Which Fukui sights should you visit?
Choose the dinosaur museum for large skeletons and fossils, or Eiheiji for a leisurely walk through temple corridors. For life in the former castle town, view artefacts and reconstructed displays at Ichijodani's site museum, then travel to the townscape to walk among samurai residences and artisans' houses. For the sea, choose Tojinbo's rocky cliffs and views. You can move to Awara Onsen to rest after the coastal walk.
Attractions: admission, hours and access
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
福井県立恐竜博物館
Give the dinosaur museum a day if you want to examine large skeletons and fossils. The permanent exhibition also covers the history of the Earth and life. Buy a ticket for your chosen date and entry slot ahead, then arrange trains and buses around it.
- Admission excluding special exhibitionsGeneral exhibition admission is JPY 1,000 for adults, JPY 800 for senior high school and university students, JPY 500 for primary and junior high school students and JPY 500 for ages 70 and over. Preschool children enter free. Special exhibitions and the outdoor museum cost extra.
- Hours, closures and ticketsHours are 9 am–5 pm, with entry until 4:30 pm. Regular closures are the second and fourth Wednesdays and 31 December–1 January, but check the calendar for holiday, summer and other exceptions. Book a ticket ahead for your chosen date and entry slot.
- Trains, buses and 2026 faresFrom Fukui Station, take an Echizen Railway Katsuyama Eiheiji Line train to Katsuyama terminus, then change to a museum bus. Official estimates of about one hour by train and 15 minutes by bus cover riding time; waiting and transfers are extra. In the 1 April 2026 bus timetable, the D-Line runs on museum opening days. Katsuyama Station–museum bus fares are JPY 300 one way for adults and JPY 200 for children. Echizen Railway Fukui–Katsuyama costs JPY 820 one way for an adult. The C-Line has different operating conditions and stop order; check which route you will use.
- October and November park-entry traffic restrictionsPark-entry traffic restrictions and temporary shuttles are listed for 11 October and 22 November 2026. If visiting on either date, check temporary shuttle and car park access instructions first.
- What to seeSee dinosaur skeletons and fossils, plus permanent displays on the history of the Earth and life.
Museum fees and hoursEntry slots and feesBus and car park access guideTrain and bus connectionsCurrent train fares from Katsuyama StationDinosaur museum permanent exhibition guide
Eiheiji Temple
永平寺
Choose Eiheiji to take your time exploring temple buildings and grounds. Follow the visitor route through buildings linked by corridors. There are indoor stairs; experiences such as zazen have different conditions and fees from an ordinary visit.
- Temple admissionRegular admission is JPY 700 for adults and JPY 300 for primary and junior high school students. Preschool children enter free. Zazen and overnight experiences have different conditions and fees; check their separate guides.
- Visiting hoursHours are 8:30 am–4:30 pm, with guidance to arrive by 4 pm. Check event-related restrictions for your visit.
- Stairs and pramsThere are indoor stairs, and prams are not allowed inside. If anyone has difficulty using stairs, ask the facility which areas they can reach.
- Eiheiji Liner, 2026 fares and entranceTake the Eiheiji Liner from Fukui Station east-side stand 1 and alight at Eiheiji. Fares revised on 1 October 2026 are JPY 1,000 one way for adults and JPY 500 for children. It runs daily without seat reservations; you cannot board if it is full. Fukui Prefecture's official tourism guide allows about five minutes on foot from the stop to the visitor entrance.
- What to seeThe visitor route takes you through corridor-linked temple buildings and grounds. It does not provide access to all training areas.
Temple official visitor guideLiner timetable and faresWalk to the templeFukui Prefecture official Eiheiji visitor route
Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum
福井県立一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡博物館
For life in the former castle town, explore excavated artefacts and reconstructed displays at Ichijodani's site museum. The actual reconstructed streets are in another location; plan the museum displays and townscape walk separately.
- Admission excluding special exhibitionsRegular admission is JPY 700 for adults, JPY 400 for senior high school students, JPY 200 for primary and junior high school students and JPY 350 for ages 70 and over. Special exhibitions cost extra. A combined ticket with the reconstructed townscape is also listed; check its price, validity and use on different days before buying. Itinerary costs use regular individual admission.
- Hours and closuresHours are 9 am–5 pm, with entry until 4:30 pm. Check the calendar for Monday, New Year and temporary closures for your visit.
- JR and walking from the stationTake the JR Etsumi-Hoku (Kuzuryu) Line from Fukui Station to Ichijodani, then walk. The official guide allows about 15 minutes by train and three minutes on foot from the station. Check a Fukui-bound train for the return.
