Two days in Fukui: which museum on day two?
Walk Eiheiji's temple corridors on day one, then see dinosaur skeletons and fossils or Ichijodani's artefacts on day two. Arrive in Fukui in the morning for a return Eiheiji Liner trip and stay one night in the city. For the dinosaur museum, secure an entry slot first and coordinate Katsuyama-bound trains and buses. Allow time after the final day's museum return for your next train.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
Eiheiji and the dinosaur museum
On this two-day trip, explore Eiheiji's corridors on day one and dinosaur skeletons and fossils on day two. It suits a morning arrival in Fukui to catch the liner, with time after the museum return for your next train on the final day.
Eiheiji and the dinosaur museum →2 days / 1 night BEiheiji and Ichijodani's site museum
On this two-day trip, visit the temple and explore displays about life in a former castle town on separate days. Choose this if Ichijodani's history and artefacts interest you more than dinosaurs. On the final day, finish the museum visit in time for your return JR train.
Eiheiji and Ichijodani's site museum →Eiheiji and the dinosaur museum
On this two-day trip, explore Eiheiji's corridors on day one and dinosaur skeletons and fossils on day two. It suits a morning arrival in Fukui to catch the liner, with time after the museum return for your next train on the final day.
Day 1 · Visit Eiheiji
Eiheiji Temple · 永平寺
Follow the visitor route through temple buildings linked by corridors. Afterwards, have lunch and a break at a nearby restaurant, then return to Fukui Station on the Eiheiji Liner.
- Fukui Station east-side stand 1 → Eiheiji bus stop
Take the Eiheiji Liner to its terminus. The adult single fare is JPY 1,000 and services run daily. Boarding is first come, first served without seat reservations. Check outward and return times for your date and arrive at the stand with time to spare.
- Eiheiji bus stop → Visitor reception and temple grounds
The official guide allows about five minutes on foot from the stop to visitor reception. Regular adult admission is JPY 700. Visiting hours are 8:30 am–4:30 pm, with guidance to arrive by 4 pm. There are indoor stairs, and prams must be left at reception. Ask ahead about accessible visiting areas if anyone in your group has difficulty with mobility.
- Around the temple → Eiheiji bus stop and Fukui Station east side
After the temple, have lunch and rest at an open restaurant. Return to the same Eiheiji stop for a liner to Fukui Station's east side. The adult return-leg fare is also JPY 1,000. Allow for road delays and full buses rather than relying on the last service.
Zazen and overnight temple experiences are separate from an ordinary visit. Meals are separate from the transport and admission subtotal below.
Day 2 · A day at the dinosaur museum
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum · 福井県立恐竜博物館
Explore dinosaur skeletons and fossils, then displays on the history of the Earth and life. Connect a Katsuyama-bound train with a museum bus around your ticket's entry slot.
- Echizen Railway Fukui Station → Katsuyama Station
Take a Katsuyama-bound train on the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line to the terminus. The adult single fare is JPY 820. Allow about an hour for the train plus time for the bus connection.
Current train fares from Katsuyama StationBus and car park access guide
- Museum-bound bus at Katsuyama Station → Geo Terminal and main-building entry gate
Change to a D-Line bus, which runs on museum opening days. The adult single fare is JPY 300. Alight at Geo Terminal, follow signs for the main entrance and general admission gate on Level 3, and present your QR ticket. Allow walking and waiting time between the bus arrival and gate entry.
Train and bus connectionsMuseum entry instructionsOfficial location mapEntry slots and fees
- Museum permanent exhibition → Displays, lunch and a break
Regular adult permanent-exhibition admission is JPY 1,000. Hours are 9 am–5 pm, with entry until 4:30 pm. Break up the displays with lunch and rest, allowing for restaurant queues. Special exhibitions, the outdoor museum, activities and meals cost extra.
- Geo Terminal, towards Katsuyama Station → Katsuyama Station and Fukui Station
Take your planned museum bus back to Katsuyama Station, then change to a Fukui-bound train. The bus costs JPY 300 and the train JPY 820. The last museum bus and last train are different services; check the connection timetable together.
Train and bus connectionsCurrent train fares from Katsuyama Station
Check the official closure calendar and available entry slots first. On days with temporary restrictions at the park entrance, follow the separate shuttle instructions.
Included: Eiheiji admission and return liner JPY 2,700 + dinosaur museum general exhibition and return train/bus JPY 3,240.
Extras and conditions: Accommodation, meals, long-distance travel to and from Fukui, special exhibitions, extra activities, sightseeing boats, observation facilities, luggage storage, hotel transfers and extra transport cost extra.
This subtotal covers the listed transport and admission for one adult paying regular fares. Accommodation, meals, long-distance travel to and from Fukui and separate activities are excluded. Check fares for your travel date with official guides. No transport-pass discounts have been applied.
