A Rewarding Trip to Relieve You from Daily Fatigue Day 2: Fukui Wellness Trip Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Oct 25 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Fukui

A Rewarding Trip to Relieve You from Daily Fatigue Day 2: Fukui Wellness Trip

Amidst the hustle and bustle of your daily life, have you ever thought about taking a trip to a faraway place? If so, Fukui is the perfect destination for you. When you think of Fukui, you might think of the gorgeous Echizen crab, glasses, and Tojinbo. However, there's so much more to explore! Experience nature with all your senses and feast on the treasures of food from the mountains and the sea. Let's go on an overnight wellness trip to refresh your body and mind.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Fukui.

A Rewarding Trip to Relieve You from Daily Fatigue: Day 1 - Fukui Wellness Trip

Let Hot Spring YogaReset and Tone You Up from the Inside Out Morning Yoga Experience in AshiharaHot Spring

Hosted by the AwaraOnsen Inn Association and the Awara Onsen Lady Association, you can experienceyoga in a casual style.

From September 2022to March 2023, morning yoga takes place once a month on a Sunday. Not onlyhotel guests but also those who are not staying in the hotel can participate ifthey register in advance. Yoga mats are available for rent, so you can joinwithout any pressure.

Take your time to take care of your body. This session can help relieve your fatigue.

The yoga sessionstarts at 6:30 in the morning, and the attendance fee is ¥1,000 (cash paymenton the day). Warming up your body before the session or taking a hot springbath after doing yoga is the perfect way to relax your body. The Onsen Innatmosphere can help awaken your body from the inside and start your day in arefreshing and healthy style.

Strolling AroundRetrospective Streets: Take a Walk around Mikuniminato

Enjoy the breathtaking view of Kuzuryu River, one of the largest rivers in Fukui.

After waking upfeeling refreshed, we headed to Mikuni-cho, a bustling fishing port. During theEdo period (1603-1867), ships were the primary means of transportation for theJapanese logistics system. There was also a trading vessel on the Sea of Japanwhich connected Hokkaido and Osaka, and it would arrive at the port of Mikuni.The street in front of where the vessel arrived was called "MikuniMinato," which was a very prosperous place.

Today, the retrospectivebuildings that can restore the memory of the street view during that time arestill standing well. One of them is the Former Morita Bank Head Office, a bankfounded by the Morita family, a wealthy merchant in the Taisho Era.

Constructed in 1920, it is a place with splendid exterior and interior designs.

Recognized as aRegistered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, this reinforced concreteconstruction is the oldest existing building in Fukui. Designed by architectShichigoro Yamada, the interior design is centered on wood and white plastercarvings, together with an impressive wide high ceiling. Its luxurious andgorgeous design implies how prosperous Mikuni Minato was in those days.

Former Kishina House, a townhouse of that time characterized by the "Kagura style"

The next spot is "Old Kishina House", which isalso recognized as a registered tangible cultural property. It was the formerresidence of Kishina Sosuke, a lumber merchant. From many of its attractions,such as a beautiful Seto-Ware toilet and a chest of drawers made to float onthe water even if the ship sank, the visitors can see the sense of life of themerchants during the old times.

The entrance leads to a long and narrow corridor that leads to the Kuzuryu River.

The house has lowceilings and elegant construction, with pillars, joinery painted in Bengaralacquer, and colored clay walls. It is a two-story building with cashiers,visitor tables, and a kitchen on the first floor, and space to exhibit materialsregarding cultural figures associated with Mikuni on the second floor. Inaddition, there are volunteer guides on-site who provide introductions aboutthe former Kishina family and local information about Mikuni town. Undoubtedly,this town is also recommended for strolling and relaxation.

旧岸名家 (Former Kishina House)
Contact number: 0776-82-0947
Address: 4-6-54 MikunichoKitahommachi, Sakai-shi, Fukui

"Koto Koto"- A Macrobiotic Cafe Renovated from a Warehouse

This building was renovated from a warehouse built in the Meiji Era and still preserves most of its original look.

While walking aroundtown, I was drawn to the café, "Koto Koto," by its nostalgicappearance. At this café, you can enjoy authentic macrobiotic cuisine."Macrobiotics" is a concept of a healthy lifestyle in harmony withnature through a diet based on traditional Japanese food, mainly grains,vegetables, and seaweed. Although it has become famous internationally, itactually originated in Japan.

The three flavors of pound cake and the ama-sake (sweet rice wine)

I had a hard timechoosing between the café's popular lunch and the "rice flour chiffoncake," but eventually, I chose the latter. The chiffon cake comes inseveral flavors, such as plain, holy basil, and mulberry leaf, and is servedwith cream made of soy milk and cashew nut-based agar-agar. The ingredientsused, including tea leaves and herbs, are pesticide-free and fertilizer-freeand sourced from Fukui. The sweetness comes from maple syrup and beet sugar.The fluffy and sticky texture, as well as the gentle sweetness, embody theconcept of "The Reward Food Makes Your Body Full of Happiness."Moreover, the ama-sake (sweet rice wine) added during the baking process is thekey to maintaining the moistness of the chiffon cake.

The texture of riceremains in the ama-sake, and the gentle taste leaves a sense of tenderness inyour body.

