Lotus Heaven in Fukui

Fukui's Minami-Echizen is home to one of the most beautiful collections of lotus that you will ever see. The hotel Somayama, which borders the Hanahasu Lotus Park, is a great place to stay if you want to take photos in the light of dusk, and then again in the early morning. I did both and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Although a busload of photographer-tourists showed up at around 7 a.m., this place is so large that I hardly noticed them. Mid-July to early August is the best time to go, when most of the lotus are in full bloom. The nearest station is Nanjo Station, on the JR Hokuriku Line.