Fukui

Roads connect various areas on Asuwayama, making an interesting park near Fukui station. The park is walkable, though all paths are roads so sometimes need to be careful with cars. The main attraction is the zoo, which is free to enter, though closed during winter based on the signage posted near the entrance. Lots to see and do not only the petting zoo, it has the shrines, temples, gardens, and the Natural History museum. Asuwayama Park is an excellent area, but you will need a car or bicycle to make the most of it, as it is large and spread out but if you are like me, everything will be done on foot. #givethanks #givethanks

A pleasant surprise in the city and a short walk from our hotel and the station. This small garden is a quiet place for a contemplative stroll around the pond. You can visit the feudal lord’s (reconstructed) villa overlooking the pond and take tea if you wish. The rooms in the villa are open to visitors. This is one of my favorite places in the city. I like taking a stroll in the garden, sitting in the villa watching the koi or reading a book, or having quiet conversations with friends. You can also participate in tea ceremonies here on weekends. Besides being a beautiful garden and villa, this place has an interesting history. There are English-speaking local guides on weekends, so if you get a chance, try to talk to one of them because they have stories to tell. #givethanks #givethanks

Not easy to get to but well worth the trip if you are into Japanese history and can speak and understand a even a little Japanese. This is the site of a castletown that flourished deep in the mountains and nothing remained. Now there are a number of reconstructed residences and a large portion of the site has been excavated showing pillars, walls, wells, and so forth. A small museum has relics of medieval life. There is a small waterfall called 'Ichijo-daki' deep in the woods, about 3 km from Ichijodani Asakura Ruins. It is quite small waterfalls compared to other waterfalls I’ve visited but definitely worth a visit. #givethanks #givethanks