福井 若狭旅🍁旬を迎えた若狭ふぐと鯖街道を巡る秋の美食探訪| 熊川宿 | 三方五湖

福井 若狭旅🍁旬を迎えた若狭ふぐと鯖街道を巡る秋の美食探訪| 熊川宿 | 三方五湖

Good morning! We’ve arrived in Wakasa Town, Fukui Prefecture! Today, we’re going to explore the Saba Kaido (Mackerel Highway) at Kumagawa-juku, eat some mackerel, and when we stay in Obama City, I want to eat *fugu* (pufferfish). A feast of autumn flavors! Alright, first up, Kumagawa-juku. Let’s go explore! And this is Kumagawa-juku! What do you think? It’s great! So there was a post town over here, too! I love the old-fashioned feel. Apparently, this place… has many different buildings where various architectural styles are mixed together. That’s its special feature! Like buildings called “Tsushi-nikai” (buildings with extremely low second floors). There’s a mix of buildings with *hirairi* (parallel) and *tsumairi* (perpendicular) entrances. It’s so free-form! They say this waterway has been here since the old days! Let’s check it out. As a post town on the “Saba Kaido” (Mackerel Highway) connecting Wakasa and Kyoto, Kumagawa-juku was established. The charming scenery, with its remaining traditional merchant houses, gives you a sense of the highway’s history. The oldest merchant house in Kumagawa-juku. Walking while listening to the sound of water. A stylish cafe. A potato washer. Potatoes are inside, and it uses the water flow to peel them. Looks like they’re holding an art festival! We took a little peek! There are no utility poles! (Woman) The width of the road is the same as in the Edo period! It was this wide? (Woman) They say many people used to pass through here. (Woman) They salted the mackerel in Obama, and on the way from the mackerel to Kyoto, …passing through Kutsuki, the salt curing would become perfect. That’s the “Saba Kaido.” I see! We heard so many interesting stories. 🙏 That realistic doll surprised me! It says 13 *ri* (approx. 51 km) to Kyoto! 4 *ri* to Aizu? Imazu? Oh, not Aizu! Imazu? It was Imazu (in Shiga Prefecture)! It says “Saba Kaido”! They really used to travel this road. They used this route to bring seafood to the capital in Kyoto. You know, Wakasa was even called a “Miketsukuni” (Land of Royal Provisions)! What’s that? What! You don’t know what a Miketsukuni is?! Nope, I don’t. From ancient times to the Heian period,
it was a province that offered “Miketsumono” (foodstuffs) like seafood to the Imperial Family and the Imperial Court. We’re having lunch in Kumagawa-juku! ♪ Inside, there are chairs and *zashiki* (tatami) seating! Let’s eat! The *saba-zushi* (mackerel sushi) is here! The *saba-zushi* we’ve been waiting for! We have both *shime-saba* (cured mackerel) and *yaki-saba* (grilled mackerel)! Okay, I’ll start with the *shime-saba*. I wonder if I should put anything on it? Delicious! Delicious! The sushi rice and the mackerel… The blend is so good! The mackerel has a really good texture, too. It’s so delicious! Next, I’ll try the grilled mackerel! Delicious! It has a slight smoky fragrance! I think I like the grilled one better! You like the grilled one more! It’s delicious! It’s shining like gold! Maybe you can taste the mackerel flavor
more with the grilled one. The grilled mackerel is amazing! The cured one is good too, but… *Oroshi kuzu soba* (Soba with grated daikon and arrowroot). Apparently, *kuzu* (arrowroot) is also famous here! Oh, really! The noodles are a bit dark. It’s different from Togakushi soba. It’s refreshing and delicious! It seems like it would go well with the soba. I want to eat more of this mackerel sushi. They were selling it, right? Want to buy some to take home? Will it last until tomorrow? It should. I want to take some home, but I wonder if it’s okay at room temperature. I’m really leaning towards the grilled mackerel! My preference is grilled mackerel! Masa, you try it, too! Which do you prefer? Masa prefers the *shime-saba*!
Which do you all prefer? ☺️ Kumagawa-juku → Uriwari-no-taki Falls
By car: Approx. 10 min. How many minutes to Uriwari-no-taki Falls? About 5 minutes? It’s that close? Shall we go? Once we pass through the torii gate, it starts to feel like a sacred atmosphere. It makes you feel focused. The temperature is cool, too. It feels nice! Maybe because the river is right here? It looks like a blessed waterfall. It feels like it’s inside a shrine. It’s located deep in the mountains behind the Tentokuji Temple grounds! We’re almost there, shall we keep going? As the name suggests, it was so cold that a *uri* (melon) supposedly split open on its own! That’s the legend behind this exquisite “famous water.” The clear stream, which gushes out at a constant temperature year-round, flows over moss-covered rocks, filled with a mystical charm that’s cool even in summer! There’s water, so let’s try drinking it! Ah! It’s super cold! It’s cold and delicious. It’s smooth! Ranked #2 in the “Delicious Famous Water” category. It tastes like famous water! It seems like it would be cool here even in summer! The moss and the whole balance of it is nice, too! When I think of a waterfall, I imagined an impressive one, and this one is pretty small, but even so, the volume of water is incredible. It feels like it’s constantly gushing out! Uriwari-no-taki Falls → Wakasahiko Shrine (Shimo-no-sha)
