the best shape, the going might be a little hard (This author had sore muscles the next day.).
After your hike, melt your fatigue away at Hanahasu Onsen Somayama (Note: closed on Tuesdays). Refresh your mind and body in the spacious open-air garden bath and the lotus bath, which contains lotus extract!
Enjoy a Day Hike in Minami-Echizen Town!
Minami-Echizen Town is a place where you can enjoy day hikes and hot springs. This time we climbed Somayama, but it let’s not forget that there are many other excellent mountains to climb such as Mt. Honoke and the ruins of Hiuchigajo Castle. These are great places to bring the kids along, too. There is plenty to learn about the area’s history as a post town and a key transportation hub as well.
You would be hard pressed to find a better way to spend your day off than taking an easy hike through beautiful nature and then having a long soak in the hot springs in Minami-Echizen Town.
Hanahasu Onsen Somayama
This hot spring facility is next to Hanahasu Park and easily accessible by car, being about 7 minutes from the Imajo or Nanjo exits on the Hokuriku Expressway. Heal your mind and body in the natural hot spring water pumped up from 1000 meters underground. Don’t miss the unique lotus bath. Also, relax with trees all around you in the spacious garden-style open air bath.
Spring type: simple alkaline
Price: 650 yen for adults, 350 yen for children
Meals: restaurant available
Hours: 8am-10pm (last entry 9pm)
Closed: Tuesdays (open if a public holiday)
Access: 7 minutes by car from the Imajo IC exit or Nanjo Smart IC exit on the Hokuriku Expressway
