Enjoy Fresh Seafood at the Many Minshuku in Kono, a Fishing Village in Minami-Echizen

Posted on : March 31, 2023

For anyone visiting Fukui, surely one of the local must-try delicacies must be the fresh seafood. And for those who want a beautiful ocean view to go with, minshuku offer some of the best of both.

There are no fewer than seventeen minshuku (Japanese-style bed and breakfasts) in and around Kono that look out over the Sea of Japan. And while the idea of staying at a minshuku may be a little intimidating to some, in reality it’s a great place to unwind and feast on the sea’s bounty.
In this article we’ll bring you the culinary highlights and unique charms of one particular Kono minshuku.

Contents:

・The Charm of the minshuku of Kono
・Map of the minshuku in the Kono Area of Minami-Echizen Town
・Minshuku Stay Report: Exquisite Food and a Relaxed Atmosphere
・Tips for Making the Most of Your Stay from a Minshuku Owner
・The Amazing Minshuku Breakfast
・Explore the Local Sights”
・Conclusion

The Undeniable Charm of Minshuku in the Kono Area

Kono is a fishing village on coast of the Sea of Japan boasting seventeen minshuku, each with its own unique persuasion.

Without a doubt, the area’s biggest attraction is some of the freshest seafood money can buy.
Fixed net fishing begins every April, and fresh fish are brought into the port almost every day. At a minshuku, you can have your fill of seasonal fish caught that very morning.

Map of the Minshuku in the Kono Area of Minami-Echizen Town

“Here’s a map of all the Kono area minshuku just for you!”
“There are 17 unique minshuku in Minami-Echizen Town (as of March 2023).”

“Click here for the minshuku map!”

① Echizen Inn & Restaurant Kotetsu
② Ryokan Suisen
③ Ryokan Rihei
④ Sakaeso
⑤ Minshuku & Restaurant Izumi
⑥ Echizen Inn Yamakyu
⑦ Umibo
⑧ Minshuku & Restaurant Yoriki
⑨ Minshuku Aorai
⑩ Nagashimaso
⑪ Hotel Hamaya
⑫ Minshuku Tamamura
⑬ Sea Inn Sahei
⑭ Cabin
⑮ Ryokan Seikaikan
⑯ Ryokan Fujino
⑰ Moriya

All of the minshuku are located on the sea, where you can enjoy fresh seafood to your heart’s content.

Access

Accessing Kono is easiest by car. For those taking the Hokuriku Expressway, the Imajo or Nanjo (ETC only) exits are the most convenient. Those coming from the north can also use the Takefu exit. From any of these exits, it takes about 30 minutes by car to reach the Kono area.

Public transportation: There is a bus to Kono from Takefu Station on the Hapi-Line Fukui. Be sure to check departure times before you travel!

Minshuku Stay Report: Exquisite Food and a Relaxed Atmosphere

Staff visited a minshuku in the Kono area of Minami-Echizen Town. This particular inn has been in business for 30 years and is known for its fresh seafood. Rates start from 15,000 yen (tax included) per night, which includes two meals. With a reservation, you can also just come by for lunch.

Upon experiencing this Kono minshuku for ourselves, we found the biggest draws to be the following:
1. The views! Rooms with ocean views where the setting sun and the sound of waves soothe the soul.
2. The food! Gorge on the freshest seafood around!
3. The company! A great place to spend a cozy time with a small group of family or friends.

Let’s look at each of these in more detail!

1. The Views

View from guest room

The Sea of Japan on your doorstep

In the evening, you can watch the dazzling sunset from your room.

Watch the sun slowly sink into the Sea of Japan

The sun setting into the sea is a great chance to take some spectacular photos.

Every guest room has an ocean view! The Sea of Japan stretches out as far as the eye can see from below you. The gentle sounds of waves roll in through your open window. On clear days, your own room becomes the best seat in the house for enjoying the sunset, so we recommend checking in early. The sun setting into the sea is a great chance to take some spectacular photos.

2. The Food

Dinner is slices of sea bream, octopus, and tuna for sashimi, fresh abalone, other local sushi delights, assortments of the season’s fish and veggies–all sure to get your mouth watering. During the Kono’s fixed net fishing season, the seafood on offer is what is caught virtually right outside your window. Even outside this season, the fish is still sourced from the surrounding area. In many of Kono’s minshuku, the proprietors themselves are the ones out making the purchases.