By car: Approx. 10 min. We’ve entered Obama City! The highest-ranking shrine in Wakasa Province, known as the *Ichi-no-miya*, is Wakasahiko Shrine. It consists of two shrines: the solemn Kami-no-sha (Upper Shrine) and the Shimo-no-sha (Lower Shrine, or Wakasahime Shrine), known for blessings of
matchmaking and safe childbirth. It has been a center of faith since ancient times. First, we will pray at the Shimo-no-sha (Lower Shrine). There is a Hie Shrine within the grounds! It enshrines a deity that grants dreams and wishes! A power spot? Stand between the two large cedar trees, look up at the sky,
reflect on your past, be mindful of your present self,
and meditate or pray while envisioning your future. I feel like my worldly desires have vanished! It feels like there’s a crisp, clear air flowing. It was quiet and there weren’t many people. Next, we’ve come to a temple! Built in the Edo period as the prayer temple
for the Sakai family, lords of the Obama Domain, “Mantokuji Temple.” Its vast *kare-sansui* (dry landscape garden), designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty, is breathtaking! The garden here is so beautiful! The sun’s coming out! It was a guerrilla downpour just a moment ago! (laughs) A garden that doesn’t use water. A Japanese-style garden. It’s so calming. The mountain in the back… it’s like it’s part of this garden. It’s nice! The autumn leaves must be amazing here! A little longer, maybe? Just a little bit. Maybe in about two weeks? The fall foliage will definitely be beautiful! This temple, it was a place where if someone
who committed a crime entered this temple, they would be forgiven. That’s what this temple was. Like a *kakekomi-dera* (refuge temple)! I wonder if those people also looked at this and repented their sins. Yeah, maybe. I don’t know, but… All the places we went today were pretty empty, which was nice. Yeah, true. And all the parking was free. You’re right, all of them were. We were grateful for that. It’s a hidden gem! Shall we go pay our respects at the main hall? The main hall is outside. So this is the wonderful house we were just in! When you turn around, it’s a picturesque view! The amount of maple trees is incredible! Let’s go inside and pray. Inside was a large “Seated Amida Nyora (Amitabha) Statue.” It was a wonderful temple where time seemed to stand still. ♪ Mantokuji Temple → Wakasa Fugu no Yado Shimogeku
By car: Approx. 20 min. “Wakasa Fugu no Yado Shimogeku,” where the bounty of Wakasa Bay gathers. At this inn, close to the sea, you can savor “Wakasa Fugu,” raised with great care, in an exquisite full-course meal! Our room for today is on the second floor! A fluffy bed. There’s a relaxation space, too! We can see a little bit of the sea from the room! ♪ It’s a *fugu* feast! This is incredible! Amazing! It’s a mountain of seafood. It’s hard to decide what to eat first. Is this sea bream? It’s sea bream. They said it was sea bream. It’s all so delicious-looking! Scallop. Well then, let’s have the *tecchiri* (fugu hot pot)! Wow!! This is what celebrities eat! Isn’t this a celebrity-style way of eating? I’ve never done this before. Wow! It’s so… It’s transparent. It’s *fuku* (pufferfish)! Looks so good… Looks so good! I want to eat it now! It’s unbelievably delicious. The texture is amazing. It’s so *puri-puri* (firm and springy). It’s a white fish, so it’s light, I feel like I could eat it forever. I think I could eat a whole plate of *tessa* (fugu sashimi) by myself. There’s plenty, and more is coming! I feel bad eating it all. We have the hot pot, too! Delicious. This is great. Yellowtail. No, not yellowtail. What was it… fugu! Fugu season starts in November, right? It’s truly an autumn bounty. It’s really so delicious! I can’t indulge too much, so I’ll just eat it a little at a time! (laughs) I can’t be so luxurious. Just do it! Wow! What is this texture! It’s a new kind of texture! It’s tender. So this is what fugu is like. I haven’t eaten it much, so I didn’t know! I haven’t eaten it much, so I didn’t know, but it’s delicious. You’re right, I could eat this whole plate! Right! Fugu is… What was it? Umm… Fugu is rich in protein! I wanted to eat the fugu so badly, I forgot what I was thinking! (laughs) It’s low in calories and high in protein! That’s the best! Wonderful. More food is coming. There’s so much. We’d better eat up! You can eat so many different parts of the fugu! Everything but the poison! It’s so delicious, it’s hard to believe it has poison. I wonder if it’s delicious *because* it has poison? I definitely want to become a repeat customer. I want to come here again! Alright, let’s start the hot pot! I’m so excited. The fugu hot pot, they call it *tecchiri* hot pot, right? Back in the Edo period when eating fugu was banned,
