Where should you stay and what should you see in Fukui?
See large dinosaur skeletons and fossils at the dinosaur museum, and temple buildings linked by corridors at Eiheiji. At Ichijodani, explore excavated artefacts or reconstructed houses and streets. Stay near Fukui Station for separate day trips. Add Awara-Yunomachi accommodation for Tojinbo’s rocky coast and hot spring rest. Plan around museum entry slots and closures, coastal buses and townscape shuttle operating days.
Dinosaur exhibits, temple or coast?
Choose the dinosaur museum for large skeletons and fossils, or Eiheiji for a leisurely corridor walk. For castle-town life, explore Ichijodani’s artefacts and museum displays, then travel to the reconstructed houses. For the sea, choose Tojinbo’s rocky cliffs. You can move to an Awara Onsen hotel afterwards to rest.
Itineraries by trip length
Use Fukui Station as a base for museums, temple and historic sites on separate days, or move to Awara Onsen after Tojinbo. Museum entry reservations and townscape shuttle operating days affect course choices.
1 night, 2 days
If you arrive in the morning for the Eiheiji Liner, visit the temple and stay one night in Fukui. Choose the dinosaur museum or Ichijodani Site Museum for day two. Allow time after sightseeing before your onward departure.
2 nights, 3 days
Stay two nights in Fukui for Eiheiji and the Site Museum on separate days. Add the dinosaur museum for fossils or Tojinbo for a coastal walk, choosing dates around museum reservations and bus operation.
3 nights, 4 days
Stay three nights in Fukui for both museums, temple and townscape without changing hotels. Fit the final townscape around the free weekend shuttle. For hot spring rest, stay one Fukui night, then travel via Tojinbo for two Awara Onsen nights.
4 nights, 5 days
Four Fukui nights give separate days to both museums, temple, coast and townscape. For a hot spring rest day, stay one Fukui night, two hot spring nights and another Fukui night. Compare time remaining after the final-day museum return before long-distance departure.
Where should you stay?
Around Fukui Station
Use this base for the museum, temple and historic sites on separate days. JR Kuzuryu Line, Echizen Railway and the east-side Eiheiji Liner have different boarding locations. On the last day, coordinate the return to the station with your onward train.
Railway interchange guideLiner timetable and faresHotel access
Katsuyama
Compare Katsuyama hotels for more time at the dinosaur museum. Museum buses leave Katsuyama Station; check walking access and transfers between your chosen hotel, the station and museum separately.
Around Awara-Yunomachi
Choose this base for hot springs and Tojinbo. Check whether your hotel’s access guide refers to Awaraonsen Station or Awara-Yunomachi Station, and enquire about pick-up conditions.
Official Fukui tourism transport guideRail operator’s weekday return connection table
Before travelling or booking
Check timetables and closing days for your dates
Reserve your dinosaur museum entry slot first, then coordinate railway and bus services. The Eiheiji Liner runs daily with first-come boarding; Tojinbo uses separate weekday and weekend/public-holiday connections.
Ichijodani’s free townscape shuttle runs Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 4 April to 29 November 2026. Check other transport in the official access guide on weekdays or outside the season. When dates change, compare both return transport and facility calendars again.
Official JR time and fare searchJR Etsumi-Hoku Line outbound servicesLiner timetable and fares2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetableOfficial JR return time/fare search for 14 October 2026Official JR return time/fare search for 15 October 2026Rechecked three-day B weekday Tojinbo rail/bus connectionsOfficial JR return time/fare search for 18 October 2026Four-day A free shuttle timetable in both directionsOfficial JR dated return search for 16 October 2026Echizen Railway 1 April 2026 timetable: hot springs → FukuiEchizen Railway station locker locations, sizes and feesOfficial Awara Grand Hotel access guideOfficial Awara Grand Hotel check-in/out guideOfficial JR dated return search for 3 November 2026Official JR dated return search for 7 November 2026Dinosaur museum November calendar: next-month view checkedFive-day A weekend shuttle timetable for 7 NovemberFive-day A weekday Tojinbo return connections for 6 November
Checks when changing hotels
JR, Echizen Railway and the east-side stand 1 Eiheiji Liner have different boarding locations. On your final day, coordinate the return from sights to the station with your onward train.
When moving from Tojinbo to Awara Onsen, do not return to Mikuni Station. Check your booked hot spring hotel’s station name, access, transfer and meal times.
Luggage storage guideHotel accessRailway interchange guideLiner timetable and faresTojinbo route section fare tableOfficial Awara Grand Hotel access guideOfficial Awara Grand Hotel check-in/out guide
When should you compare Echizen Railway passes?
The Echizen Railway day pass costs JPY 1,200 for junior high students and above, valid only Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and 29 December–3 January. It covers all Echizen Railway lines on the printed date, excluding JR, Keifuku buses and admission. Do not apply this weekend pass to weekday Tojinbo examples.
The dinosaur museum transport set costs JPY 1,700 for adults on museum opening days, covering Echizen Railway and designated Daifuku Kotsu buses. Museum admission is excluded; reserve and pay for your entry slot separately. Check that your bus is covered before buying.
