The small town of Awara Onsen あわら温泉 in Fukui Prefecture itself does not have a lot to offer the visiting tourist, though there is a train station, restaurant, and some stores. Close by are some amusement parks and golf courses.
Awara Onsen rabbit (photo: taiweihsu/flickr)
The real appeal is the hot spring water which is said to have many medicinal values such as helping with rheumatism, dermatitis, neuralgia, gastric problems, and other conditions.
Enjoy a soak in one of the many onsen hot spring baths located throughout the town. Hotels have private pools, but many of them are open to the public for a fee for day use. Apparently geisha parties with Awara geisha are famous in Japan but the chance of a tourist being invited is pretty low so don’t get your hopes up!
Recently an area known as Yukemuri Yokocho (Bath Steam Alley) was built in Awara Onsen near the Awara Onsen Station and has a nice variety of small restaurants and bars serving everything from yakitori to ramen.
Awara Onsen, located in the north-west corner of Fukui, is 30 minutes by train from Fukui City and is accessible by two train lines. The JR Hokuriku Line on which you can use the JR Pass, stops at Awara Onsen station but is not that close to the center of the town. The Echizen Line stops at Awara Yunomachi station in the middle of town and is most convenient. Many of the hotels in the area provide pick up and drop off service to the train station if arranged in advance.
Awara Onsen Golf (photo: takamorry/flickr)
Consider a visit with a complete plan including time in the onsen and a meal after your bath for a refreshing addition to a tour in Fukui.
There is a website listing hotels in the town, but the information is in Japanese: http://awara-onsen.net/index.html