they used that name to eat it in secret! Because they couldn’t say “fugu”! Right, because it was forbidden. And do you know what “tecchiri” means? Nope, I don’t… What?! You just admitted it. Fugu has poison, right? So, people back then called it “teppo” (rifle). *(glances)* The “tetsu” from “teppo” (rifle) and “chiri,” which is what they called a white-fish hot pot. They combined to make “tecchiri.” Thank you for the lesson. Wow! Looks delicious! Look! It’s glistening! I’m going to eat it. Mmm! The meat is plump and delicious, but I feel like all the *umami* is locked inside! The springy part… maybe it’s collagen. That part is also really delicious to eat! And to finish, *zosui* (rice porridge)! 😻 This is the *ojiya* (rice porridge) to finish. I saved some fugu, so I’ll eat it together! All the umami from the hot pot is left in here, it’s incredible! The final course is always the most delicious. So good! It was an amazing fugu feast! It’s so beautiful! Amazing. There are lots of people fishing since the morning! The sound of the waves, ebbing and flowing. Let’s eat. What a delicious-looking breakfast. There’s fugu in the miso soup! Looks like it. That’s amazing. Delicious! It’s so delicious. Does adding fugu make it this delicious? And there’s proper fugu meat in it, too! Delicious! And it warms you up. A great start. It seems like it’s going to be a perfect day, right from the morning. We’re heading to the Mikata Goko Rainbow Line Summit Park! Apparently, you can see the lakes from the observatory! Okay, let’s go! Making a quick stop on the way. The roof tiles on the houses have a nice, aged look. The Tagarasu rice terraces. The contrast between the green and blue is beautiful! “Lake Suigetsu” is coming into view! Grabbing a bite before going to the Rainbow Line Summit Park. 😋 The *ika-don* (squid rice bowl) has arrived! How long did we wait? About an hour and a half. Yeah! About an hour and a half. It was a 3-day weekend, so it was super crowded! Finding parking was so hard. The longest wait. Looks delicious. It’s squid and… *tororo* (grated yam)? There’s a lot of stuff in it! Let’s eat. Delicious! The chewiness of the squid and the fluffy, creamy *tororo* go well together. It’s a combination that seems obvious, but I’ve never had it. Delicious! The *oba* (shiso leaf) in it adds a nice freshness, making it light and easy to eat. Worth the wait! The squid is delicious. I’m not usually a big fan of squid, but this is really good. It’s big. Delicious! It’s all squid! It’s seasoned! It’s like *karaage* (fried chicken). It is *karaage*. So it is *karaage*. Delicious. The soy sauce marinade is really good. Soy sauce. The soy sauce flavor is delicious! The *umeboshi* (pickled plum) was delicious, too! Finally!
Heading to the “Mikata Goko Rainbow Line Summit Park”! A spectacular viewpoint where you can see the sea and five lakes all at once! At the summit, reached by lift or cable car, is a breathtaking panorama woven by Wakasa Bay and the mystical lakes! What should we do? It’s so spacious here! Where should we go? I don’t know… The Wakasa Terrace? There’s a rose garden, too! I want to go to the Japanese-style cafe! There’s a footbath, too. Let’s go to the footbath. Where should we go first? Let’s start with the footbath? Alright, let’s go to the footbath first. We’re heading to the Mihama Terrace! It’s the collective name for the five lakes: Mikata, Suigetsu, Suga, Kugushi, and Hiruga. They differ in salinity, depth, and size.
Because of the different water quality, their colors look slightly different! That’s why they’re also called the “Five-Color Lakes.” It’s true, they do look a bit different. You can enjoy all five Mikata Goko lakes and the Sea of Japan at once!
There’s also the “Tenku-no-Ashiyu” (Spectacular Sky Footbath)! Heading to the Wakasa Terrace! You can see Lakes Mikata, Suigetsu, and Suga, and in the distance, the Tango Peninsula and Wakasa Bay! The large lake in the foreground is “Lake Suigetsu.” The view of the sea is nice, too! ♪ You’re supposed to write a wish on a *kawarage* (earthenware disc)
and throw it towards the lake with all your might. It got sucked into a tree, but my wish will probably still come true. 🙏 Thank you for watching!

秋の若狭へ、美食の旅🐡
1泊2日で福井県・若狭を巡ってきました！

鯖街道の宿場町・熊川宿を散策
歴史ある街並みをゆっくり歩いてきました🚶‍♀️
三方五湖レインボーライン山頂公園からは、五つの湖が織りなす絶景を堪能！✨

そして今回の旅のメイン、若狭ふぐ🐡
「若狭ふぐの宿 下亟」で本場のふぐづくしに大満足😋
若狭の海の幸、想像以上に美味しかったです！！

皆さんの旅プランの参考になったら嬉しいです！🙏

📕 目次
00:00 オープニング
0:58 熊川宿
9:23 瓜割の滝
12:33 若狭彦神社
15:43 萬徳寺
19:37 若狭ふぐの宿 下亟
31:27 ドライブイン よしだ
35:23 三方五湖レインボーライン山頂公園

📍訪れた場所
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瓜割の滝
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📝撮影日
2025/11/1-2

#なるまさ #福井県 #若狭