Kehi no Matsubara

Pine forest on the coast of Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture, listed as one of Japan's three great pine groves. Over 17,000 pines cover roughly 35 hectares along a sandy stretch of coast, and paths through the trees run between the road and the beach. The contrast of the dark trunks against pale sand and sea is sharp, particularly in morning light. A small section of beach is open for swimming in summer, and the forest provides shade for walking even on hot days. The grove has been maintained since the 8th century and is closely connected to the Kehi Shrine located at the far end.