#Eda85daysinJapan | Chapter 4 (Hokuriku) | Day Trip from Kanazawa – Tojinbo, Maruoka Castle & Eiheiji

🗓️ 30 May 2026
📍 Tojinbo, Maruoka Castle, Eiheiji

Another day trip by bus, this time into Fukui. Took the Echizen Meguri Bus Tour from Kanazawa Station — Tojinbo, Maruoka Castle and Eiheiji in one go. Leaves from the Kenrokuen gate around 9:20, back around 18:35.

Tojinbo first. Sea cliffs on the Japan Sea. The rocks are these columnar joints — pentagonal and hexagonal pillars, from lava that cooled about 12–13 million years ago. This kind of shape at this size only exists in three places in the world. To me they looked a bit like dinosaur footprints, haha. There’s even a rock nicknamed Tyra-bō after Tyrannosaurus. Named after a monk who, according to the legend, was thrown into the sea here. About an hour. It’s also known as a place people come when they’re in a really dark place, and someone is stationed there to talk to them.

Maruoka Castle next. One of Japan’s oldest castle towers, built in 1576. They call it Kasumiga-jo, the hazy castle, because of the cherry blossoms in spring. When we went it was under renovation so we didn’t spend much time. We rested at the tourist centre instead, which was quite nice in design. The main keep is covered in scaffolding until around late 2027.

Eiheiji last. Soto Zen head temple, founded by Dogen in 1244. Still an active training monastery — monks are training there every day. About 70 halls and towers. It was HUGE. I wish we had more time to explore. Admission included in the tour.

Three different sides of Fukui — cliffs, castle, Zen temple — one bus.