Fukui City's Morita district is revitalized by the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, a "walkable town" popular with families raising children

The Hokuriku Shinkansen, which passes through Kanazawa from Tokyo, enters Fukui City just before the approximately 400-meter-long bridge spanning the Kuzuryu River. The scenery changes from fields to residential areas.

The Morita area just north of the river is rapidly growing in population. Ten years ago there were more than 13,000 people, but now there are nearly 17,000 people. According to the Fukui Prefecture Real Estate Appraisers Association, demand is growing for housing for households with children in their 30s and 40s, as well as households with two working parents without children. A new junior high school will be built in April, and an elementary school will be built next spring.

In Fukui, people commute by car, go to the hospital, and shop by car, and it is said that ``one car per person'' is required, but Morita does not have a large shopping center that symbolizes the car society. However, there are many supermarkets, drug stores, clinics, beauty salons, etc. within walking distance.

A 45-year-old woman who moved from the city center last fall to live with her husband and two children, ages 6 and 3, chose to commute by train because of rising gasoline prices and maintenance costs. It takes 6 minutes from Morita Station, which is a 10-minute walk, to Fukui Station, which is one stop away. Being shaken by a two-car train.

People go to the station even on holidays. There are also relaxing cafes in the surrounding area. My family and I sometimes take the train to Fukui Station for fun. "It's a city that's easy for our households to live in," he says.

the city ourselves

Morita Station is experiencing a rapid increase in the local population...