Fukui
Location: On the Sea of Japan side of Honshu Island, Japan's largest island, Fukui is just north of Kyoto.
Look out for: The 1576 Maruoka Castle can be found in Sakai. Echizen excels in crafts such as paper-making, tansu (wooden chests), and superb cuisine knives. Fukui is also home to the famous Soto Zen temple, Eihei-ji.
Food to try: Echizen Oroshi soba features stone-ground buckwheat noodles slightly wider and flatter than usual, and topped with karami daikon (pungent giant radish with a kick). Echizen crab is a buttery and meaty treat not to be missed. Soy sauce katsudon, or deep-fried pork cutlet topped with a Worchestershire-based sauce and placed on a bed of hot rice is also a filling treat.
Tips: Though the Shinkansen will stop in Fukui by 2024, access even now, via the Thunderbird train from Kyoto, is easy.