fukui
These fascinating structures are dotted all around Fukui, holding back the rocks. I estimate the size of each grid to be around 50cm squared. To be honest, they're rather unsightly. The natural folds in the mountainside are broken up by these structures, but they make for an interesting composition.
Read MoreThis is Part II of my two-part photo-journal related to a fieldwork trip in Fukui (Part I).
Previously, I described our journey from central Fukui towards the coast at Cape Echizen. It's not a popular tourist destination - there's not really "anything of interest" here. That's probably why I like the area so much. It's quite simply just a part of Japan far away from the neons, anime, and hustle-bustle of city life, or the pseudo theme-park of geisha, temples, and sushi.
Here's a map of the approximate route and its relation to Honshu:
When I left you last, we were facing a rather long, narrow tunnel which passed straight through the mountain to the other side. Upon entering the tunnel, I had to check I had the headlights on - I couldn't really see anything at all, as it took a good minute or two for my eyes to adjust to the complete darkness. Popping out of the other side, we were in for a treat...
There was a very small village in the narrow valley. Just a few small clouds were scattered overhead.
Slipping down
I always love a bit of rust
Over the next 20 minutes, we were subjected to strong winds, rain, sleet, snow, and hail. The works! However, once we reached the coast, we caught another break between the clouds.
日本海 ｜ The Sea of Japan
See the rain in the not-too-far distance, with the sun bursting through?
I'm impressed with the new FE 55/1,8 Sonnar lens
Less than 2km from the coast, there's ~50cm of snow covering the ground. At the coast, it felt almost like spring - if it weren't for the biting cold wind.
Rain coming!
We'd reached our destination, and got to work. I still have a few photos to show from the trip, but this concludes Part II.
I hope you enjoyed the ride through the cold mountains, preferably from the comfort of a nice warm room.
Every time I've visited Echizen Province 「越前国」there's been some kind of precipitation. The region is fairly central to the main island of Honshu, north of Kyoto. There are no bullet trains going directly to the area, so one must change first at Maibara 「米原駅」to a more local train.
Out of the window of the Hikari bullet train
Due to the rather extreme topography of the region, there's something of a microclimate in Fukui. The mountains separate the land into different blocks, which may have their own weather system at any given moment. This made for a rather adventurous voyage from central Fukui to the coast at Cape Echizen 「越前岬」, our final destination.
Rather you than me
After collecting the hire car, we decided to escape the central city area with its generic eateries, and take our chances finding something more "local" and hopefully a little more authentic. We were in luck. We found an interesting looking Soba place - an extremely old building covered in melting snow.
Some light reading during lunch
After wolfing down our soba noodles, we hit the road. Cutting through the narrow mountain roads, covered in snow, was really very good practice for my drifting, erm... I mean driving, skills.
The little Nissan March did rather well
We experienced hail, snow, rain... and clear blue skies on our journey to the coast.
At our highest elevation, the view was quite magnificent.
We had driven over an hour from Fukui city, and only had to cross one final mountain before reaching the our goal...
Can't go over it, can't go around it...
Fukui and the Sea of Japan | RX1 | 1/50s f/8.0 ISO100 35mm
The coastline around Fukui-prefecture is characterised by jagged metamorphic rock (of which I took a photo last year), and the vast expanse of the Sea of Japan (日本海). Though it was actually raining (I think it is always raining in Fukui) quite hard, the sun was also shining quite brilliantly through the clouds, giving the sea an amazing blue. I stopped the car half-way up the mountain road, and took this snap.
I was high up in the cold and steamy mountains.
I've spent the last couple of days in Fukui prefecture (where this shot was taken), undertaking repairs for work. I'm pretty tired after hours of travelling following a long day of manual labour, but everything is working as it should, so I can sleep peacefully.