Fukui in 2 days: which museum on day 2?
Walk Eiheiji’s corridors on day 1, then explore dinosaur skeletons and fossils or Ichijodani’s excavated objects on day 2. Arrive in Fukui in the morning, visit the temple by liner and spend one night in the city. For the dinosaur museum, secure an entry slot before connecting Katsuyama-bound trains and buses. Leave time after the final-day museum return for your next train.
Choose a 2 days, 1 night itinerary
Eiheiji and the dinosaur museum
Spend two days visiting Eiheiji’s corridors on day 1 and dinosaur skeletons and fossils on day 2. This route suits a morning arrival in Fukui for the liner and a final-day departure allowing time to return from the museum before your next train.
Eiheiji and the dinosaur museum →2 days, 1 night BEiheiji and the Ichijodani site museum
Spend two days visiting the temple and exhibits on life in a historic castle town. Choose this if Ichijodani’s history and excavated objects interest you more than dinosaurs. Finish the final-day museum visit in time for your JR return train.
Eiheiji and the Ichijodani site museum →Eiheiji and the dinosaur museum
Spend two days visiting Eiheiji’s corridors on day 1 and dinosaur skeletons and fossils on day 2. This route suits a morning arrival in Fukui for the liner and a final-day departure allowing time to return from the museum before your next train.
Day 1: visit Eiheiji
Eiheiji Temple · 永平寺
Follow Eiheiji’s visitor route through temple buildings linked by corridors. Afterwards, have lunch and rest nearby before taking the Eiheiji Liner back to Fukui Station.
- Fukui Station east exit, stop 1 → Eiheiji stop
Take the Eiheiji Liner to the terminus. The adult one-way fare is ¥1,000 and services run daily. Seats are first come, first served without reservations. Check outward and return departures for your date and arrive at the boarding point with time to spare.
- Eiheiji stop → Visitor reception and temple grounds
The official walk from the stop to reception is about 5 minutes. Standard adult admission is ¥700. Visiting hours are 08:30–16:30, with guidance to arrive by 16:00. There are indoor stairs, and strollers must be left at reception. Ask about the accessible visiting area before arriving with anyone who has mobility difficulties.
- Near the temple → Eiheiji stop and Fukui Station east exit
After visiting, have lunch and rest at an open restaurant. Return to the same Eiheiji stop for the liner towards Fukui Station’s east exit. The adult return fare is also ¥1,000. Allow for road delays and full buses rather than relying only on the final departure.
Zazen meditation and overnight experiences are separate from general visits. Meals are excluded from the transport and admission subtotal below.
Day 2: spend the day at the dinosaur museum
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum · 福井県立恐竜博物館
Explore skeletons, fossils and exhibits on Earth and life’s history. Connect the Katsuyama-bound railway and museum bus to match your ticket’s entry time.
- Echizen Railway Fukui Station → Katsuyama Station
Take a Katsuyama-bound train on the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line to the terminus. The adult one-way fare is ¥820. Allow bus transfer time beyond the roughly one-hour railway journey.
Current train fare from Katsuyama StationBus and parking access guidance
- Museum-bound bus at Katsuyama Station → Geo Terminal and main-building entry gate
Transfer to the D Line bus, which runs on museum opening days, for ¥300 per adult one way. Get off at Geo Terminal and follow signs to the main entrance and third-floor general admission gate, showing your QR ticket. Allow walking and waiting time between bus arrival and gate entry.
Train and bus connectionsMuseum entry instructionsOfficial location mapEntry slots and fees
- Museum permanent exhibition → Exhibits, lunch and rest
Standard adult permanent-exhibition admission is ¥1,000. Hours are 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Take meal and rest breaks between exhibits, 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 a museum bus departure checked in advance back to Katsuyama Station, then transfer to the Fukui-bound railway. The bus costs ¥300 and train ¥820. The last museum bus and last train are different services; check their connection together.
Train and bus connectionsCurrent train fare from Katsuyama Station
Check the official closure calendar and available entry slots first. Follow separate shuttle guidance on dates with temporary park access restrictions.
Included: Eiheiji admission and return liner ¥2,700 + dinosaur museum general exhibition and return train and bus ¥3,240
Separate costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, long-distance travel to and from Fukui, special exhibitions, extra activities, sightseeing boats, observation facilities, luggage storage, accommodation shuttles and additional transport.
This adds the listed transport and admission for one adult at standard fares and admission rates. Accommodation, meals, long-distance Fukui travel and separate experiences are excluded. Check official fares for your date. Transport-pass discounts are not applied.
