Part 3 of
the series: Satoyama Concept in Fukui
From the top
of Mt. Baijō (梅丈岳), 395 meters about sea level, one has scenic views of
Wakasa Bay to the north, and the lakes of Mikatagoko to the south and east. To get to the summit from the parking lot,
daring travellers can take an open chairlift (no belts!!). Those with a fear of heights may prefer the
comfort of the closed funicular.
The views
were truly spectacular. One particularly
impressive sight was a recent landslide near Hotel Suigekka (see top photo) which had destroyed
an orchard that was tucked into a narrow valley. There
are many orchards in the Mikatagoko region which is famous for its plums.
There is an
eclectic assortment of things for tourists on the peak including small shrines,
picnic tables, padlocks for making wishes (like that famous bridge in Paris), and a play area for children
(including a giant beetle for the children to climb on!). Although I found the mountaintop a bit
cluttered, one really must see the views from Mt. Baijō in order to understand
the unique geography of this region squeezed between the lakes and the sea.
Websites: Mikatagoko Rainbow Line
(JP), Travel
Around Japan (EN)
