Four nights in Fukui: how many city and onsen nights?

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.

1. 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 search2026-10-08Outbound JR Etsumi-Hoku Line2026-10-08Ichijodani station facilities2026-10-08

2. 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.

   Museum access2026-10-08Museum hours and admission2026-10-09

3. 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.

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

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.

1. 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.

   Current Katsuyama rail fares2026-10-08Bus and car-park access2026-10-08

2. 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 connections2026-10-08Museum entry procedure2026-10-08Official location map2026-10-08Entry slots and fees2026-10-09

3. 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.

   Museum fees and opening information2026-10-08

4. 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.

   Rail and bus connections2026-10-08Current Katsuyama rail fares2026-10-08

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.

1. 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.

   Liner timetable and fares2026-10-08

2. 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 temple2026-10-08Official temple visiting guidance2026-10-08

3. 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.

   Liner timetable and fares2026-10-08Walking directions to the temple2026-10-08

Day 4: Tojinbo coastal walk

Tojinbo Cliffs · 東尋坊

Transfer to a bus at Mikuni for rocky cliffs and sea views. Return via Mikuni to the same Fukui hotel after coastal walks.

1. 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 table2026-10-08Rail operator weekday return connections2026-10-08

2. 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 fares2026-10-08Official Fukui tourism transport guidance2026-10-08

3. 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 guidance2026-10-08Official Fukui tourism transport guidance2026-10-08

4. Mikuni-bound Tojinbo stop → Mikuni and Fukui stations

   Take a bus back to Mikuni for 280 yen, then a Fukui-bound train for 780 yen. Allow time to buy tickets and reach the platform after getting off the bus. Check your travel-date connections and leave more than a short transfer from the last bus.

   Rail operator weekday return connections2026-10-08Tojinbo Line section fares2026-10-08Official Mikuni station fare table2026-10-08

Day 5: 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.

1. 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.

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

2. 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.

   2026 free Ichijodani weekend shuttle timetable2026-10-08

3. 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.

   Current townscape hours and fees2026-10-09

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

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.

1. 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.

   Liner timetable and fares2026-10-08

2. 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 temple2026-10-08Official temple visiting guidance2026-10-08

3. 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.

   Liner timetable and fares2026-10-08Walking directions to the temple2026-10-08

Day 2: Tojinbo, then onsen

See Tojinbo’s rocky cliffs and sea, then move to Awara Onsen. Take an Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus instead of returning to Mikuni.

1. 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 table2026-10-08Rail operator weekday return connections2026-10-08

2. 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 fares2026-10-08Official Fukui tourism transport guidance2026-10-08

3. 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 guidance2026-10-08Official Fukui tourism transport guidance2026-10-08

4. 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 fares2026-10-08Official Awara Grand Hotel access2026-10-09Official Awara Grand Hotel check-in/check-out guidance2026-10-09

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.

1. 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 footbath2026-10-08Awara City footbath hours and fees FAQ2026-10-08

2. 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.

   Official Awara Grand Hotel check-in/check-out guidance2026-10-09

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.

1. 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 fares2026-10-08Echizen Railway 1 April 2026 timetable: onsen to Fukui2026-10-09

2. 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 search2026-10-08Outbound JR Etsumi-Hoku Line2026-10-08Ichijodani station facilities2026-10-08

3. 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.

   Museum access2026-10-08Museum hours and admission2026-10-09

4. 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.

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

Day 5: a day at the Dinosaur Museum

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.

1. 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.

   Current Katsuyama rail fares2026-10-08Bus and car-park access2026-10-08

2. 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 connections2026-10-08Museum entry procedure2026-10-08Official location map2026-10-08Entry slots and fees2026-10-09

3. 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.

   Museum fees and opening information2026-10-08

4. 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.

   Rail and bus connections2026-10-08Current Katsuyama rail fares2026-10-08