#92 Extension of Hokuriku Shinkansen
A potential trigger for travelers from overseas to head to Hokuriku.
Some travelers may think that the Shinkansen network in Japan is almost complete, with major Tokaido, Sanyo, and the Tohoku Shinkansen in operation. However, some lines are still under construction, such as the Chuo Shinkansen, which uses linear motor cars, and Hokkaido Shinkansen. On the 16th of March, the Hokuriku Shinkansen will be extended from Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture to Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture for the first time in nine years. Although the line from Kanazawa to Tsuruga is only 115 kilometers, this is a significant change for the local economy of Fukui Prefecture. It will bring Fukui Prefecture, which has yet to attract much attention from foreign tourists, much closer to them. This week, I look back at the start of the construction of the Shinkansen and consider how the behavior of foreign travelers may change in this region.
Shinkansen Under Construction
For travelers from overseas, the "Shinkansen" is the Tokaido Shinkansen leading to Kyoto and Osaka, but the Shinkansen network is extensive and relatively well-developed. The Shinkansen network connects Hakodate in Hokkaido in the north to Kagoshima in the south. When the currently planned 200-kilometer stretch from Hakodate to Sapporo is completed, the Shinkansen network will run across the Japanese archipelago from Sapporo to Kagoshima.
Other Shinkansen lines currently under construction include the Chuo Shinkansen, which will connect the Shinagawa terminal in Tokyo to Nagoya via linear motor car through the mountainous central region of Japan. When completed, this line will significantly shorten the time from Shinagawa to Nagoya to 40 minutes, less than half the current time. However, completion by 2027 is doubtful because the line runs underground in the Chubu mountainous region, and some local governments are opposed to the project due to environmental and other concerns.
Amidst all this, the 116-km Hokuriku Shinkansen line will open this Saturday, March 16, from Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture to Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture. The extension from Kanazawa to Tsuruga is the first time in nine years since the completion of Tokyo to Kanazawa. The line will be completed when it connects Tsuruga to Shin-Osaka. However, the environmental assessment of the Tsuruga to Shin-Osaka section still needs to be completed, so it is still being determined when construction will begin.
Japan's first Tokaido Shinkansen line was completed in 1964, the year of the first Tokyo Olympics, and this year marks exactly 60 years since its opening. At that time, Japan was in a period of rapid economic growth, and the population continued to increase. Hence, the Shinkansen became one of the symbols of Japan's economic development, and the Shinkansen network continued to expand. There are various plans to develop the Shinkansen network further, but there is much uncertainty as to how far the expansion will continue. Many sections still need to be constructed, such as the Tsuruga-Shin-Osaka section I mentioned earlier, and many others that may remain in the planning stages throughout Japan. The gap between the construction of new infrastructure and the actual situation should become a significant issue in Japan, where the population will decline.
Impact of Hokuriku Shinkansen Extension
According to a forecast compiled by DBJ = Development Bank of Japan in 2019, the economic impact of the Tsuruga Shinkansen extension is approximately 19.1 billion yen, including 9.1 billion yen from business and 10 billion yen from tourism. The total secondary effects, including the creation of jobs, are estimated at 30.9 billion yen. A similar trend occurred nine years ago when the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened to Kanazawa, bringing in 67.8 billion yen, far exceeding initial estimates. In both cases, the shortening of travel time created a new flow of people, leading to new consumption opportunities. And in the case of Kanazawa, it goes without saying that inbound travelers from overseas made a significant contribution. For these reasons, the extension of the Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Tsuruga carries great local expectations, including the need to respond to inbound travelers from overseas.
The Attraction of Fukui Prefecture to Foreign Tourists
In addition to extending Hokuriku Shinkansen, I would like to introduce you to distinguished places of interest in Fukui prefecture.
Castle in the Sky:
Mountains on all sides surround the Ono Basin. Echizen-Ono Castle is a flat mountain castle perched on Kameyama (elevation: 249 m) in the center of Ono City. The castle town spreads out at the foot of the mountain, and "Castle in the Sky: Echizen-Ono Castle" appears on days when the castle town is shrouded in a sea of clouds, and only the castle appears to float in the sky. (The following video is quoted from Ono Castle HP)
The Castle in the Sky appears about ten times a year from October to April of the following year, and you must be fortunate to encounter this fantastic view. It seems only from dawn to around 9:00 a.m. on days when weather conditions such as high humidity, cold temperatures, and light winds meet on the previous day. This spectacular view is best viewed from the bottom of Minamidegamaru at the Inuyama Castle ruins, about 1 km west of Echizen-Ono Castle. The castle is closed from December to March.
Eiheiji Temple is the head temple of the Soto sect of Buddhism and was founded by Dogen, who returned from the "Sung Dynasty" nearly 800 years ago. Even today, more than 100 ascetic monks are still practicing severe asceticism day and night on the slopes of the mountain, far from the secular world. If you want to experience the heart of Zen in depth, an ascetic practice experience is recommended. At Eiheiji Temple, in addition to participating in morning classes held early in the morning, you can experience "zazen experience" (no reservation required, about one hour) or "overnight zazen" (reservation required), which is a two-day and one-night zazen-centered Zen training program. If you have a chance to visit Fukui, please give it a try.
Katsuyama Geo-park:
Dinosaurs flourished for about 160 million years during the Mesozoic Era, from about 230 million to 66 million years ago. In Fukui Prefecture, the Tetori Group, a geological formation dating from the Jurassic to Cretaceous periods when dinosaurs flourished, is distributed. The Tetori Group has undergone crustal deformation and is distributed throughout Fukui Prefecture and the surrounding area, including Toyama, Ishikawa, and Gifu prefectures. Many fossils of plants, shells, and dinosaurs dating back more than 100 million years have been found here. In particular, you can find many dinosaur fossils in the Tedori Formation near the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum.
For this reason, the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum in Katsuyama has many fascinating exhibits. Near the museum is a field site where Japan's most significant dinosaur fossil is also located.
Echizen Crab
Crabs are eaten worldwide, but Japanese people's love for crabs is noteworthy, especially since Japanese people eat crabs as sashimi. The taste is sweet and melts in the mouth. Echizen crab is the king crab that is available in Japan. Echizen crabs are male crabs that landed in Fukui Prefecture. The female crabs that also landed in Fukui Prefecture are called "Seiko crabs," which have many eggs and are one size smaller than the males. Fukui locals prefer to eat Seiko crabs. The fishing season for Echizen crabs is strictly fixed from November 6 to March 20, and there are only ten days left. Winter in Fukui Prefecture is windy and snowy, and sunny days are few and far between, but eating crab is one of the best parts of the season.
Fukui Prefecture has been a bottleneck because of its accessibility. It has attracted a different amount of attention than other prefectures, with bullet train lines as a travel destination for Japanese tourists. However, there are many places where repeat foreign visitors can have valuable experiences, such as fresh seafood and Eiheiji Temple, which is a perfect place to learn about the spirit of Zen.
If you have time to spare, you can travel from Tokyo to Kansai via the three Hokuriku prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui. If you are a Japanese connoisseur, visiting this region is a viable option.
On January 1, a massive earthquake hit the Hokuriku region, centered on the Noto Peninsula. I sincerely hope for a speedy recovery and a return to normality in the affected areas.