The owner of "Koto Koto," Ms. AkikoSaito, uses rice flour made from Koshihikari rice grown in Fukui Prefecture byKotobuki Farm, which is run by her family. Kotobuki Farm is operated byprofessional farmers and uses no pesticides. Eating delicious desserts withoutfeeling guilty is a delightful experience. The café also offers a lunch menu,and the soybean meat hamburger is especially popular because of its generousportions.

ことこと koto.koto.

Contactnumber: 0776-81-2000

Address: 3-3-34 Mikunicho Minamihommachi,Sakai-shi,Fukui

"A RestaurantWhere You Can See A Wood Fire [La Clarté]"

The restaurant used to be a kindergarten and has been renovated. Its roof is designed in the shape of a butterfly, which is very eye-catching.

After walking aroundthe town, my stomach started to crave lunch. My destination was a restaurantcalled "La Clarté" in the Takeda area. La Clarté was awarded the BibGourmand and Green Star in the Michelin Guide Kitariku 2021 Special Edition. Itis very popular, not only with locals but also with visitors from outside theprefecture.

There is a beautiful fireplace with flickering flames that help to warm up the body chilled by the snow.

The restaurant is acomfortable space with a sense of openness wherever you look. There is aspacious open kitchen, some timbers stacked in the corner, and natural lightstreaming in from the ceiling. The lush mountain village scenery can be seenthrough the glass windows. The restaurant is characterized by a wood-fired ovenmanufactured in Fukui, and the wood collected in Fukui is used to fuel the woodfire. This wood fire is used to make all dishes, including meat cuisines.

The must-have course meal is the Keyaki Plate.

The restaurant'sspecialty is homemade sausage, which is baked and cooked slowly in thewood-fired oven, bringing out the flavor of the meat. When you put a knife intothe sausage, the juices flow out, and the density of the meat and the aroma ofherbs will spread in your mouth, making you smile. Chef Matsushita says,"I wanted to make sausages that are safe for children to eat. Thesausages, loved by people of all ages, are made with love."

The popular croissant is also baked in a wood fire.

Among all theexquisite cuisines cooked using the wood fire of 300℃ and left with thearoma of the wood fire, the croissant is the most popular. The croissant iscrispy, fluffy, and chewy, and the sweetness of the wheat and the rich flavorof the luxurious French butter make it a delight.

The main dish today is beef fillet, and the utensils used are also elegant.

This is the maincourse that has been long-awaited and desired. The sauce is based on homemadesoy sauce malt, combined with mustard and honey. This sauce enhances the flavorof the thick, juicy beef and gives it an exquisite taste. By the way, I heardthat "La Clarté" is planning to open a new restaurant in front of theOtorii gate of Kibi Jingu Shrine in Tsuruga City, Fukui. I am very much lookingforward to it.

The owner-chef of "La Clarté" is Ms. Hikari Matsushita.

Chef Matsushita, whocomes from Fukui, shares a common desire with her husband, who runs a forestrybusiness, to "protect the local nature." The restaurant is devoted tousing local ingredients in a suitable way and aiming to reduce food mileage. In2021, the restaurant was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand as well as the GreenStar for its sustainable efforts in terms of forestry, including the use ofFukui's trees for firewood and tableware.

Ms. Matsushita wantsto convey the charm of the local nature through her food, and her tenderpersonality, along with her wonderful cuisine, will surely warm your heart.

la clarté

Contactnumber: 050-5384-4985

Address: 64-31 MaruokachoYamaguchi,Sakai-shi, Fukui

End your journey witha high-class spa experience at "More Mori, Slow."

Just opened in the spring of 2021, Takeda in Sakai-shi of Fukui prefecture

How about spending a special time in the forest at the end of your trip?The esthetic salon, "More Mori, Slow," is located along Takeda Riverand surrounded by beautiful trees with birds chirping. Although it seems thatesthetic salon is the focus of this place, it is actually a space that aims atgathering people.

flower foot bath with a view of the lush forest through the large windows will help you relax and unwind.

In the midst of those busy lives,let’s stop to take a moment, put ourselves in the forest, and with the help ofthe forest, get in touch with nature through our five senses, and get closer toour true selves. We offer the ultimate healing experience beyond beauty. Theesthetic menu is available by appointment only. In a sophisticated space with awhite base tone, you can receive POLA's highest class service.

Try the trial menu: High-Grade Program (90 minutes for ¥19,800).

The High-GradeProgram is a spa course that uses the largest amount of Pola spa skin essenceto help you relax your head, shoulders, face, and clavicle. This thoroughmassage and skincare course will soothe and relieve your daily fatigue, leavingyou feeling refreshed and renewed.

モアの森 slow (MoreMori, Slow)

Contact number: 0776-97-8624

Address:21-17-3 MaruokachoKawakami, Sakai-shi, Fukui

Fukui is a treasuretrove of unspoiled nature and rich food nurtured by its land. It cares abouthuman wellness and offers undiscovered charms that can completely change yourimpression of Fukui once you visit. Why not experience the wellness of humanbeings in Fukui on your

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A Rewarding Trip to Relieve You from Daily Fatigue: Day 1 - Fukui Wellness Trip

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.