Tojinbo
Family-Friendly Hotels near Tojinbo: Sea Cliffs and Awara Hot Springs
Take in dramatic cliffs and Awara's hot spring waters at a family pace
When you start looking for a family hotel around Tojinbo, it is hard to know which base will let you get around without wearing everyone out. You want your children to see the cliffs, but walking for hours with a little one is not realistic, and the wind off the sea chills small bodies faster than you expect. That is why the way to approach this area is to keep daytime sightseeing short and plan on a long, relaxed stay at your hotel.
Tojinbo is a scenic landmark known throughout Japan for its columnar cliffs, carved out by the rough waves of the Sea of Japan. Some stretches of the rocky headland have no railings, so the family-friendly approach is to walk only as far as you comfortably can while holding your child's hand, and to take in the rest from a sightseeing boat or a higher vantage point. Nearby you will find the old port townscape of Mikuni, Echizen Matsushima, and Tojinbo Tower, all close enough together that half a day is plenty to see them.
Seen from the lodging side, the real strength of this area is how close it sits to hot spring country. Awara Onsen, one of the leading hot spring towns of the Hokuriku region, is a short drive away, and there are also hotels dotted along the coast in Mikuni. This area features 10 hotels, of which 10 have Japanese-style or Japanese Western-style rooms. A room where you can lay futons out on tatami mats is the single most reassuring option for families at the stage when you worry about rolling over in the night or falling out of bed.
There are choices when it comes to meals and baths as well. 6 hotels can accommodate food allergies and 5 offer toddler meal menus, including Kyukamura Echizen-Mikuni, Awara Onsen Grandia Housen, Kofuyupo Beniya, and Matsuya Sensen. If you have a baby who is not ready for the large communal bath yet, the 5 hotels with an in-room bath or a private open-air bath are the practical answer, and 4 hotels such as Tojinbo Onsen Mikuni Ocean Resort & Hotel have simple spring water, the type generally considered gentle enough for babies. If play space matters most, look at the kids' rooms at Oedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Seiunkaku and Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Awara, or the outdoor playground and adventure course at Kyukamura Echizen-Mikuni.
Fukui Prefecture also includes areas such as Awara Onsen and Fukui City, and the Tojinbo area sits in a position that lets you link them together on one trip. For a family that wants both coastal scenery and a hot spring in a single overnight stay, it is a destination of just the right size.
Highlights
- checkDramatic cliff scenery you can enjoy in a short visit
- checkAwara Onsen's celebrated hot spring waters close by
- checkMostly Japanese-style rooms, reassuring with a baby
Family-friendly features in Tojinbo
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Recommended hotels (10)

Awara Onsen Grandia Housen

Kyukamura Echizen-Mikuni

Awara Onsen Kofuyupo Beniya

Oedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Seiunkaku

Mikuni Inkyojo

Matsuya Sensen

Mikuni Ocean Resort & Hotel

Takasusou

Awara Kitagata Onsen Kohanso Hanayurari

Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Awara
Nearby attractions
Tojinbo
Echizen Matsushima
Mikuni Port
Awara Onsen
Tojinbo Tower
Oshima Island
Travel tips
The rocks at Tojinbo are uneven and some sections have no railings, so a baby carrier is often easier to manage than a stroller. The sea breeze makes it feel colder than it is, so bring a layer to throw on whatever the season. Keeping sightseeing to a short block in the morning or late afternoon and spending the rest of the time at your hotel lets you stay on your child's rhythm.
Best season
Spring through early summer, and again in early autumn, are when the waves are calm and the weather is most comfortable. Summer brings strong sun along the coast, and winter brings the powerful winds and snow typical of the Sea of Japan side, which makes footing poor, so the warmer seasons are easier going with small children. The area is known for beautiful sunsets over the Sea of Japan, but what you actually see depends heavily on the weather, so treat it as a rough guide rather than a promise.
Getting there
Coming from the Kansai or Chukyo regions, most families drive via the expressway, and the Hokuriku Shinkansen is another option. Tojinbo, Mikuni, and Awara Onsen are all clustered within easy reach of one another, but public transportation does not run as frequently as in the big cities. Given how much luggage you end up carrying with children, planning around a car, including a rental, will take a great deal of stress out of getting around.
Frequently Asked Questions
From what age can children enjoy Tojinbo?
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The cliffs themselves are a place to look at scenery, so visitors of any age can go. That said, the rocks are uneven and some sections have no railings, so with a child old enough to wander off on their own, holding hands is a given. If your child is still unsteady on their feet, viewing the cliffs from a sightseeing boat or a higher lookout is the more relaxed way to enjoy them.
Which hotels suit families traveling with a baby?
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If your baby is not ready for the large communal bath, the 5 hotels with an in-room bath or a private open-air bath are the practical choice. There are also 4 hotels with simple spring water. Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Awara, which can accommodate bathing in a baby tub, and Kyukamura Echizen-Mikuni, which has a baby changing bed in the changing room, are other options.
Is it inconvenient without a car?
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Tojinbo, Mikuni, and Awara Onsen are all close to one another, but public transportation does not run as frequently as in the big cities. Some hotels offer a shuttle service, so it is worth asking when you book. Given how much luggage grows when you travel with children, planning around a car gives your itinerary a lot more breathing room.
What can we do on a rainy day?
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The footing around the cliffs gets slippery, so on a rainy day the realistic move is to skip the outing and plan on staying at your hotel. Oedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Seiunkaku and Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Awara have kids' rooms and play rooms where children can move around indoors. Hotels that serve meals in your room or in a private dining room also make for a calm day.
Can we stay if someone has a food allergy?
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6 hotels can accommodate food allergies, including Kyukamura Echizen-Mikuni, Grandia Housen, Kofuyupo Beniya, Matsuya Sensen, and Mikuni Ocean Resort & Hotel. What each hotel can handle differs, so the surest approach is to name the specific ingredients when you book and discuss it with them.