Auberge Homachi Mikuniminato

Mikuniminato is the old name for the area around today’s Mikuni Port in Mikuni-cho, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture. Flourishing as a port and castle town since ancient times, it is a place on the coast of the Sea of Japan with a rich history where traditional crafts can be enjoyed and has many delicious foods, including Echizen crab, soba noodles, and rice. During the Edo and Meiji periods, Mikuniminato also prospered as a port town where kitamae-bune* ships stopped, and many old buildings still remain today, creating a retro atmosphere and attracting many tourists as a place where one can learn about the culture and history of the time. *Kitamae-bune means “northbound ship” in Japanese and refers to merchant ships that sailed along the coast of the Sea of Japan during the Edo and Meiji periods. The route ran from Osaka through the Seto Inland Sea, through the Kanmon Strait between the prefectures of Yamaguchi and Fukuoka, and up the Sea of Japan coast to Hokkaido. Mikuniminato was one of the ports where these ships stopped.

Auberge Homachi Mikuniminato is an accommodation facility located near Mikuni Port, using renovated townhouses to offer 16 guest rooms in nine buildings. The oldest building dates back to around 1800, while the newest was built around 1960. These townhouses welcome guests as a decentralized auberge. The buildings showcase the region’s unique architectural style, making use—as much as possible—of the original pillars and beams as well as the traditional furniture and furnishings. The website features photos of each room, allowing reservations to be made based on individual preferences and the number of guests. Please note that the front desk is located in a different location from the accommodation buildings. The address listed here is for the front desk.

As its name suggests, Auberge Homachi Mikuniminato is an auberge, so guests can also indulge in its meals. The restaurant on-site is named Tateru Yoshino Mikuniminato. It is produced by Tateru Yoshino, who trained at Joël Robuchon’s Jamin in Paris as well as numerous other French restaurants and has earned Michelin stars in both France and Japan. He is a master of French cuisine in Japan and was awarded the title of Knight in the Order of Agricultural Merit or “Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole” by the French government. A variety of dishes—made with Fukui Prefecture’s brand Wagyu beef “Wakasa Beef,” fresh fish landed at Mikuni Port, and fresh local vegetables—can be leisurely enjoyed with wine.

There are many attractions nearby, including the historic Mikuni-jinja Shrine, Takidan-ji Temple, and the scenic Tojinbo Cliffs. The guided tour around the town where visitors can meet the local people, and experiencing shamisen playing, making paper lanterns and visiting a bonsai nursery are also popular activities.

If you are taking the Hokuriku Shinkansen, there is a shuttle service between the auberge and Awara-onsen Station, the closest Shinkansen station. Please let the auberge know your arrival time in advance. If you are arriving from Fukui City, please alight at Mikuni Station on Echizen Railway’s Mikuni Awara Line. From there, it is about five minutes on foot to the building where the front desk is located.

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