The Awara Onsen accommodation pass costs JPY 2,500 for Echizen Railway on the purchase date and following day. Check your hotel is on the operator’s participating list first. Get its confirmation stamp at check-in on day one to use the pass on day two. After two hot spring nights, a third-day return falls outside the original two-day pass. Compare bus and return railway fares separately. Course costs use ordinary tickets.
Echizen Railway day pass, dinosaur transport set and hot spring accommodation pass
Explore next
Fukui food and restaurant guide
Check your chosen shop’s hours, prices and reservation conditions.
Fukui food and restaurant guide →Fukui transport map and timetables
Choose a station on the transport map with Fukui selected to find timetables. Check travel-date services, delays and ticket coverage with the operator.
Fukui transport map and timetables →Fukui camera list
Use each camera’s location and current view as a reference for the area you plan to visit. Check facility operation and reservation availability in individual official guides.
Fukui camera list →How should you divide dinosaurs, temple, historic sites and coast?
See dinosaur skeletons and fossils at the dinosaur museum, and castle-town life through Ichijodani museum artefacts and reconstructed displays. Follow Eiheiji’s corridor visitor route. After Tojinbo, take an Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus if moving to the hot springs. Fit townscape visits around free shuttle operating dates.
Dinosaur museum: plan a day around your entry reservation
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum · 福井県立恐竜博物館
Explore large dinosaur skeletons, fossils and exhibits on Earth and the history of life. Change to a museum bus at Katsuyama Station. Reserve your entry slot first, then choose trains and buses. The general adult subtotal from Fukui is JPY 3,240 for return transport and general exhibition admission. Special exhibitions, the outdoor museum, experiences and meals cost extra.
Entry slots and feesRailway and bus connectionsCurrent Katsuyama Station rail faresMuseum fees and hoursDinosaur museum permanent exhibition guide
Eiheiji: temple visit and a nearby lunch
Eiheiji Temple · 永平寺
Follow the visitor route through temple buildings linked by corridors. Take the direct Liner from Fukui Station’s east side, then walk about five minutes to reception according to the official guide. Have lunch and a break nearby afterwards. Indoor stairs require checking assistance and accessible visiting areas before arrival.
Liner timetable and faresOfficial temple visitor guideWalking access to the templeOfficial Fukui guide to Eiheiji’s visitor route
Ichijodani: museum and townscape are separate visits
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 artefacts and reconstructed museum displays.
Reconstructed Townscape of Ichijodani · 一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡 復原町並
At the townscape, walk among samurai residences and artisans’ houses. Compare separate admissions and combined tickets in the museum’s official guide. The three-night Fukui course visits on separate days, fitting the final-day townscape around the free weekend shuttle.
Museum hours and feesCurrent reconstructed townscape hours and fees2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetableIchijodani museum exhibition guide
Tojinbo and Awara Onsen: a hot spring stay after the coast
Tojinbo Cliffs · 東尋坊
After the rocky cliffs and sea, choose between returning to Fukui and moving to a hot spring hotel.
Awara Onsen · あわら温泉
The bus directions differ for Fukui return and Awara travel. Hot spring courses take the Awara-Yunomachi-bound bus rather than returning to Mikuni. Fit coastal visiting time around hotel transfers and dinner.
Tojinbo route section fare tableOfficial Awara Grand Hotel access guideOfficial Awara Grand Hotel check-in/out guideBoat operator’s access guide
Which trains and buses leave Fukui Station?
JR, Echizen Railway and the east-side Liner have different boarding locations. Allow ticket purchase, station walking and waiting time when changing services.
Dinosaur museum: Echizen Railway → Katsuyama → D Line
Take a Katsuyama-bound train from Echizen Railway Fukui Station to the terminus. Change to the D Line, operating on museum opening days, and alight at Geo Terminal for the main-building third-floor admission gate. Choose the museum return bus and Katsuyama–Fukui train together. The last bus and last train are different services.
Railway and bus connectionsMuseum admission procedureBus and car-park access guide
Eiheiji: east-side stand 1 Liner
Take the Eiheiji Liner from east-side stand 1 to the terminus. This daily first-come service requires checking the return too. Walk about five minutes from the stop to reception. Allow for full buses and road delays rather than relying only on the last bus.
Ichijodani: JR Kuzuryu Line → museum
Take the JR Etsumi-Hoku Line (Kuzuryu Line) from Fukui to Ichijodani, then walk about three minutes to the main building. Ichijodani does not support ICOCA; prepare a ticket. For the townscape, the free shuttle from the museum runs Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 4 April to 29 November 2026, capacity 24 with guided-tour priority. It is unavailable on weekdays.
Ichijodani Station facilitiesMuseum access2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetable
What is Echizen soba?
A representative style is oroshi soba: boiled and cooled buckwheat noodles with cold broth, grated radish, bonito flakes and spring onions. Look for it on restaurant menus if you fancy noodles with radish. The radish and serving style affect the flavour.
On museum days, allow time for exhibit viewing and lunch before your return bus. After Eiheiji, choose an open nearby restaurant. If hotel meals are included, check the specified dinner time. Food costs are excluded from the transport/admission subtotals below.
