Which Fukui attractions should I visit?
Choose the Dinosaur Museum for a close look at large dinosaur skeletons and fossils, or Eiheiji for a leisurely walk through temple corridors. To explore life in the former castle town, see artifacts and reconstructed exhibits at the Ichijodani museum, then visit the reconstructed townscape to walk between samurai residences and artisans' houses. For a day by the sea, visit Tojinbo's rocky cliffs and ocean views. You can also move to Awara Onsen for a relaxing stay after your coastal walk.
Attraction admission, hours, and access
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
福井県立恐竜博物館
Spend a day at the Dinosaur Museum for a close look at giant skeletons and fossils. The permanent exhibition also covers Earth and life's history. Buy a ticket for a specific date and entry time in advance, then coordinate trains and buses.
- Admission; special exhibitions excludedGeneral exhibition admission is ¥1,000 for adults, ¥800 for high school and university students, and ¥500 for elementary and junior high school students and visitors ages 70 and older. Preschool children enter free. Special exhibitions and the outdoor museum cost separately.
- Hours, closures, and ticketsThe museum opens 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. It usually closes on the second and fourth Wednesdays and December 31–January 1; check the calendar for holiday, summer, and other exceptions. Reserve tickets in advance for your visit date and entry time.
- Rail, bus, and 2026 faresFrom Fukui Station, take a Katsuyama-bound Echizen Railway train on the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line to the last stop, then transfer to a museum-bound bus. Official estimates of about one hour by train and 15 minutes by bus cover riding time, excluding waits and transfers. In the April 1, 2026 bus timetable, the D line operates on museum opening days. Katsuyama–museum bus fares are ¥300 one way for adults and ¥200 for children; Fukui–Katsuyama rail is ¥820 one way for adults. The C line has different operating conditions and stop order, so check your route.
- October and November park-access restrictionsPark traffic restrictions and temporary shuttle instructions apply October 11 and November 22, 2026. For those dates, check temporary shuttles and parking access first.
- What to seeThe permanent exhibition covers dinosaur skeletons and fossils, plus Earth and life's history.
Museum admission and operationsEntry times and pricesBus and parking accessTrain and bus connectionsCurrent Katsuyama Station railway faresDinosaur Museum permanent-exhibition introduction
Eiheiji Temple
永平寺
Choose Eiheiji for an unhurried visit to temple buildings and grounds. Follow the visiting route through corridor-linked buildings. There are indoor stairs; activities such as zazen have different conditions and prices from general admission.
- AdmissionGeneral admission is ¥700 for adults and ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students. Preschool children enter free. Zazen and overnight experiences have different conditions and prices; check their separate guides.
- Visiting hoursVisiting hours are 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with guidance to arrive by 4:00 p.m. Check event-related restrictions for your date.
- Stairs and strollersThere are indoor stairs and strollers are not permitted inside. If someone in your group has difficulty with stairs, ask the facility which areas they can access.
- Eiheiji Liner, 2026 fares, and entranceTake the Eiheiji Liner from Fukui Station east-side stop 1 and get off at Eiheiji. Fares revised October 1, 2026 are ¥1,000 one way for adults and ¥500 for children. Service runs daily but has no seat reservations; you cannot board a full bus. Official Fukui tourism guidance gives about a five-minute walk from the stop to the entrance.
- What to seeFollow the visiting route through corridor-linked temple buildings and grounds. Not all training spaces are open to visitors.
Official temple visiting guideLiner timetable and faresWalking directions to the templeOfficial Fukui Eiheiji visiting route
Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum
福井県立一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡博物館
Explore excavated artifacts and reconstructed displays to learn how people lived in Ichijodani's historic castle town. The actual reconstructed townscape requires travel to another place, so plan it separately from the museum exhibits.
- Admission; special exhibitions excludedGeneral admission is ¥700 for adults, ¥400 for high school students, ¥200 for elementary and junior high school students, and ¥350 for visitors ages 70 and older. Special exhibitions cost separately. A combined ticket with the reconstructed townscape is also listed. Check its price, validity, and use on separate days before buying. Itinerary costs use individual general admission.
- Hours and closuresThe museum opens 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. Check your date's calendar for Monday, year-end/New Year, and temporary closures.
- JR and the station walkTake JR's Etsumi-Hoku Line, also called the Kuzuryu Line, from Fukui to Ichijodani and walk to the museum. Official estimates are about 15 minutes by train and three minutes on foot from the station. Check Fukui-bound trains for the return.