Fugu (blowfish) sashimi

Assorted tempura made with seasonal wild vegetables

Enjoy seasonal sushi at some minshuku

The interview and photos for this article were gathered at the tail end of April, so seasonal wild vegetables as well as seafood were on offer. The delicacies offered change depending with the season and the day’s catch, so you can come back time and again and still be surprised no matter how many times you come. The culinary experiences you’ll find here wouldn’t be out of place in a luxury ryokan. Pair the fish with some local Fukui sake to bring out the flavor even more.

Of course, starting in early November you will also be able to enjoy Echizen crab, Fukui’s renowned seasonal delicacy.

3. The company!

The lodgings we visited only accept reservations for one group per day, meaning you can relax and unwind without having to worry about other guests. Minshuku are the perfect place for people who to avoid the crowds. Enjoy beautiful ocean views and sumptuous dinners with friends, a special someone, or families. For larger groups, some lodgings can accommodate groups of 20 to 30 people or more, so be sure to inquire with the various inns or the Kono Tourism Association.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Stay from a Minshuku Owner

Of course, everyone has their own preferences for how to spend their time, but we asked a minshuku owner what he recommended for ways to make the most of your stay.

① Check in before evening and head to the hot spring

His advice was to check in earlier to take full advantage of the special deal that allows guests checking in to inns affiliated with the Kono Tourism Association to receive a free ticket to the local hot spring, Kono Seaside Onsen Yubae. Nothing melts away any fatigue from traveling like a dip in a spacious hot spring with an ocean view. Get there before sunset and enjoy watching the beautiful sunset over the Sea of Japan while you soak.

Information for Kono Seaside Hot Springs Yubae can be found here (Japanese).

Of course, the minshuku also have their own baths, so there is always the option to take a relaxing dip there as well.

② Eat dinner!

Back from the hot springs, it’s finally time for the main attraction, dinner! A wide variety of mouth-watering dishes packed with seasonal ingredients are brought to you in courses, so you can enjoy each of them freshly prepared.

Sharing quality time with family, friends, and those special to you only make the fresh ingredients prepared with care taste even better.

3. Take a morning walk by the sea

The owner recommends taking a morning walk along the seafront. Gazing out at the beautiful Sea of Japan stretching out before you, listening to the sound of the waves and feeling the sea breeze are sure to soothe your body and mind.

The Amazing Minshuku Breakfast

A minshuku breakfast is typically a healthy and delicious meal with generous portions and is typically served at around 8:00. Some inns are flexible with meal times, so please ask if you would like to eat earlier or later.

Explore the Local Sights

Check-out is at 10am. After, be sure not to miss the nearby Ukon Residence, the mansion of one of the main kitamaebune shipowners of the Edo period and Meiji era. Here too, guests of accommodations affiliated with the Kono Tourism Association receive free admission tickets. Aside from the interesting architecture and incredible views when the weather permits, you can also learn about the history of the Ukon family and the Kono area, which flourished as a shipping hub.

https://www.minamiechizen.com/spot/3059/

Conclusion

The collection of minshuku in the Kono area of Minami-Echizen Town are magical places where you can sample fresh seafood and the beautiful Sea of Japan to your heart’s content. It’s a cozier and homelier atmosphere here than what you would find at a sprawling ryokan, and if you become friends with the owner, you’ll definitely want to visit every year.
Above all, each minshuku has its own unique charm, which is often reflected in the food served. So, if you can’t make up your mind which minshuku to stay at, we offer you the same advice we would during a minshuku meal: try some of everything.

The standard rate for a minshuku in the Kono area is around 15,000 yen (tax included) for one night with two meals.
Guests who stay at accommodations affiliated with the Kono Tourism Association will receive free tickets to Kono Seaside Onsen Yubae and the Ukon Residence.

Whether you have stayed at a minshuku before or not, those of the Kono area are definitely worth a look. You can look forward to being welcomed with the freshest seafood and that famous Japanese hospitality.

Prices, plan details, and complimentary admission tickets are current as of May 2023. For the latest information, please contact the Minami-Echizen Town Kono Tourism Association or your accommodation.