Four days in Fukui: an extra day for the townscape or onsen?
Stay three nights in Fukui to see artefact displays and reconstructed houses and streets without changing hotels. Match the final townscape day with the free weekend shuttle. For more rocky-coast scenery and onsen rest, stay the first night in Fukui and the next two in Awara Onsen. Take an Awara-Yunomachi Station bus from Tojinbo, then return to Fukui for the site museum on the last day.
Choose an itinerary for 4 days / 3 nights
Site museum, dinosaur museum, Eiheiji and reconstructed townscape
On this four-day trip, view artefact displays and walk among reconstructed houses and streets on different days. Stay three nights at the same Fukui accommodation and add the dinosaur museum and Eiheiji. The final-day townscape visit must fall on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday during the free shuttle's operating season.
Site museum, dinosaur museum, Eiheiji and reconstructed townscape →4 days / 3 nights BEiheiji, Tojinbo, Awara Onsen and Ichijodani
This four-day trip combines temple and rocky-coast visits with an extra rest day at an onsen hotel. Stay the first night in Fukui and the next two in Awara Onsen, then return to Fukui for Ichijodani's site museum on the final day. From Tojinbo, take a bus to Awara-Yunomachi Station.
Eiheiji, Tojinbo, Awara Onsen and Ichijodani →Site museum, dinosaur museum, Eiheiji and reconstructed townscape
On this four-day trip, view artefact displays and walk among reconstructed houses and streets on different days. Stay three nights at the same Fukui accommodation and add the dinosaur museum and Eiheiji. The final-day townscape visit must fall on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday during the free shuttle's operating season.
Day 1 · 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.
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.
Day 3 · 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 4 · Ichijodani reconstructed townscape walk
Reconstructed Townscape of Ichijodani · 一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡 復原町並
Walk among reconstructed samurai residences and artisans' houses, and see displays recreating life inside the buildings. Visit on a different day from the site museum, using the weekend shuttle.
- JR Fukui Station → Ichijodani Station and site museum shuttle stop
Take the Kuzuryu Line to Ichijodani Station, then walk about three minutes to the museum. The budget uses JPY 260 one way for an adult; check return trains for your travel date. Today's itinerary does not repeat the museum displays.
- Site museum shuttle stop → Reconstructed townscape stop
Take the free shuttle and alight at the reconstructed townscape stop (復原町並), rather than continuing to Karamon. The 2026 guide lists operation on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 4 April to 29 November. Capacity is 24 passengers, with priority for guided-tour participants.
- Reconstructed townscape stop → Townscape entrance and visit
Follow admission signs to the entrance. Admission is JPY 330 for ages 15 and over. Hours are 9 am–5 pm, with entry until 4:30 pm. Take your time through the reconstructed streets, then return to the stop for your shuttle.
- Reconstructed townscape stop → Site museum, JR Ichijodani Station and Fukui Station
Take the shuttle back towards the museum, then a Fukui-bound JR train from Ichijodani Station. The adult return-leg fare is also JPY 260. The shuttle and JR are separate; allow waiting time when choosing a connection. If the shuttle is full or suspended, recheck the next shuttle and train or shorten the visit.
2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetableJR official time and fare search
The townscape closes from 28 December to 4 January. Outside the shuttle season or on weekdays, do not follow this itinerary as written; check other transport in the official access guide.
Included: Site museum basic exhibition and return JR trains JPY 1,220 + dinosaur museum general exhibition and return train/bus JPY 3,240 + Eiheiji admission and return liner JPY 2,700 + townscape admission and return JR trains JPY 850.
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 feesMuseum fees and hoursCurrent train fares from Katsuyama StationTrain and bus connectionsCurrent townscape hours and fees2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetableJR official return time and fare search for 15 October 2026JR official return time and fare search for 18 October 20264-day option A: free shuttle timetable in both directionsCurrent townscape hours and individual admission rechecked
Eiheiji, Tojinbo, Awara Onsen and Ichijodani
This four-day trip combines temple and rocky-coast visits with an extra rest day at an onsen hotel. Stay the first night in Fukui and the next two in Awara Onsen, then return to Fukui for Ichijodani's site museum on the final day. From Tojinbo, take a bus to Awara-Yunomachi Station.
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 · Tojinbo, then the onsen
Tojinbo Cliffs · 東尋坊
See Tojinbo's rocky cliffs and sea before moving to Awara Onsen. Take a bus to Awara-Yunomachi Station rather than returning to Mikuni Station.
- Echizen Railway Fukui Station → Mikuni Station
Take the Mikuni Awara Line towards Mikuni and alight at Mikuni Station. The adult single fare is JPY 780. Distinguish timetables for weekends and public holidays from weekday timetables and check your return service.
Mikuni Station official fare tableRail operator's weekday return connections
- Keifuku bus at Mikuni Station → Tojinbo bus stop and coast
Change to a Tojinbo-bound bus and alight at Tojinbo. The adult single fare is JPY 280; the official guide allows about five minutes on foot from the stop to the coast. Distinguish this from departures at Mikuni-Minato or Awara-Yunomachi stations.
