Three nights in Fukui: another day for townscape or onsen?
Stay three Fukui nights to see excavated objects and reconstructed houses/streets without moving hotels. Visit the townscape on the final day using the free weekend shuttle. For more coast and onsen rest, stay first in Fukui, then two nights in Awara Onsen. Take an Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus from Tojinbo, then return to Fukui for the Site Museum on the final day.
Choose a 4 days / 3 nights itinerary
Site Museum, Dinosaur Museum, Eiheiji and townscape
Spend three nights at the same Fukui hotel, giving museum objects and the reconstructed houses and streets separate days. Visit the Dinosaur Museum and Eiheiji too. Match the final-day townscape visit to a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday within the free shuttle season.
Site Museum, Dinosaur Museum, Eiheiji and townscape →4 days / 3 nights BEiheiji, Tojinbo, Awara Onsen and Ichijodani
A three-night trip for temple worship, rocky coast and extra rest in an onsen hotel. Stay first in Fukui, then two Awara nights. Return to Fukui for Ichijodani Museum on the final day. From Tojinbo, take an Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus.
Eiheiji, Tojinbo, Awara Onsen and Ichijodani →Site Museum, Dinosaur Museum, Eiheiji and townscape
Spend three nights at the same Fukui hotel, giving museum objects and the reconstructed houses and streets separate days. Visit the Dinosaur Museum and Eiheiji too. Match the final-day townscape visit to a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday within the free shuttle season.
Day 1: Ichijodani Site Museum
Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum · 福井県立一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡博物館
Explore castle-town life through excavated objects and reconstructed displays. The reconstructed townscape is elsewhere; today is for museum exhibitions.
- JR Fukui Station → Ichijodani Station
Take Etsumi-Hoku Line, also called Kuzuryu Line, to Ichijodani. The budget uses an adult one-way fare of 260 yen; recheck date-specific returns/fares in official JR search. Ichijodani does not support ICOCA; prepare a ticket.
Official JR timetable and fare searchOutbound JR Etsumi-Hoku LineIchijodani station facilities
- JR Ichijodani Station → Site Museum main building
Official guidance gives about three minutes on foot to the main entrance. Basic exhibitions cost 700 yen for ordinary adults; special exhibitions are extra. The museum opens 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Check whether you need the main building or annex, and take breaks between displays.
- Site Museum → Ichijodani and Fukui stations
Finish your visit in time for the return train and walk back to the same station. Take Fukui-bound JR, paying 260 yen for the adult return leg. Gaps between trains may be long, so check both directions before planning your visit and meals.
Check the calendar for Monday, New Year and temporary closures on your visit date. The townscape weekend shuttle does not run 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, fossils and exhibitions on the history of Earth and life. Connect Katsuyama trains and museum buses with your ticket’s entry slot.
- Echizen Railway Fukui Station → Katsuyama Station
Take a Katsuyama-bound train on the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line to its terminus. Adults pay 820 yen one way. Allow bus transfer time in addition to the roughly one-hour rail journey.
- Museum-bound bus at Katsuyama → Geoterminal and main-building entry gate
Transfer to a D Line bus, which runs on museum opening days and costs 300 yen one way for adults. Get off at Geoterminal, follow signs for the main entrance and third-floor general entry gate, and show your QR ticket. Allow time to walk and queue between bus arrival and entry.
Rail and bus connectionsMuseum entry procedureOfficial location mapEntry slots and fees
- Permanent exhibitions → Exhibitions, lunch and breaks
Ordinary adult admission costs 1,000 yen for the permanent exhibitions. The museum opens 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Allow time for lunch and breaks between displays, including restaurant queues. Special exhibitions, the outdoor museum, activities and meals are extra.
- Katsuyama-bound Geoterminal stop → Katsuyama and Fukui stations
Take the museum bus you checked in advance to Katsuyama, then transfer to a Fukui-bound train. The bus costs 300 yen and rail 820 yen. The last museum bus and last train are different services; check both connections together.
Check official closures and available entry slots first. Follow separate shuttle guidance on temporary park-access restriction dates.
