Fukui in 4 days: add reconstructed streets or a hot spring day?
Spend three nights in Fukui to see excavated objects and reconstructed houses and streets without moving accommodation. Match the final street visit to the free weekend shuttle. For more rocky-coast scenery and hot spring rest, spend night 1 in Fukui and the next two in Awara. Take the Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus from Tojinbo, then return to Fukui for the museum on your final day.
Choose a 4 days, 3 nights itinerary
Site museum, dinosaur museum, Eiheiji and reconstructed streets
Spend four days seeing excavated objects, then walking reconstructed houses and streets on a separate day. Stay three nights in the same Fukui accommodation, also visiting the dinosaur museum and Eiheiji. Schedule the final-day reconstructed-street visit for a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday within the free shuttle’s operating season.
Site museum, dinosaur museum, Eiheiji and reconstructed streets →4 days, 3 nights BEiheiji, Tojinbo, Awara hot springs and Ichijodani
Spend four days visiting the temple and rocky coast, with an extra day resting at hot spring accommodation. Stay in Fukui on night 1 and Awara for the next two nights. Return to Fukui for the Ichijodani museum on your final day. From Tojinbo, take the bus towards Awara-Yunomachi Station.
Eiheiji, Tojinbo, Awara hot springs and Ichijodani →Site museum, dinosaur museum, Eiheiji and reconstructed streets
Spend four days seeing excavated objects, then walking reconstructed houses and streets on a separate day. Stay three nights in the same Fukui accommodation, also visiting the dinosaur museum and Eiheiji. Schedule the final-day reconstructed-street visit for a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday within the free shuttle’s operating season.
Day 1: 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.
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.
Day 3: 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 4: walk Ichijodani’s reconstructed streets
Reconstructed Townscape of Ichijodani · 一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡 復原町並
Walk among reconstructed samurai residences and artisans’ houses, with displays recreating domestic life inside. Visit on a different day from the site museum and use the weekend shuttle.
- JR Fukui Station → Ichijodani Station and site museum shuttle stop
Take the Kuzuryu Line to Ichijodani, then walk about 3 minutes to the museum. The calculation uses ¥260 per adult one way; look up return trains for your date. Today does not include another museum exhibition visit.
- Site museum shuttle stop → Reconstructed townscape stop
Take the free shuttle to the reconstructed townscape stop (復原町並). The 2026 notice lists Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 4 April to 29 November, with capacity for 24 and priority for guided-tour participants. Do not continue to Karamon stop.
- Reconstructed townscape stop → Reconstructed-street entrance and visit
Follow on-site entry signs to the entrance. Admission for ages 15+ is ¥330; hours are 09:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30. Walk at your own pace and return to the stop for your shuttle.
- Reconstructed townscape stop → Site museum, JR Ichijodani Station and Fukui Station
Return by museum-bound shuttle, then take JR from Ichijodani to Fukui for ¥260 per adult. Shuttle and JR are separate services; choose connections including waiting time. If the shuttle is full or suspended, reconnect the next departure with JR or shorten the visit.
2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetableOfficial JR timetable and fare search
Closed 28 December–4 January. Do not use this route on weekdays or outside the shuttle season; check other transport in official access guidance.
Included: Ichijodani basic exhibition and return JR ¥1,220 + dinosaur museum general exhibition and return train and bus ¥3,240 + Eiheiji admission and return liner ¥2,700 + reconstructed streets and return JR ¥850
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 feesMuseum fees and operationCurrent train fare from Katsuyama StationTrain and bus connectionsCurrent reconstructed-street operation and fees2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetableOfficial JR return timetable and fare search for 15 October 2026Official JR return timetable and fare search for 18 October 2026Four-day route A free shuttle timetable in both directionsRechecked reconstructed-street operation and individual admission
Eiheiji, Tojinbo, Awara hot springs and Ichijodani
Spend four days visiting the temple and rocky coast, with an extra day resting at hot spring accommodation. Stay in Fukui on night 1 and Awara for the next two nights. Return to Fukui for the Ichijodani museum on your final day. From Tojinbo, take the bus towards Awara-Yunomachi Station.
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: see Tojinbo, then continue to the hot springs
Tojinbo Cliffs · 東尋坊
See Tojinbo’s rocky cliffs and sea, then move to Awara hot spring accommodation. Take the Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus rather than returning to Mikuni Station.
- Echizen Railway Fukui Station → Mikuni Station
Take the Mikuni Awara Line towards Mikuni and get off at Mikuni Station. Adult one-way fare is ¥780. Check the correct weekday or weekend and public-holiday timetable, including your return.
Official Mikuni Station fare tableRailway operator’s weekday return connections
- Keifuku bus at Mikuni Station → Tojinbo stop and coast
Transfer to a Tojinbo-bound bus and get off at Tojinbo. The adult one-way fare is ¥280, followed by an officially estimated 5-minute walk to the coast. Distinguish this from departures at Mikuniminato or Awara-Yunomachi stations.