Official temple visiting informationLiner timetable and faresMuseum fees and operationCurrent train fare from Katsuyama StationTrain and bus connections
Eiheiji and the Ichijodani site museum
Spend two days visiting the temple and exhibits on life in a historic castle town. Choose this if Ichijodani’s history and excavated objects interest you more than dinosaurs. Finish the final-day museum visit in time for your JR return train.
Day 1: visit Eiheiji
Follow Eiheiji’s visitor route through temple buildings linked by corridors. Afterwards, have lunch and rest nearby before taking the Eiheiji Liner back to Fukui Station.
- Fukui Station east exit, stop 1 → Eiheiji stop
Take the Eiheiji Liner to the terminus. The adult one-way fare is ¥1,000 and services run daily. Seats are first come, first served without reservations. Check outward and return departures for your date and arrive at the boarding point with time to spare.
- Eiheiji stop → Visitor reception and temple grounds
The official walk from the stop to reception is about 5 minutes. Standard adult admission is ¥700. Visiting hours are 08:30–16:30, with guidance to arrive by 16:00. There are indoor stairs, and strollers must be left at reception. Ask about the accessible visiting area before arriving with anyone who has mobility difficulties.
- Near the temple → Eiheiji stop and Fukui Station east exit
After visiting, have lunch and rest at an open restaurant. Return to the same Eiheiji stop for the liner towards Fukui Station’s east exit. The adult return fare is also ¥1,000. Allow for road delays and full buses rather than relying only on the final departure.
Zazen meditation and overnight experiences are separate from general visits. Meals are excluded from the transport and admission subtotal below.
Day 2: visit the Ichijodani site museum
Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum · 福井県立一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡博物館
Explore excavated objects and reconstructed displays of life in the former castle town. The actual reconstructed streets are a separate location; today focuses on the museum exhibits.
- JR Fukui Station → Ichijodani Station
Take the Etsumi-Hoku Line, also called the Kuzuryu Line, and get off at Ichijodani. The calculation uses ¥260 per adult one way; recheck return services and fares in JR’s official search for your date. Ichijodani Station does not support ICOCA, so prepare a ticket.
Official JR timetable and fare searchJR Etsumi-Hoku Line outbound timetableIchijodani Station facilities
- JR Ichijodani Station → Site museum main building
Walk about 3 minutes to the main entrance, as officially estimated. Standard adult basic-exhibition admission is ¥700; special exhibitions cost extra. Hours are 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Distinguish the main building from the annex and take breaks between exhibits.
- Site museum → Ichijodani Station and Fukui Station
Finish the visit to match your return train and go back to the same station. Take a Fukui-bound train for ¥260 per adult. Services may be widely spaced, so arrange sightseeing and meals after checking both train journeys.
Check Monday, year-end and temporary closures on the calendar for your date. The reconstructed-street weekend shuttle is unavailable on weekdays.
Included: Eiheiji admission and return liner ¥2,700 + Ichijodani basic exhibition and return JR ¥1,220
Separate costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, long-distance travel to and from Fukui, special exhibitions, extra activities, sightseeing boats, observation facilities, luggage storage, accommodation shuttles and additional transport.
This adds the listed transport and admission for one adult at standard fares and admission rates. Accommodation, meals, long-distance Fukui travel and separate experiences are excluded. Check official fares for your date. Transport-pass discounts are not applied.
Official temple visiting informationLiner timetable and faresMuseum operation and feesOfficial JR return timetable and fare search for 14 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the dinosaur museum and Eiheiji in 2 days?
Visit on separate days if you arrive on the first morning for the Eiheiji Liner and connect day 2’s museum ticket with the Katsuyama railway and bus. Leave time between the museum return bus and train to Fukui and your onward departure.
Liner timetable and faresTrain and bus connectionsEntry slots and feesLuggage-storage information
How much is return JR travel from Fukui to the Ichijodani museum?
The calculation uses ¥260 per adult one way or ¥520 return Fukui–Ichijodani. The ¥3,920 two-day Eiheiji and site-museum route includes this return JR journey. Recheck actual trains and fares in JR’s official search for your date. Long-distance travel to Fukui is separate.
Official JR return timetable and fare search for 14 October 2026
Sources and check dates
- Luggage-storage information ·
- Liner timetable and fares ·
- Temple walking access ·
- Train and bus connections ·
- Museum entry instructions ·
- Entry slots and fees ·
- Bus and parking access guidance ·
- Official location map ·
- Official JR timetable and fare search ·
- JR Etsumi-Hoku Line outbound timetable ·
- Ichijodani Station facilities ·
- Museum access ·
- Museum operation and fees ·
- Museum fees and operation ·
- Official temple visiting information ·
- Current train fare from Katsuyama Station ·
- Official JR return timetable and fare search for 14 October 2026 ·