Tojinbo Cliffs
東尋坊
Cliffs of columnar pyroxene andesite about 1 km long along the Sea of Japan coast in Fukui Prefecture. A National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument, and truly awe-inspiring.
Tojinbo is in Mikuni, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture. Massive columnar joints of pyroxene andesite formed a sea cliff stretching about 1 km, rising up to 25 meters. It is designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument and is one of only three geological formations of its kind in the world. You can watch huge waves crash against the cliffs from the clifftop walkway, or take a sightseeing boat (about 30 minutes) around to Oshima Island to view the rock columns from the sea. The walkways are free, but there are no railings at the cliff edges. In rain, the rocks are slippery, so stay well back from the edge. The entrance area has a shopping street with Echizen crab and grilled sea snails.
Getting there: Take the Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Awara Onsen Station, then a bus for about 40 minutes, or drive for about 1 hour.
Opening hours
Open all day (sightseeing boats approx. 09:00–16:00)
Nearby sights
- Oshima Island
- Echizen Matsushima Aquarium
- Mikuni-minato Old Town
- Shibamasa World
- Awara Onsen
- Maruoka Castle
- Yōkōkan Garden
- Fukui Castle Ruins