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Echizen/oroshi soba serving guideWalking access to the templeMuseum fees and hoursOfficial Awara Grand Hotel check-in/out guide
Costs for museum, temple and coastal trips
These use one general adult departing from Fukui. Accommodation, meals, long-distance travel to/from Fukui, special exhibitions, boats and extra experiences cost more. No transport pass discounts are applied. See the travel and booking guidance above for pass coverage and valid days.
| Transport or facility | Adult cost | Included items and extras |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur museum general exhibition day | JPY 3,240 | The subtotal covers exhibition admission at JPY 1,000, two rail journeys at JPY 820 each and two bus rides at JPY 300 each. |
| Eiheiji visit with return travel | JPY 2,700 | The subtotal covers admission at JPY 700 and two Liner rides at JPY 1,000 each. Zen meditation and overnight experiences cost extra. |
| Ichijodani Site Museum with return travel | JPY 1,220 | The subtotal covers basic-exhibition admission at JPY 700 and two JR journeys at JPY 260 each. Special exhibitions and the townscape cost extra. |
| Tojinbo visit returning to Fukui | JPY 2,120 | The subtotal covers two Fukui–Mikuni rail journeys at JPY 780 each and two bus rides at JPY 280 each. Boats and observation facilities cost extra. |
| Reconstructed townscape admission | JPY 330 | This fee applies to ages 15 and above and is separate from museum admission. The free shuttle has date and capacity conditions. |
Current Katsuyama Station rail faresRailway and bus connectionsMuseum fees and hoursLiner timetable and faresOfficial temple visitor guideMuseum hours and feesOfficial JR time and fare searchOfficial Mikuni Station fare tableTojinbo route section fare tableCurrent reconstructed townscape hours and fees
Can I check cameras before visiting Katsuyama?
Use Katsuyama City’s camera list to check each location and current view for the area you plan to visit. Check museum closing days, entry slots and reservations in the museum’s official guide, and transport services with their operators.
Official Katsuyama City camera list; detailed views unconfirmed
Frequently asked questions
Stay near Fukui Station or in Awara Onsen?
Consider Fukui Station as a base for the dinosaur museum, Eiheiji and Ichijodani on separate days. Compare Awara-Yunomachi stays for hot spring rest and Tojinbo. Before booking, check the station, hotel access, transfers and meal times.
Railway and bus connectionsLiner timetable and faresMuseum accessRail operator’s weekday return connection tableOfficial Awara Grand Hotel access guide
Are Awaraonsen and Awara-Yunomachi the same station?
No. Awara-Yunomachi is on Echizen Railway’s Mikuni Awara Line. Choose transport after checking the station in your hotel’s access guide. For hotel pick-up, confirm the boarding station and advance reservation requirements.
Official Awara Grand Hotel access guideAwara-Yunomachi Station Fukui-bound timetable and fares
Sources and confirmation dates
- Hotel access ·
- Luggage storage guide ·
- Liner timetable and fares ·
- Walking access to the temple ·
- Railway and bus connections ·
- Museum admission procedure ·
- Railway interchange guide ·
- Entry slots and fees ·
- Bus and car-park access guide ·
- Official JR time and fare search ·
- JR Etsumi-Hoku Line outbound services ·
- Ichijodani Station facilities ·
- Museum access ·
- Museum hours and fees ·
- Museum fees and hours ·
- Official temple visitor guide ·
- Official Fukui tourism transport guide ·
- Boat operator’s access guide ·
- Rail operator’s weekday return connection table ·
- Official Mikuni Station fare table ·
- Current Katsuyama Station rail fares ·
- Current reconstructed townscape hours and fees ·
- Awara-Yunomachi Station Fukui-bound timetable and fares ·
- 2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetable ·
- Tojinbo route section fare table ·
- Official JR return time/fare search for 14 October 2026 ·
- Official JR return time/fare search for 15 October 2026 ·
- Rechecked three-day B weekday Tojinbo rail/bus connections ·
- Official JR return time/fare search for 18 October 2026 ·
- Four-day A free shuttle timetable in both directions ·
- Official JR dated return search for 16 October 2026 ·
- Echizen Railway 1 April 2026 timetable: hot springs → Fukui ·
- Echizen Railway station locker locations, sizes and fees ·
- Official Awara Grand Hotel access guide ·
- Official Awara Grand Hotel check-in/out guide ·
- Official JR dated return search for 3 November 2026 ·
- Official JR dated return search for 7 November 2026 ·
- Dinosaur museum November calendar: next-month view checked ·
- Five-day A weekend shuttle timetable for 7 November ·
- Five-day A weekday Tojinbo return connections for 6 November ·
- Echizen Railway day pass, dinosaur transport set and hot spring accommodation pass ·
- Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Echizen/oroshi soba serving guide ·
- Official Katsuyama City camera list; detailed views unconfirmed ·
- Dinosaur museum permanent exhibition guide ·
- Official Fukui guide to Eiheiji’s visitor route ·
- Ichijodani museum exhibition guide ·