Tojinbo route segment faresOfficial Fukui tourism transport information
- Tojinbo coast → Walk, lunch and rest
Walk according to the weather and local access guidance, resting at open businesses nearby. Choose a sightseeing boat only after confirming operation that day. Boats, observation facilities and meals are excluded from the subtotal below.
Sightseeing-boat operator access informationOfficial Fukui tourism transport information
- Tojinbo stop, towards Awara-Yunomachi Station → Awara-Yunomachi Station and hot spring accommodation
Take the Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus for ¥570 per adult one way, checking the direction against Mikuni-bound services. Follow your booked accommodation’s access guidance. This route spends two nights at the hot springs; station arrival, check-in and dinner are separate times.
Tojinbo route segment faresOfficial Awara Grand Hotel access informationOfficial Awara Grand Hotel check-in and check-out information
Shorten the coastal visit in bad weather or during access restrictions. Do not apply weekday connections to Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays.
Day 3: rest at Awara hot springs
Rest at your hot spring accommodation before a second night. If going out, visit the footbath outside Awara-Yunomachi Station.
- Outside Awara-Yunomachi Station → Yunomachi Plaza and Ashiyu footbath
First check the return route from your accommodation to Yunomachi Plaza outside Awara-Yunomachi Station. This is not outside JR Awaraonsen Station. Awara City lists free use, 07:00–23:00 and year-round operation; follow temporary on-site restrictions first.
Awara hot spring association station-front footbath informationAwara City footbath hours and fees FAQ
- Footbath and Yunomachi Plaza → The same hot spring accommodation
Bring a towel and return for your second night. Rest indoors if it rains or the trip is inconvenient. Daytime room access, baths and meals depend on your booked plan.
Official Awara Grand Hotel check-in and check-out information
The footbath is free; towel purchases, meals and accommodation are separate.
Day 4: visit the Ichijodani site museum
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.
- Awara-Yunomachi Station → Echizen Railway Fukui Station and JR Fukui Station
Leave your accommodation and take a Fukui-bound train from Awara-Yunomachi for ¥730 per adult. Transfer in Fukui to JR’s Kuzuryu Line, allowing time to buy tickets and reach the JR platform.
Awara-Yunomachi Station Fukui-bound timetable and faresEchizen Railway timetable from 1 April 2026: hot springs to Fukui
- 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 + train and bus via Tojinbo to the hot springs and back to Fukui ¥2,360 + 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 Mikuni Station fare tableTojinbo route segment faresAwara-Yunomachi Station Fukui-bound timetable and faresOfficial JR date-specific return search for 16 October 2026Echizen Railway timetable from 1 April 2026: hot springs to FukuiEchizen Railway station locker locations, sizes and prices
Frequently asked questions
Do I walk directly from the museum to the reconstructed streets?
The three-night Fukui itinerary uses the free shuttle on its final day. The 2026 notice lists Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 4 April to 29 November, with capacity for 24 and guided-tour priority. Get off at the reconstructed townscape stop and follow entry signs. This shuttle is unavailable on weekdays.
Four-day route A free shuttle timetable in both directionsRechecked reconstructed-street operation and individual admission
Should I get off at Awaraonsen for hot spring accommodation?
JR Awaraonsen and Echizen Railway Awara-Yunomachi are different stations. The Tojinbo-to-hot-springs route takes the bus towards Awara-Yunomachi. Check your accommodation’s route from that station. For pickup at JR Awaraonsen, arrange transport there and shuttle reservations separately.
Official Awara Grand Hotel access informationOfficial Awara Grand Hotel check-in and check-out information
Sources and check dates
- 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 ·
- Official Fukui tourism transport information ·
- Sightseeing-boat operator access information ·
- Railway operator’s weekday return connections ·
- Official Mikuni Station fare table ·
- Current train fare from Katsuyama Station ·
- Current reconstructed-street operation and fees ·
- Awara-Yunomachi Station Fukui-bound timetable and fares ·
- 2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetable ·
- Awara City footbath hours and fees FAQ ·
- Awara hot spring association station-front footbath information ·
- Tojinbo route segment fares ·
- Official JR return timetable and fare search for 15 October 2026 ·
- Official JR return timetable and fare search for 18 October 2026 ·
- Four-day route A free shuttle timetable in both directions ·
- Rechecked reconstructed-street operation and individual admission ·
- Official JR date-specific return search for 16 October 2026 ·
- Echizen Railway timetable from 1 April 2026: hot springs to Fukui ·
- Echizen Railway station locker locations, sizes and prices ·
- Official Awara Grand Hotel access information ·
- Official Awara Grand Hotel check-in and check-out information ·
- Echizen Railway day pass, dinosaur transport package and hot spring stay pass ·