Mitsuru Sasaki demonstrates the proper etiquette for finishing a bowl of soba. Slurping is mandatory.
In Fukui we stayed at the Route Inn, a fairly basic business hotel located next to the train station in the downtown
area. We explored the castle ruins and then sauntered around the historic and celebrated Yokokan Garden with its
pictureqsue teahouse and Koi pond. For dinner we ate Akiyoshi Yakatori, a very crowded, noisy, fun, friendly chain
restaurant that serves pretty good yakitori—and is literally across the street from the hotel.
th
Fukui City’s Yokokan Garden was the home of the Matsudaira Clan in the 17 century. The website
fuku-e.com notes that “The graceful shoin-style building and the magnificent garden are great examples of
Edo Period garden architecture”. It goes on to note “the affinity between the building and the water, the
beauty of its irrigation, and the view of the pond from inside the building”.