- 2026 weekend and public-holiday shuttleA free shuttle towards Karamon is listed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 4 April to 29 November 2026. Check weekday transport separately in the museum's official access guide.
- What to seeExplore excavated artefacts and reconstructed displays about life in the former castle town.
Museum hours and feesMuseum accessIchijodani museum exhibition guide
Reconstructed Townscape of Ichijodani
一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡 復原町並
Walk among samurai residences and artisans' houses reconstructed using excavated stone walls and building foundations. Interior displays recreate life based on recovered artefacts. This is separate from the site museum; the free shuttle operates on specified weekends and public holidays.
- Museum versus reconstructed townscapeThe reconstructed houses and streets are separate from the museum exhibition building. To visit both, choose transport between them separately.
- Regular admissionAdmission is JPY 330 for ages 15 and over. Check group rates, reductions and temporary restrictions for your visit.
- Hours and closuresHours are 9 am–5 pm, with admission until 4:30 pm. The townscape is closed from 28 December to 4 January.
- Weekend shuttle and alighting stopUse the free shuttle's reconstructed townscape stop (復原町並) on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 4 April to 29 November 2026. Capacity is 24 passengers, with priority for guided-tour participants; follow local instructions. From the stop, follow admission signs and allow time for ticketing and queues. This shuttle is unavailable on weekdays.
- What to seeSamurai residences and artisans' houses were reconstructed using excavated stone walls and building foundations. Inside, displays recreate life using evidence from recovered artefacts.
Fukui City reconstructed townscape guideCurrent townscape hours and fees2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetable
Tojinbo Cliffs
東尋坊
See column-like rock cliffs and sea views at Tojinbo. Walk the coast according to weather and local access notices. Change to a bus at Mikuni Station; check sightseeing boat operations separately for your visit.
- Train, bus and walk to the coastFrom Fukui Station, take an Echizen Railway Mikuni Awara Line train towards Mikuni and alight at Mikuni Station. Change to a Tojinbo-bound Keifuku bus, alight at Tojinbo and walk about five minutes. Official tourism estimates of about 50 minutes by train and 10 minutes by bus cover riding time; waiting is extra.
- Coastal walk, boat trips and station differencesCoastal walks and paid boat or observation services are separate. Boat operations depend on weather and sea conditions; choose a trip only after checking that day's service. Mikuni, Mikuni-Minato and Awaraonsen stations are different boarding points.
- Published timetable revision and section faresThe currently posted weekday connection table is the 1 October 2024 revision. Adult single fares are JPY 780 for Fukui–Mikuni trains, JPY 280 for Mikuni Station–Tojinbo buses and JPY 570 for Tojinbo–Awara-Yunomachi Station buses. Check your departure station and bus direction. Use separate timetables for Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and check service changes for your date.
- Coastal sceneryLook out over column-like rock cliffs and the sea. Walk according to weather and local access notices.
Fukui official tourism transport guideSightseeing boat operator's access guideOperator's current Tojinbo Line listingsRail operator's weekday return connectionsMikuni Station official fare tableTojinbo Line section fare tableTojinbo Line weekday timetable
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the dinosaur museum without booking?
The standard procedure is to buy a ticket ahead for a specified date and entry slot. Museum ticket machines sell same-day tickets only when capacity remains; do not set off assuming you can buy one on arrival. Special exhibitions, fossil research activities and the outdoor museum have different ticket types and purchase deadlines.
Are the dinosaur museum and Tojinbo on the same train line?
The museum uses the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line, while Tojinbo uses the Mikuni Awara Line. Check return journeys in each direction separately if visiting both.
Train and bus connectionsFukui official tourism transport guide
Sources and dates checked
- Liner timetable and fares ·
- Walk to the temple ·
- Train and bus connections ·
- Entry slots and fees ·
- Bus and car park access guide ·
- Museum access ·
- Museum hours and fees ·
- Museum fees and hours ·
- Temple official visitor guide ·
- Fukui City reconstructed townscape guide ·
- Fukui official tourism transport guide ·
- Sightseeing boat operator's access guide ·
- Operator's current Tojinbo Line listings ·
- Rail operator's weekday return connections ·
- Mikuni Station official fare table ·
- Current train fares from Katsuyama Station ·
- Current townscape hours and fees ·
- 2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetable ·
- Tojinbo Line section fare table ·
- Tojinbo Line weekday timetable ·
- Dinosaur museum permanent exhibition guide ·
- Fukui Prefecture official Eiheiji visitor route ·
- Ichijodani museum exhibition guide ·