Fukui

Fukui gets a lot of snow in winter, and winds can be strong by the sea, so it is best to allow extra travel time.

Fukui Prefecture is located in Japan’s Hokuriku region and has a relatively quiet travel atmosphere. Here you can see the dramatic landforms along the Sea of Japan, Zen temples, moss-covered shrine ruins, and a well-known dinosaur museum, making it a good choice for travelers who prefer a relaxed pace and in-depth sightseeing.

Suggested Itinerary

• Day 1: Zen Temple and Coastal Scenery
  • Morning: Take a bus from Fukui Station to Eiheiji. Walk around this Zen temple surrounded by 700-year-old cedar trees and take in its peaceful temple atmosphere.

• Afternoon: After returning to Fukui Station, transfer to a bus for Tojinbo. See the coastal cliffs, one of the world’s three major sites of columnar joints in andesite; in the evening, you can watch the sunset over the Sea of Japan here.

• Evening: Head to Awara Onsen to rest and enjoy a hot spring bath. This is the largest hot spring town in Fukui.

• Day 2: Dinosaur Museum and Great Buddha
  • Morning: Take the Echizen Railway and a bus to Katsuyama, then visit the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum to see world-class dinosaur fossil exhibits and a mechanical Tyrannosaurus rex.

• Afternoon: Go to the Echizen Great Buddha to see an indoor seated Buddha taller than the Great Buddha of Nara, then climb Japan’s tallest five-story pagoda for views of the surrounding area.

• Day 3: Moss-Covered Ancient Shrine and Castle Scenery
  • Morning: Visit Heisenji Hakusan Shrine, surrounded by green moss and century-old cedar forest. At this ancient shrine, known as the “Moss Temple,” you can experience a quiet and solemn atmosphere.

• Afternoon: Head to Katsuyama Castle to take Japanese-style landscape photos of rice fields and the old castle together, then begin your return journey.

Main Attractions

Attractions in Fukui Prefecture are fairly spread out, with both natural scenery and historical and cultural sites. The following places can serve as the focus of your itinerary:

• Eiheiji: The head temple of Japan’s Soto Zen school, surrounded by 700-year-old cedar trees. Here you can learn about Zen practice traditions and see historic architecture with aesthetic features influenced by the Song dynasty.
• Tojinbo: Fukui’s representative coastal scenic spot, where basalt cliffs face the Sea of Japan. It is well suited for sunset viewing and wide-open coastal scenery.
• Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum: One of the world’s three major dinosaur museums, with a large collection of finely preserved fossil skeletons and an interactive excavation experience, making it ideal for dinosaur enthusiasts.
• Heisenji Hakusan Shrine: Located in a primeval mountain forest and widely covered in moss, giving it the nickname “Moss Temple.” Its stone paths and former temple lodging ruins have a strong sense of history.
• Echizen Great Buddha: The indoor seated Buddha is 17 meters tall and was designed with reference to the Longmen Grottoes. Together with Japan’s tallest five-story pagoda and the Thousand Buddha Wall, it creates a striking visual scene.

Food Recommendations

Fukui is known in Japan as a “land of fish and rice,” and its seafood and local dishes are well worth including in your meal plans:

• Echizen Crab: One of Japan’s three famous crabs, with the crab season running from November to March. The meat is sweet, fresh, and springy; try crab sashimi, grilled crab legs, and crab zosui rice porridge.

• Echizen Soba: A local Fukui specialty with firm, chewy noodles. It is often served with a dipping sauce containing spicy grated daikon, and is one of the area’s representative everyday dishes.

• Tonkatsu: Fukui’s tonkatsu restaurants are quite popular, such as Europe-ken. The pork cutlet is thin and crisp, usually served with a special sweet-and-sour fermented sauce that gives it a distinctive flavor.

• Saba Somen: Fresh mackerel and thin somen noodles are cooked together in a savory broth. It is a representative dish in Fukui home cooking.

Transport and Practical Tips

• Getting Around: Attractions in Fukui Prefecture are spread out, and public transport, especially buses, often has long intervals between services. Driving is more recommended, or you can focus your activities around Fukui Station. If you mainly rely on public transport, pick up a bus timetable at the tourist information center in Fukui Station and plan your sightseeing around the schedules.
• Best Season: Autumn (October to November) has good fall foliage and comfortable weather. Winter (November to March) is suitable for enjoying Echizen crab, but mountain snow and strong seaside winds may affect transportation.
• Where to Stay: Staying around Fukui Station is convenient for dining and bus transfers. If you plan to enjoy hot springs, consider a hot spring ryokan in Awara Onsen or Mikuni Port.