Day 3: Eiheiji worship
Eiheiji Temple · 永平寺
Follow the worship route through corridor-linked temple buildings. After worship, have lunch and rest at nearby restaurants before returning to Fukui on the Eiheiji Liner.
- Fukui east-side stand 1 → Eiheiji stop
Take the daily Eiheiji Liner to its terminus. Adults pay 1,000 yen one way. Boarding is first come, first served without seat reservations. Check outward and return services for your date and arrive at the stand with time to spare.
- Eiheiji stop → Worship reception and grounds
Walk about five minutes from the stop to worship reception, according to official guidance. Ordinary adult admission costs 700 yen. Worship hours are 08:30–16:30, with arrival advised by 16:00. There are indoor stairs; leave strollers at reception. Ask which areas can be visited if anyone has mobility difficulties.
Walking directions to the templeOfficial temple visiting guidance
- Temple area → Eiheiji stop and Fukui east side
After worship, eat lunch and rest at an open restaurant. Return to the same Eiheiji stop for a Fukui east-side Liner. Adults pay 1,000 yen again. Allow for road delays/full buses rather than relying only on the last service.
Zazen and overnight experiences are separate from ordinary worship. Meals are extra to the transport/admission subtotal.
Day 4: Ichijodani townscape walk
Reconstructed Townscape of Ichijodani · 一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡 復原町並
Walk between reconstructed samurai and artisan houses, viewing recreated daily life inside. Visit on a different day from the museum and use the weekend shuttle.
- JR Fukui Station → Ichijodani Station and museum shuttle stop
Take Kuzuryu Line to Ichijodani, then walk about three minutes to the museum. The budget uses an adult JR fare of 260 yen one way; look up date-specific returns. Today does not repeat museum exhibitions.
- Museum shuttle stop → Townscape stop
Take the free shuttle to the townscape stop (復原町並). The 2026 guidance lists weekends and public holidays from 4 April to 29 November. Capacity is 24, with guided-tour participants prioritised. Get off here rather than continuing to Karamon.
- Townscape stop → Townscape entrance and visit
Follow the on-site entrance signs. Admission costs 330 yen for ages 15+. The site opens 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Walk the reconstructed streets at leisure, then return to the stop for your shuttle.
- Townscape stop → Site Museum, JR Ichijodani and Fukui
Take a museum-bound shuttle back, then Fukui-bound JR from Ichijodani for 260 yen per adult. The shuttle and JR are separate services; allow waiting time when choosing connections. If a full or suspended shuttle prevents boarding, check a later shuttle and JR connection or shorten the visit.
2026 free Ichijodani weekend shuttle timetableOfficial JR timetable and fare search
Closed 28 December–4 January. Do not apply this course on weekdays or outside shuttle season; check alternative transport in official access guidance.
Included: Ichijodani basic exhibitions/JR return 1,220 yen + Dinosaur Museum general exhibitions/rail/bus return 3,240 + Eiheiji admission/Liner return 2,700 + townscape admission/JR return 850.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, long-distance Fukui travel, special exhibitions, extra activities, cruises, viewing facilities, luggage storage, hotel transfers and extra transport.
This subtotal covers the listed transport and admission for one ordinary adult. Accommodation, meals, long-distance travel to and from Fukui and separate activities are extra. Check official fares for your travel date. No transport-pass discounts are applied.
Official temple visiting guidanceLiner timetable and faresMuseum hours and admissionMuseum fees and opening informationCurrent Katsuyama rail faresRail and bus connectionsCurrent townscape hours and fees2026 free Ichijodani weekend shuttle timetableOfficial JR return timetable/fare search for 15 October 2026Official JR return timetable/fare search for 18 October 2026Three nights A: free shuttle timetable for both directionsRechecked current townscape hours and individual admission
Eiheiji, Tojinbo, Awara Onsen and Ichijodani
A three-night trip for temple worship, rocky coast and extra rest in an onsen hotel. Stay first in Fukui, then two Awara nights. Return to Fukui for Ichijodani Museum on the final day. From Tojinbo, take an Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus.
Day 1: Eiheiji worship
Follow the worship route through corridor-linked temple buildings. After worship, have lunch and rest nearby before returning to Fukui on the Eiheiji Liner.
