熊川宿

Kumagawa-juku
Immerse yourself in traditional culture
and stunning national scenery!
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若狭熊川宿とは
about kumagawajuku

Kumagawa-juku developed as a post town and trade junction between the Wakasa region and Kyoto, the old capital of Japan. Since ancient times, Wakasa flourished through trade with mainland Asia and other regions, while also sending its own bountiful natural resources south to the capital, fulfilling the duties of a miketsukuni (“food province”) to provide food to the emperor’s court. The traditional townscape of Kumagawa-juku reflects the prosperity and liveliness of the town’s past and is an important historical resource of Fukui Prefecture.

Many travelers staying in Kumagawa-juku have discovered that time passes slowly here. Even now, people are still enchanted by the traditional culture and beautiful natural scenery that blessed this town.

Kumagawa-juku was designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1996 and a Japan Heritage Site in 2015.

若狭熊川宿
おでかけガイド
sightseeing guide

アクセス
access

BY CAR

FROM KYOTO, OSAKA, AND KOBE

Option 1
Kyoto-Higashi Interchange → Nishi-Otsu Bypass → Route 161 → Takashima (Shiga Prefecture) → Route 303 → Kumagawa-juku
(about 1 hour and 30 minutes)

Option 2
Northern Kyoto → north along Route 367 → Ohara → Tochu → Kutsuki → Hozaka → Route 303 → Kumagawa-juku
(about 1 hour)

FROM TOKYO AND NAGOYA

Option 1
Maihara Junction → Hokuriku Expressway toward Fukui → Kinomoto Interchange → Route 8 → Route 303 → Route 161 → Route 303 → Kumagawa-juku
(about 1 hour and 10 minutes)

Option 2
Maihara Junction → Hokuriku Expressway toward Fukui → Tsuruga Junction → Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway toward Obama → Wakasa-Mikata Interchange → Route 27 → Route 303 → Kumagawa-juku
(about 1 hour and 20 minutes)

FROM THE HOKURIKU REGION

Hokuriku Expressway → Tsuruga Junction → Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway toward Obama → Wakasa-Mikata Interchange → Route 27 → Route 303 → Kumagawa-juku
(about 50 minutes)
*If you plan to use a rental car, we recommend departing from Kyoto Station or Tsuruga.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

FROM TOKYO, NAGOYA, KYOTO, OSAKA, AND KOBE

Tokaido Shinkansen → Kyoto Station → JR Kosei Line → Omi-Imazu Station → JR Bus Jakko Line → Wakasa-Kumagawa Bus Stop
(about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Kyoto Station)

FROM THE HOKURIKU REGION

JR Hokuriku Main Line → Tsuruga Station → JR Obama Line → Kaminaka Station → JR Bus Jakko Line → Wakasa-Kumagawa Bus Stop
(about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Tsuruga Station)
*There are four JR Bus stops in Kumagawa-juku. You can pay the bus fare with cash or a prepaid IC card (all major IC cards, such as ICOCA, Suica, PASMO, etc., are accepted).

熊川宿の歴史と
まちづくり
history & community development