- 2026 weekend and holiday shuttleA free Karamon-bound shuttle is listed for Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays April 4–November 29, 2026. Check weekday transportation separately in the museum's official access guide.
- What to seeExcavated artifacts and reconstructed displays show life in the historic castle town.
Museum operations and admissionMuseum accessIchijodani museum exhibit introduction
Reconstructed Townscape of Ichijodani
一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡 復原町並
Walk among samurai residences and artisans' houses reconstructed from excavated stone walls and building foundations. Inside, displays recreate daily life based on artifacts. This is separate from the museum, and free shuttles operate on specified weekends and public holidays.
- Museum versus reconstructed townscapeThe reconstructed houses and streets are separate from the museum exhibits. To visit both, choose transportation between them.
- General admissionAdmission is ¥330 for ages 15 and older. Check date-specific guidance for group rates, reductions, and temporary restrictions.
- Hours and closuresThe townscape opens 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. It closes December 28–January 4.
- Weekend shuttle and stopUse the free shuttle's reconstructed townscape stop (復原町並) on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays April 4–November 29, 2026. Capacity is 24, with priority for guided-tour participants; follow on-site instructions. From the stop, follow admission signs and allow separate ticketing and waiting time. This shuttle does not run weekdays.
- What to seeSamurai residences and artisans' houses were reconstructed from excavated stone walls and foundations. Inside, see daily-life recreations based on excavated artifacts.
Fukui City reconstructed townscape guideCurrent townscape operations and admission2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetable
Tojinbo Cliffs
東尋坊
Tojinbo offers sea views and cliffs split into pillar-like formations. Walk according to weather and on-site access notices. Transfer to a bus at Mikuni Station and check sightseeing-boat operations separately for the day.
- Rail, bus, and coast walkFrom Fukui, take a Mikuni-bound train on Echizen Railway's Mikuni Awara Line to Mikuni Station. Transfer to a Tojinbo-bound Keifuku bus, get off at Tojinbo, and walk about five minutes. Official tourism estimates of about 50 minutes by train and 10 minutes by bus cover riding time, excluding waiting.
- Walking, boats, and station namesDistinguish coastal walks from paid boats and viewing facilities. Boat operations depend on weather and sea conditions; check that day's service before choosing one. Mikuni, Mikuni-Minato, and Awaraonsen stations are separate boarding locations.
- Chart revision and segment faresThe currently posted weekday connection chart was revised October 1, 2024. Adult one-way fares are ¥780 Fukui–Mikuni rail, ¥280 Mikuni–Tojinbo bus, and ¥570 Tojinbo–Awara-Yunomachi bus. Check the departure station and bus direction. Use a separate weekend/public-holiday timetable and check operating changes for your date.
- Coastal viewsSee pillar-like rock cliffs and the sea. Walk according to weather and on-site access notices.
Official Fukui tourism transportation guideSightseeing boat operator access guideCurrent operator Tojinbo route listRailway operator weekday round-trip connectionsOfficial Mikuni Station fare chartTojinbo route segment fare chartTojinbo weekday timetable
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the Dinosaur Museum without advance booking?
The standard procedure is to buy a ticket in advance for a specific date and entry time. On-site machines sell same-day tickets only when capacity remains, so do not depart assuming you can buy there. Special exhibitions, fossil research experiences, and the outdoor museum have different ticket types and purchase cutoffs.
Are the Dinosaur Museum and Tojinbo on the same railway line?
Use the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line for the museum and the Mikuni Awara Line for Tojinbo. Check separate round-trip connections in each direction.
Train and bus connectionsOfficial Fukui tourism transportation guide
Sources and checked dates
- Liner timetable and fares ·
- Walking directions to the temple ·
- Train and bus connections ·
- Entry times and prices ·
- Bus and parking access ·
- Museum access ·
- Museum operations and admission ·
- Museum admission and operations ·
- Official temple visiting guide ·
- Fukui City reconstructed townscape guide ·
- Official Fukui tourism transportation guide ·
- Sightseeing boat operator access guide ·
- Current operator Tojinbo route list ·
- Railway operator weekday round-trip connections ·
- Official Mikuni Station fare chart ·
- Current Katsuyama Station railway fares ·
- Current townscape operations and admission ·
- 2026 Ichijodani free weekend shuttle timetable ·
- Tojinbo route segment fare chart ·
- Tojinbo weekday timetable ·
- Dinosaur Museum permanent-exhibition introduction ·
- Official Fukui Eiheiji visiting route ·
- Ichijodani museum exhibit introduction ·