- Fukui east-side stand 1 → Eiheiji stop
Take the daily Eiheiji Liner to its terminus. Adults pay 1,000 yen one way. Boarding is first come, first served without seat reservations. Check outward and return services for your date and arrive at the stand with time to spare.
- Eiheiji stop → Worship reception and grounds
Walk about five minutes from the stop to worship reception, according to official guidance. Ordinary adult admission costs 700 yen. Worship hours are 08:30–16:30, with arrival advised by 16:00. There are indoor stairs; leave strollers at reception. Ask which areas can be visited if anyone has mobility difficulties.
Walking directions to the templeOfficial temple visiting guidance
- Temple area → Eiheiji stop and Fukui east side
After worship, eat lunch and rest at an open restaurant. Return to the same Eiheiji stop for a Fukui east-side Liner. Adults pay 1,000 yen again. Allow for road delays/full buses rather than relying only on the last service.
Zazen and overnight experiences are separate from ordinary worship. Meals are extra to the transport/admission subtotal.
Day 2: Tojinbo, then onsen
Tojinbo Cliffs · 東尋坊
See rocky cliffs and sea, then move hotels to Awara Onsen. Take an Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus rather than returning to Mikuni.
- Echizen Railway Fukui Station → Mikuni Station
Take Mikuni Awara Line towards Mikuni and alight there. Adults pay 780 yen one way. Distinguish weekday and weekend/public-holiday timetables; check returns too.
Official Mikuni station fare tableRail operator weekday return connections
- Keifuku bus at Mikuni → Tojinbo stop and coast
Transfer to a Tojinbo-bound bus; adults pay 280 yen one way. Official guidance gives about five minutes on foot from the stop to the coast. Check that you are using the Mikuni service, as departures from Mikuni-Minato or Awara-Yunomachi are different.
Tojinbo Line section faresOfficial Fukui tourism transport guidance
- Tojinbo coast → Walks, lunch and breaks
Walk according to weather/access guidance and rest at open shops nearby. Choose a cruise only after checking that day’s operation. Cruises, viewing facilities and meals are outside the subtotal.
Boat operator access guidanceOfficial Fukui tourism transport guidance
- Awara-Yunomachi-bound Tojinbo stop → Awara-Yunomachi and onsen hotel
Take an Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus, which costs 570 yen one way for adults. Check the destination to distinguish it from Mikuni-bound services. Follow your booked hotel’s access guidance. This course has two onsen nights; station arrival, check-in and dinner times are separate.
Tojinbo Line section faresOfficial Awara Grand Hotel accessOfficial Awara Grand Hotel check-in/check-out guidance
Shorten coastal visits for poor weather or access restrictions. Do not use weekday connections on weekends/public holidays.
Day 3: rest in Awara Onsen
Rest at your onsen hotel and spend a second night. For an outing, visit the footbath in front of Awara-Yunomachi.
- Awara-Yunomachi station front → Yunomachi Square and Ashiyu footbath
Check the route from your hotel to the footbath at Yunomachi Square outside Awara-Yunomachi, including your return. This is a different location from JR Awara Onsen Station. Awara City guidance lists free, year-round access from 07:00 to 23:00. Follow any temporary on-site restrictions.
Awara Onsen association guide to the station-front footbathAwara City footbath hours and fees FAQ
- Footbath and Yunomachi Square → Same onsen hotel
Bring a towel, then return to your hotel for the second night. For rain or difficult hotel access, stay in and rest if preferred. Daytime room use, baths and meals depend on your booked plan.
The footbath is free. Towel purchases, meals and accommodation are extra.
Day 4: Ichijodani Site Museum
Explore castle-town life through excavated objects and reconstructed displays. The reconstructed townscape is elsewhere; today is for museum exhibitions.
- Awara-Yunomachi Station → Echizen Railway Fukui and JR Fukui
Leave the hotel and take a Fukui-bound train from Awara-Yunomachi. The adult fare is 730 yen. Transfer to JR Kuzuryu Line in Fukui, allowing ticket purchase and access to JR platforms.