Tojinbo Line section fare tableFukui official tourism transport guide
- Tojinbo coast → Walk, lunch and a break
Walk the coast according to the weather and local access notices, and rest at an open business nearby. Choose a sightseeing boat only after checking that day's operations. Boats, observation facilities and meals are excluded from the subtotal below.
Sightseeing boat operator's access guideFukui official tourism transport guide
- Tojinbo bus stop, towards Awara-Yunomachi Station → Awara-Yunomachi Station and onsen hotel
Take an Awara-Yunomachi Station bus. The adult single fare is JPY 570; distinguish it from the Mikuni Station direction. Follow your booked hotel's access guide. This trip includes two onsen nights; allow separate time for arriving at the station, hotel check-in and dinner.
Tojinbo Line section fare tableAwara Grand Hotel official access guideAwara Grand Hotel official check-in and check-out guide
Shorten the coastal visit in poor weather or access restrictions. Do not use weekday connections for Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays.
Day 3 · Rest in Awara Onsen
Spend a rest day at your onsen hotel before the second night. If you want to go out, visit the footbath opposite Awara-Yunomachi Station.
- Opposite Awara-Yunomachi Station → Yunomachi Plaza and Ashiyu footbath
First check the route between your hotel and Yunomachi Plaza opposite Awara-Yunomachi Station. This is not outside JR Awaraonsen Station. Awara City's guide lists free use from 7 am to 11 pm year-round; follow any temporary restrictions on site.
Awara Onsen association: station-front footbath guideAwara City footbath hours and fees FAQ
- Footbath and Yunomachi Plaza → The same onsen hotel
Bring a towel, then return to the hotel for your second night. Rest without going out if it rains or the journey from your hotel is inconvenient. Daytime room use, baths and meals depend on your booked plan.
Footbath use is free. Towel purchases, meals and accommodation are separate.
Day 4 · Ichijodani's site museum
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.
- Awara-Yunomachi Station → Echizen Railway Fukui Station and JR Fukui Station
Leave your onsen hotel and take a Fukui-bound train from Awara-Yunomachi Station. The adult fare is JPY 730. At Fukui, change to the JR Kuzuryu Line, allowing time to buy a ticket and reach the JR platform.
Awara-Yunomachi Station: Fukui-bound timetable and faresEchizen Railway 1 April 2026 timetable · onsen to Fukui
- 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 + train/bus via Tojinbo to the onsen and back to Fukui JPY 2,360 + 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 feesMikuni Station official fare tableTojinbo Line section fare tableAwara-Yunomachi Station: Fukui-bound timetable and faresJR official date-specific return search for 16 October 2026Echizen Railway 1 April 2026 timetable · onsen to FukuiEchizen Railway station coin locker locations, sizes and fees
Frequently asked questions
Do I walk straight from the site museum to the townscape?
On the three-night Fukui itinerary's final day, use the free shuttle. The 2026 guide lists Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 4 April to 29 November, with capacity for 24 and priority for guided-tour participants. Alight at the townscape stop and follow admission signs. This shuttle is unavailable on weekdays.
4-day option A: free shuttle timetable in both directionsCurrent townscape hours and individual admission rechecked
Should I alight at Awaraonsen Station for the onsen hotel?
JR Awaraonsen and Echizen Railway Awara-Yunomachi are different stations. The itinerary moving from Tojinbo to the onsen uses an Awara-Yunomachi Station bus. Check your hotel's directions from that station. To use a pick-up from JR Awaraonsen, arrange transport to that station and book the transfer separately.
Awara Grand Hotel official access guideAwara Grand Hotel official check-in and check-out guide
Sources and dates checked
- 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 ·
- Fukui official tourism transport guide ·
- Sightseeing boat operator's access guide ·
- Rail operator's weekday return connections ·
- Mikuni Station official fare table ·
- Current train fares from Katsuyama Station ·
- Current townscape hours and fees ·
- Awara-Yunomachi Station: Fukui-bound timetable and fares ·
- 2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetable ·
- Awara City footbath hours and fees FAQ ·
- Awara Onsen association: station-front footbath guide ·
- Tojinbo Line section fare table ·
- JR official return time and fare search for 15 October 2026 ·
- JR official return time and fare search for 18 October 2026 ·
- 4-day option A: free shuttle timetable in both directions ·
- Current townscape hours and individual admission rechecked ·
- JR official date-specific return search for 16 October 2026 ·
- Echizen Railway 1 April 2026 timetable · onsen to Fukui ·
- Echizen Railway station coin locker locations, sizes and fees ·
- Awara Grand Hotel official access guide ·
- Awara Grand Hotel official check-in and check-out guide ·
- Echizen Railway day pass, dinosaur transport set and onsen stay pass ·