Temple official visitor guideLiner timetable and faresMuseum fees and hoursCurrent train fares from Katsuyama StationTrain and bus connections
Eiheiji and Ichijodani's site museum
On this two-day trip, visit the temple and explore displays about life in a former castle town on separate days. Choose this if Ichijodani's history and artefacts interest you more than dinosaurs. On the final day, finish the museum visit in time for your return JR train.
Day 1 · Visit Eiheiji
Follow the visitor route through temple buildings linked by corridors. Afterwards, have lunch and a break at a nearby restaurant, then return to Fukui Station on the Eiheiji Liner.
- Fukui Station east-side stand 1 → Eiheiji bus stop
Take the Eiheiji Liner to its terminus. The adult single fare is JPY 1,000 and services run daily. Boarding is first come, first served without seat reservations. Check outward and return times for your date and arrive at the stand with time to spare.
- Eiheiji bus stop → Visitor reception and temple grounds
The official guide allows about five minutes on foot from the stop to visitor reception. Regular adult admission is JPY 700. Visiting hours are 8:30 am–4:30 pm, with guidance to arrive by 4 pm. There are indoor stairs, and prams must be left at reception. Ask ahead about accessible visiting areas if anyone in your group has difficulty with mobility.
- Around the temple → Eiheiji bus stop and Fukui Station east side
After the temple, have lunch and rest at an open restaurant. Return to the same Eiheiji stop for a liner to Fukui Station's east side. The adult return-leg fare is also JPY 1,000. Allow for road delays and full buses rather than relying on the last service.
Zazen and overnight temple experiences are separate from an ordinary visit. Meals are separate from the transport and admission subtotal below.
Day 2 · Ichijodani's site museum
Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum · 福井県立一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡博物館
Explore excavated artefacts and reconstructed displays to learn about life in the former castle town. The actual reconstructed townscape is a separate location; today covers the museum displays.
- JR Fukui Station → Ichijodani Station
Take the Etsumi-Hoku Line, also called the Kuzuryu Line, to Ichijodani Station. The budget uses JPY 260 one way for an adult; recheck return services and fares for your date in JR's official journey search. Ichijodani Station does not support ICOCA, so prepare a train ticket.
JR official time and fare searchJR Etsumi-Hoku Line outbound timetableIchijodani Station facilities
- JR Ichijodani Station → Site museum main building
Walk about three minutes to the main entrance, as the official guide indicates. Regular adult admission to the basic exhibition is JPY 700; special exhibitions cost extra. Hours are 9 am–5 pm, with entry until 4:30 pm. Distinguish the main building from the annex and take breaks between displays.
- Site museum → Ichijodani Station and Fukui Station
Finish in time for your return train and walk back to the same station. Take a Fukui-bound train; the adult fare is also JPY 260. Services may be widely spaced, so plan the visit and meals after checking both outward and return trains.
Check Monday, New Year and temporary closures in the calendar for your date. The reconstructed townscape's weekend shuttle is unavailable on weekdays.
Included: Eiheiji admission and return liner JPY 2,700 + site museum basic exhibition and return JR trains JPY 1,220.
Extras and conditions: Accommodation, meals, long-distance travel to and from Fukui, special exhibitions, extra activities, sightseeing boats, observation facilities, luggage storage, hotel transfers and extra transport cost extra.
This subtotal covers the listed transport and admission for one adult paying regular fares. Accommodation, meals, long-distance travel to and from Fukui and separate activities are excluded. Check fares for your travel date with official guides. No transport-pass discounts have been applied.
Temple official visitor guideLiner timetable and faresMuseum hours and feesJR official return time and fare search for 14 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the dinosaur museum and Eiheiji in two days?
Visit them on separate days if you arrive on the first morning for the Eiheiji Liner and coordinate day two's museum entry ticket with Katsuyama-bound trains and buses. Allow time between the museum's return bus/train journey to Fukui Station and your next departing train.
Liner timetable and faresTrain and bus connectionsEntry slots and feesLuggage storage guide
What is the return JR fare from Fukui Station to Ichijodani's site museum?
The budget uses adult JR Fukui ↔ Ichijodani fares of JPY 260 one way or JPY 520 return. This is included in the JPY 3,920 two-day Eiheiji and site museum subtotal. Recheck services and fares for your date in JR's official search. Long-distance travel to Fukui is separate.
Sources and dates checked
- Luggage storage guide ·
- Liner timetable and fares ·
- Walk to the temple ·
- Train and bus connections ·
- Museum entry instructions ·
- Entry slots and fees ·
- Bus and car park access guide ·
- Official location map ·
- JR official time and fare search ·
- JR Etsumi-Hoku Line outbound timetable ·
- Ichijodani Station facilities ·
- Museum access ·
- Museum hours and fees ·
- Museum fees and hours ·
- Temple official visitor guide ·
- Current train fares from Katsuyama Station ·
- JR official return time and fare search for 14 October 2026 ·