Awara-Yunomachi Fukui-bound timetable and faresEchizen Railway 1 April 2026 timetable: onsen to Fukui
- JR Fukui Station → Ichijodani Station
Take Etsumi-Hoku Line, also called Kuzuryu Line, to Ichijodani. The budget uses an adult one-way fare of 260 yen; recheck date-specific returns/fares in official JR search. Ichijodani does not support ICOCA; prepare a ticket.
Official JR timetable and fare searchOutbound JR Etsumi-Hoku LineIchijodani station facilities
- JR Ichijodani Station → Site Museum main building
Official guidance gives about three minutes on foot to the main entrance. Basic exhibitions cost 700 yen for ordinary adults; special exhibitions are extra. The museum opens 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Check whether you need the main building or annex, and take breaks between displays.
- Site Museum → Ichijodani and Fukui stations
Finish your visit in time for the return train and walk back to the same station. Take Fukui-bound JR, paying 260 yen for the adult return leg. Gaps between trains may be long, so check both directions before planning your visit and meals.
Check the calendar for Monday, New Year and temporary closures on your visit date. The townscape weekend shuttle does not run on weekdays.
Included: Eiheiji admission/Liner return 2,700 yen + rail/buses via Tojinbo and onsen then back to Fukui 2,360 + Ichijodani basic exhibitions/JR return 1,220.
Extra costs and conditions: Accommodation, meals, long-distance Fukui travel, special exhibitions, extra activities, cruises, viewing facilities, luggage storage, hotel transfers and extra transport.
This subtotal covers the listed transport and admission for one ordinary adult. Accommodation, meals, long-distance travel to and from Fukui and separate activities are extra. Check official fares for your travel date. No transport-pass discounts are applied.
Official temple visiting guidanceLiner timetable and faresMuseum hours and admissionOfficial Mikuni station fare tableTojinbo Line section faresAwara-Yunomachi Fukui-bound timetable and faresOfficial JR 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 directly from the museum to the townscape?
The final day of the three-night Fukui course uses the free shuttle. The 2026 guidance lists weekends/public holidays from 4 April to 29 November, capacity 24, with guided-tour participants prioritised. Get off at the townscape stop and follow entrance signs. This shuttle does not run on weekdays.
Three nights A: free shuttle timetable for both directionsRechecked current townscape hours and individual admission
Should I get off at Awara Onsen Station for my hotel?
JR Awara Onsen and Echizen Railway Awara-Yunomachi are different stations. Courses moving from Tojinbo to the onsen take an Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus. Check your hotel’s directions from that station. If using pickup at JR Awara Onsen, arrange travel to that station and the pickup reservation separately.
Official Awara Grand Hotel accessOfficial Awara Grand Hotel check-in/check-out guidance
Sources and check dates
- Liner timetable and fares ·
- Walking directions to the temple ·
- Rail and bus connections ·
- Museum entry procedure ·
- Entry slots and fees ·
- Bus and car-park access ·
- Official location map ·
- Official JR timetable and fare search ·
- Outbound JR Etsumi-Hoku Line ·
- Ichijodani station facilities ·
- Museum access ·
- Museum hours and admission ·
- Museum fees and opening information ·
- Official temple visiting guidance ·
- Official Fukui tourism transport guidance ·
- Boat operator access guidance ·
- Rail operator weekday return connections ·
- Official Mikuni station fare table ·
- Current Katsuyama rail fares ·
- Current townscape hours and fees ·
- Awara-Yunomachi Fukui-bound timetable and fares ·
- 2026 free Ichijodani weekend shuttle timetable ·
- Awara City footbath hours and fees FAQ ·
- Awara Onsen association guide to the station-front footbath ·
- Tojinbo Line section fares ·
- Official JR return timetable/fare search for 15 October 2026 ·
- Official JR return timetable/fare search for 18 October 2026 ·
- Three nights A: free shuttle timetable for both directions ·
- Rechecked current townscape hours and individual admission ·
- Official JR 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 ·
- Official Awara Grand Hotel access ·
- Official Awara Grand Hotel check-in/check-out guidance ·
- Echizen Railway day pass, dinosaur transport set and onsen accommodation pass ·