Fukui in 5 days: how many city and hot spring nights?

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.

1. 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 search2026-10-08JR Etsumi-Hoku Line outbound timetable2026-10-08Ichijodani Station facilities2026-10-08

2. 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.

   Museum access2026-10-08Museum operation and fees2026-10-09

3. 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.

   Official JR timetable and fare search2026-10-08Museum access2026-10-08

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.

1. 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 Station2026-10-08Bus and parking access guidance2026-10-08

2. 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 connections2026-10-08Museum entry instructions2026-10-08Official location map2026-10-08Entry slots and fees2026-10-09

3. 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.

   Museum fees and operation2026-10-08

4. 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 connections2026-10-08Current train fare from Katsuyama Station2026-10-08

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.

1. 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.

   Liner timetable and fares2026-10-08

2. 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.

   Temple walking access2026-10-08Official temple visiting information2026-10-08

3. 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.

   Liner timetable and fares2026-10-08Temple walking access2026-10-08

Day 4: walk Tojinbo’s coast

Tojinbo Cliffs · 東尋坊

Transfer to a bus at Mikuni Station to see Tojinbo’s rocky cliffs and sea. After the coastal walk, return via Mikuni to the same Fukui accommodation.

1. 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 table2026-10-08Railway operator’s weekday return connections2026-10-08

2. 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 fares2026-10-08Official Fukui tourism transport information2026-10-08

3. 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 information2026-10-08Official Fukui tourism transport information2026-10-08

4. Tojinbo stop, towards Mikuni Station → Mikuni Station and Fukui Station

   Return by the ¥280 bus to Mikuni Station, then transfer to the ¥780 Fukui-bound railway. Allow ticket purchases and walking to the platform after leaving the bus. Compare connections for your date and avoid relying only on a short transfer from the last bus.

   Railway operator’s weekday return connections2026-10-08Tojinbo route segment fares2026-10-08Official Mikuni Station fare table2026-10-08

Day 5: 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.

1. 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.

   Official JR timetable and fare search2026-10-08Museum access2026-10-08

2. 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.

   2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetable2026-10-08

3. 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.

   Current reconstructed-street operation and fees2026-10-09

4. 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 timetable2026-10-08Official JR timetable and fare search2026-10-08

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.

1. 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.

   Liner timetable and fares2026-10-08

2. 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.

   Temple walking access2026-10-08Official temple visiting information2026-10-08

3. 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.

   Liner timetable and fares2026-10-08Temple walking access2026-10-08

Day 2: see Tojinbo, then continue to the hot springs

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.

1. 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 table2026-10-08Railway operator’s weekday return connections2026-10-08

2. 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 fares2026-10-08Official Fukui tourism transport information2026-10-08

3. 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 information2026-10-08Official Fukui tourism transport information2026-10-08

4. 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 fares2026-10-08Official Awara Grand Hotel access information2026-10-09Official Awara Grand Hotel check-in and check-out information2026-10-09

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.

1. 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 information2026-10-08Awara City footbath hours and fees FAQ2026-10-08

2. 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 information2026-10-09

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.

1. 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 fares2026-10-08Echizen Railway timetable from 1 April 2026: hot springs to Fukui2026-10-09

2. 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 search2026-10-08JR Etsumi-Hoku Line outbound timetable2026-10-08Ichijodani Station facilities2026-10-08

3. 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.

   Museum access2026-10-08Museum operation and fees2026-10-09

4. 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.

   Official JR timetable and fare search2026-10-08Museum access2026-10-08

Day 5: spend the day at the dinosaur museum

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.

1. 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 Station2026-10-08Bus and parking access guidance2026-10-08

2. 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 connections2026-10-08Museum entry instructions2026-10-08Official location map2026-10-08Entry slots and fees2026-10-09

3. 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.

   Museum fees and operation2026-10-08

4. 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 connections2026-10-08Current train fare from Katsuyama Station2026-10-08