Maizuru-Wakasa Highway, which connects Chugoku Highway’s Yoshikawa Junction with Hokuriku Highway’s Tsuruga Junction, was fully opened in July 2014. Together with its opening, a special “Maizuru-Wakasa Route Opening Drive Plan” was introduced for holders of ETC cards (electronic tolls). It is a really good-value plan that lets you drive as much as you want for a fixed amount in a designated area! How about touring around Fukui prefecture using the newly open route and this drive plan?
Kita-Kinki’s wide area network is complete!
On July 20, 2014, the final section of Maizuru-Wakasa Route between Obama IC and Tsuruga IC was opened. With that the entire route from Yoshikawa Junction to Tsuruga Junction stretching nearly 160 kilometers was finally fully opened. The wide area network encompassing Kinki, Tokai and Hokuriku regions was completed by connecting Chugoku, Meishin and Hokuriku Highways.
Before the opening of the new route, Reinan area in Fukui prefecture did not have highways and was not very convenient to drive especially between Tsuruga and Obama cities. It is expected that tourism will also flourish with the new route. I will now introduce a good-value drive plan for that area.
If you don’t use it, you lose! Maizuru-Wakasa Route Opening Drive Plan
The special drive plan, which lets you drive as much as you want for a fixed amount in a designated area, was offered for the opening of the new route and is available only between July 20 and November 30, 2014. The plan is especially good for July, when the toll rates can drop down with 30% during the holidays. If you don’t take advantage of it, you lose!
There are two courses in the drive plan. 2-day ride only inside Fukui prefecture is 3500 JPY for a standard size car. That includes the section between Ooi-Takahama IC and Tsuruga Junction, with a link to Kanazu IC. Inside this area of Fukui prefecture you can drive as much as you want.
The other course is a 3-day one, linking Fukui, Kyoto and Shiga prefectures. It is pretty wide and includes the sections from Kyoto Jukan Highway’s Shino IC to Yosa-Amanohashidate IC, Maizuru-Wakasa Highway’s Fukuchiyama IC to Tsuruga Junction, and Meishin Highway’s Ritto IC to Hokuriku Highway’s Kanazu IC. 3-days of unlimited drive in this area costs 5000 JPY for a standard size car.
Either of those plans is good for people who want to travel around Fukui prefecture! Check for more details about “Maizuru-Wakasa Route Opening Drive Plan” in the link below.
Things to see around Obama IC
Let’s first start around Obama IC. In ancient times Obama city used to supply the imperial court with food ingredients, and was thus known was “Mitsukekuni” (the food province), holding a central place in the old Wakasa province. It was the starting point of the “mackerel road” connecting Kyoto with Fukui, as this area was especially rich in seafood. Particularly famous was the Wakasa fugu fish, and this was also the northernmost area to catch fugu. Other popular brand products were Wakasa tilefish and Wakasa flounder, so it is definitely a place worth enjoying seafood!
Also, there are some villages with well-known clear water around Obama city. Both “Unose” in Obama and “Uriwari no taki” in Wakasa town have been included in Meisui-Hyakusen (a selected list of Japan’s 100 best water spots), and are easily accessible near Obama IC. It takes only 10 minutes by car to go from one to another, making this area unique in Japan for having two famous water spots located so close to each other! One of the specialties of Obama is confectionary using the area’s clear water, so be sure to taste the local products.
Things to see around Wakasa-Mikata IC
The best spot for driving around Wakasa-Mikata IC is Mikata Goko Rainbow Line.
Lakes Mikatako, Suigetsuko, Sugako, Kugushiko and Hirugako are widely known as Mikata’s Five Lakes. They are famous scenic spots, part of Wakasa Bay Quasi-National Park, and are also registered under the Ramsar Convention. Each of the lakes has different water – fresh, seawater, brackish water – and that results in their different colors.
You can drive around the green hills of Mikata’s Five Lakes, or you can drive to the top of the mountain park through the special route “Mikata Goko Rainbow Line” and enjoy the splendid panorama view. In fact, right now together with the new drive plan, the toll fee for Rainbow Line has been reduced by 50%! Usually accessible for 1040 JPY, it is only 520 JPY now! This great-value campaign is also available until November 30.
Things to see around Tsuruga IC
Tsuruga city is the center of Fukui prefecture’s Reinan area. I will introduce some highlights around Tsuruga IC. The city has a port which served a main role for the trading ships crossing Japan Sea during the Edo period. There are many interesting sightseeing spots such as Kehinomatsubara, one of Japan’s three famous pine groves; Kehi Jingu shrine, which enshrines Hokuriku region’s main deity; Kanegasaki remains, famous as an escape point during the Sengoku period wars, and others.
Of course, the city is blessed with seafood too, so you can also find Japan Sea’s biggest fish market “Nihonkai Sakanagai”, very famous as a shopping and gourmet spot. In the winter many visitors come to Tsuruga to try the local delicacy Echizen crab.
Important points about the drive plan
The Maizuru-Wakasa Route Opening Drive Plan that I introduced here is only available to holders of ETC cards. Remember that you cannot use the plan if you do not have ETC installed in your car. Also, you need to apply for this plan at least one day in advance only through the Internet. You cannot apply by phone or a postcard.
There are also other good-value driving plans around the country! Those of you who restrained themselves from too much driving because of the high ETC toll rates should check the various plans offered by NEXCO’s branch companies. If you use them smartly, you might even travel more than before! They are perfectly suitable also for day trips, so be sure to try them!
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