Tsuruga Bay 敦賀湾

A part of Wakasa Wan Quasi-National Park to the west and Echizen Kaga Kaigan Quasi-National Park to the east, Tsuruga Bay is lined with beautiful beaches and offers breathtaking views.

You can reach the bay by train and then bus or ferry.

Take the Hikari shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Maibara, then transfer to the Shirasagi Limited Express to Tsuruga Station. Kehi-no-Matsubara is accessible from Tsuruga Station by bus. Take the bus bound for Matsuba-cho, and get off at Kehi-no-Matsubara.

The island of Mizushima is accessible by ferry from Iroga Beach. Take the bus bound for Tateishi from Tsuruga Station and get off at Iroga Beach (30 minutes), walk three minutes to the ferry. The ferry takes 10 minutes to get to the island.

During the summer, the beaches of Tsuruga Bay attract both locals and visitors alike. One of the most popular spots is the beach at Kehi-no-Matsubara, which is conveniently located in Tsuruga City.

This spot is famous for its pine grove, which is one of the three biggest in Japan, with 16,000 trees. The trees contrast beautifully with the blue ocean and white sand.

The island of Mizushima is another popular spot. Accessible by ferry for only two months a year, this small, uninhabited island situated just off the tip of the bay is dubbed the “Hawaii of Hokuriku” by locals for its crystal clear waters, and is a popular place to go diving.