The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, Eihei-ji Zen temple and the Tojinbo cliffs, newly linked by the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
Since March 2024 the Hokuriku Shinkansen runs to Fukui and Tsuruga. The main sights spread out, so use local trains, buses or a car.
JapaLens editorial guide · Read in about 5 minutesThe Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is one of the world’s major dinosaur museums, with many skeletons from local fossil finds. It reopened after expansion in 2023.
The museum has used timed online reservations since reopening; check the booking page before going. Take the Echizen Railway from Fukui Station.
Read this area guide →Founded in 1244 by Dogen, Eihei-ji is a head temple of the Soto school. Visitors walk the corridors linking halls in a cedar forest while monks train.
Keep quiet and follow photography rules; Zen meditation stays are available by reservation.
Read this area guide →Tojinbo is a line of columnar basalt cliffs on the Sea of Japan. Awara Onsen, now on the Shinkansen, is the nearby hot-spring town.
Cliff edges have no railings in places; stay back, especially in wind.
Read this area guide →An editorial route idea, not a timed tour. Adjust it for weather, opening days and your walking pace.
Echizen Railway to Katsuyama; Dinosaur Museum (reserved).
Echizen oroshi soba lunch.
Visit Eihei-ji temple.
Overnight at Awara Onsen.
Try Echizen crab in winter, oroshi soba, sauce katsu-don and Wakasa seafood.
Fukui City has station hotels; Awara Onsen has hot-spring inns.
Hokuriku Shinkansen to Fukui or Awara-Onsen. Echizen Railway serves Katsuyama and Eiheiji-guchi; buses run to Tojinbo.
