Amanohashidate in Japan. Photo courtesy of Kyoto by the Sea
When people think of Kyoto, they often imagine the city center, especially around Kyoto Station, home to a concentration of historical landmarks.
However, Kyoto is not limited to this urban core. Kyoto is much broader, akin to the relationship between New York City and New York State.
In addition to the bustling city of Kyoto, the entire Kyoto Prefecture, which includes Kyoto City, offers a wide range of attractions. One of the prime examples is Maizuru, often referred to as “Coastal Kyoto.”
In this article, a Japanese travel writer who has extensively toured the country introduces a different side of Kyoto, which contrasts with the over-tourism currently overwhelming the city’s popular destinations.
A Broader Definition of Kyoto
As mentioned earlier, when most people think of Kyoto, they likely picture the historic buildings around JR Kyoto Station, nestled in a basin surrounded by mountains. However, Kyoto refers not just to the city but to a much larger area: Kyoto Prefecture.
For example, heading north from Kyoto City, across the mountains, you’ll find “Coastal Kyoto,” which stretches along the Japan Sea coast.
This area is home to Maizuru, a scenic spot known for its natural beauty, including a sawtooth-shaped coastline designated as part of the Wakasa Bay Quasi-National Park.
Maizuru has long been a prosperous port town due to its natural harbors, and it remains a key location in the region.
This unique place also has a fascinating history. About 450 years ago, the samurai warlord Hosokawa Fujitaka built a castle here. Over the years, the town developed as a merchant port and later became a military port with the establishment of various naval facilities.
Many red brick buildings constructed as storage warehouses for military supplies during the Meiji era (1868 to 1912) are now designated as Important Cultural Properties and serve as a popular tourist site called Maizuru Red Brick Park.
Today, Maizuru is also known as a ferry hub connecting to Otaru in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. I remember taking the ferry from Hokkaido to Maizuru, a journey that left a lasting impression on me.
Your Guide to Travel in Japan
Exploring Maizuru: A Day Trip from Kyoto
One of the must-see spots in Maizuru is the old and new Yoshiwara districts in the western part of the city. These districts have long been home to fishermen, and the waterways (inlets) running through the town were historically used to help them reach the sea.
The town layout, which was reorganized during the Edo period (from 1603 to 1868), features neatly lined townhouses along the canals, creating a scene that has earned the area the nickname “the Venice of the East.”
Today, while the town is facing depopulation and an aging fisher population, the tranquil and nostalgic scenery along the water evokes a sense of old Japan, reminiscent of life during the Edo period (from 1603 to 1868).
When visiting Yoshiwara, take a stroll and capture the picturesque scenes. The area’s bridges—such as the Minatsuki Bridge over the Yoshiwara Inlet and the Yamato Bridge over the Isazu River—offer diverse views perfect for beautiful selfies and landscape photos.
Soak Up the Culture at a Communal Bath
Additionally, you should try visiting two historic communal baths in the area, Hinode-yu and Waka-no-yu. They are both registered as Important Cultural Properties.
Established in 1920, Hinode-yu is located in Yoshiwara near the inlet. While not a hot spring, it offers a refreshing bath in water heated to a pleasant temperature from a well.
Similarly, Waka-no-yu, another communal bath located a 20-minute walk from Hinode-yu, is also highly regarded. Built in 1903, this bath uses the nearby pure water from Manai Spring.
Although it may be difficult to visit both baths on a day trip from Kyoto City, Maizuru offers several hotels, such as Hotel Route-Inn Kyoto Maizuru and Maizuru Grand Hotel, where you can stay overnight.
Avoiding the crowds of Kyoto, you could enjoy a relaxing one-night trip to Maizuru, including visits to these two baths, making for a truly luxurious experience.
Old Yoshiwara also retains rustic and flavorful shopping arcades, including the Hirano-ya and Manai shopping streets, where you can take in the nostalgic, exotic atmosphere of a traditional Japanese shopping district.
Many visitors can enjoy strolling through these arcades, feeling as if they’ve stepped back in time.
If you stay in Maizuru, take time to savor local seafood and sake, such as Ikekumo and Kasa Ichiyo from Ikeda Syuzou Sake Brewery. Sake varieties include ginjo (premium) sake, which has fruity and refreshing aromas, and junmai sake, which retains the rice’s richness and umami.
Enjoy pairing these sakes with fresh local seafood. They also pair well with the famous local kamaboko, a Japanese fish cake made from fish paste.
If you have the time during your stay, incorporating local sake and food into your itinerary would make for a memorable experience.
How to Get to Maizuru
To reach the western Maizuru district, you can take the train or rent a car. Maizuru is also close to another highlight of “Coastal Kyoto”—Amanohashidate.
For a scenic drive, you can rent a car in Kyoto City and drive to Maizuru and Amanohashidate. Alternatively, take the train to Maizuru and then enjoy a drive along the coast to Amanohashidate.
Below are the main transportation options from Kyoto City to Maizuru.
By Train:
- From Kyoto Station to Nishimaizuru Station (Main Route):
- Limited Express “Maizuru” (Direct):
- Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes
- Fare: ¥1,690 (train ticket) + ¥1,530 (limited express surcharge) = Total ¥3,220
- Frequency: About 8 trains per day (every 1-2 hours)
- Local Train (with Transfers):
- Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 22 minutes
- Fare: ¥1,690
- Transfers: 1-2 transfers
- Limited Express “Maizuru” (Direct):
By Car (Rental):
- Via Route 9:
- Distance: 80–90 km
- Duration: 1.5–2 hours
- Route: Head north from Kyoto City along Route 9, passing through Nagaokakyo, Kameoka, and Nanjo to Maizuru. The journey offers stunning views through the mountainous areas.
Inspire your next adventure with our articles below:
Author Bio: Masayoshi Sakamoto is a Japanese writer, translator, and editor living in Toyama, Japan. He is the editor-in-chief of a local magazine, Hokuroku, and was the chief editor of a popular digital business magazine based in Tokyo, bizSPA!.
Want to discover more hidden gems and helpful travel tips? Join our free newsletter for the latest travel secrets and travel articles.
We are reader-supported and may earn a commission on purchases made through links in this article.
Go World Travel Magazine is a digital magazine for world travelers. Our editorial content is produced by a dedicated team of travel journalists who know the regions they cover. We cover travel in more than 90 countries.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments);
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,’script’,
‘
fbq(‘init’, ‘508388611737401’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
