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[Fukui ]4 recommended day trip spots

[Fukui ]4 recommended day trip spots

2024-06-10

Fukui Prefecture has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years with the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line.
Many people somehow know that it is a tourist attraction with dinosaurs and Tojinbo, but have never actually been there.
Why not enjoy a trip to Fukui on your way to Kanazawa or other places to feel the history of the city?

Author of this article

Dinosaur Museum

Fukui is called the dinosaur kingdom. The reason for this is because the largest dinosaur fossil excavation site in Japan is located in Chatan-cho, Katsuyama City.
The reason why so many dinosaur fossils have been discovered in Fukui Prefecture is because of the discovery of bone beds in the strata that were deposited when dinosaurs were alive, and also because Fukui Prefecture has been conducting large-scale, intensive excavations since early on. The reason is that Fukui Prefecture has continued to conduct large scale and intensive excavations since early on.

Against this backdrop, the whole town of Fukui Prefecture is covered in the color of dinosaurs.
Even if you do not know much about dinosaurs, it is not a problem, as there are devices all over the place that remind you of dinosaurs! Please visit with your parents, children, or friends, and enjoy getting acquainted with the history of dinosaurs while having fun.

entrance

▲Museum Entrance

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum reopened in July 2023.
The museum exhibits a powerful dinosaur robot and a full-body skeleton of a dinosaur, which is rare in Japan, and offers an experience as if you were transported back in time to ancient times.

Children and adults alike will be very satisfied with this natural history museum where they can see, touch, and learn about the age of dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Museum Area MAP

It is no wonder, then, that the area site is really large and the contents of the museum are also superfluous.
The facility is so impressive that it is considered one of the world's three great dinosaur museums, along with the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Canada and the Drikung Dinosaur Museum in China.

Permanent Display

History of Life Zone, where a Tyrannosaurus robot can be seen

Upon entering the museum, visitors are greeted by a powerful Tyrannosaurus as they descend a long three-story escalator. Many of you may have seen the Tyrannosaurus before, as videos of it are often posted on social networking sites.

This Tyrannosaurus robot actually moves, and its body, eye movements, and cries are truly full of reality.
In fact, the Tyrannosaurus actually moves as if it were talking to you eye-to-eye, so this is a spot where you can experience a realistic feeling as if it were really alive.

There was even a situation where a small child got a little scared and cried, which means that the movements are so realistic that you would never think it was a robot.
This spot is so good that it is worth the trip just to see this Tyrannosaurus robot!

Dinosaur Robot Exhibit Area

In addition, there are various robot dinosaurs on display, and a full-body skeleton model exhibit using actual fossils, so visitors can learn about dinosaurs' diet, behavior, and history while having fun!

Once again, seeing the life-size bones allows visitors to experience firsthand the greatness of dinosaurs and the length of the earth's history.

Special Showcase

▲Shared life projected on a giant screen

This special exhibition is being held in the new building, which was renovated during the reopening.
The contents of the event vary depending on the time of year, so you can enjoy it no matter how many times you visit.

In this new museum, visitors can also experience fossil excavation, fossil cleaning, and fossil observation using an X-ray CT. This is an optional experience that requires advance reservations and an extra fee, but there are not many places where you can experience fossil research while using authentic machines, so why not give it a try at this dinosaur museum?


"Facility Information "
Name: Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
Address: Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest, 51-11 Terao, Muraoka-cho, Katsuyama-shi, Fukui 911-8601
Telephone: 0779-88-0001 (representative)
URL:https://www.dinosaur.pref.fukui.jp/

Roadside Station "Dinosaur Valley Katsuyama "

Dinosaur slide installed at a roadside station

If you are traveling by car from Fukui Station to the Dinosaur Museum, there is one place you should definitely visit together,
This roadside station "Dinosaur Valley Katsuyama ".
The dinosaur slide and chapu-chapu pond are very popular among tourists with children.

The roadside station also has many dinosaur souvenirs and a food court, making it a great place to buy souvenirs for friends and family that you could not procure at the museum!

Water soft drink

At the food court, there were hamburgers with dinosaur motifs and, for a limited time, Fukui Prefecture's famous mizuyokan soft serve.

I am ashamed to admit that I first learned here that mizuyokan is a specialty of Fukui's winter season, since I have an image of summer, but it is said to be a food culture unique to Fukui residents, who generally eat mizuyokan in a kotatsu during the cold, snowy season!

Fukui's mizu-yokan, like most kneaded yokans, is made by hardening sugar and candy with agar (agar) and reducing the amount of agar to reduce the sweetness and give it a light, refreshing taste!

Benches installed at a roadside station

Watching the children playing happily at times while looking at the chapu-chapu pond and the shared head,
Enjoy Fukui specialties such as dinosaur burgers and mizuyokan soft serve at the food court.

Yongping temple (Nanjing)

▲Yongpyeongsa Temple

A Zen training center founded by Zen master Dogen in 1244.
There are more than 70 halls and pavilions within the precincts of the temple in the deep mountain valley, among which "seven halls (Hodo, Butsuden, Shodo, Kouin, Sanmon, Toji, and Bathhouse) called Shichido Garan "are considered especially important as clean places for monks to practice their asceticism.
"At Eiheiji ", visitors can learn about the many ascetic monks who are still practicing their rigorous daily ascetic training.
Stepping into the temple grounds, one feels an air that makes one's back stand up straight. A world of tranquility prevails.

Corridor in the precincts of Eiheiji Temple
The tour route inside the hall is clockwise and on the left side of the road, so please visit the hall in the order prescribed. Please remember that this is a training hall, and refrain from private conversation.

Experience of the training is also available.
Zazen is available at 10:00, 11:00, 13:30, 14:30, and 15:30, and sutra copying is available at any time. Please note that the schedule is subject to change depending on the morning Gyomochi, so please confirm in advance if you wish to experience this service.

There are not many places where you can experience Zen practice, so there has been a lot of talk about it on social networking sites and TV programs!

View of Eiheiji Temple grounds

When you visit Eiheiji, you should also note that every corner of the temple is spotlessly clean and free of debris. This is due to the daily cleaning performed by Unsui and his staff.

Unsui life begins with getting up at 3:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. in winter) and continues throughout the day with zazen, meditation, and samu until bedtime at 9:00 p.m.

In Zen Buddhism, cleaning is one of the most important practices. When you visit the temple, please take the time to feel this aspect of the temple.

"Facility Information "
Name: Omotesando Eiheiji Temple
Address: 5-15 Shibi, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui 910-1228
Phone: 0776-63-3102
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
*Times are subject to change depending on the circumstances of the event.
URL:https://daihonzan-eiheiji.com/

Fukui Station

Signboard on the Shinkansen platform in Fukui Prefecture

The gateway to Fukui "Fukui Station ". It is a beautiful station that smells newly built, as if the station has been reopened to attract tourists in conjunction with the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension.

At "Dinosaur Plaza "on the west exit side of JR Fukui Station, you will be greeted by a 7.3m wide x 4.6m long dinosaur trick art that appears to jump out from the wall, a huge 45m wide x 10m long dinosaur illustration on the wall, and three life-size moving monuments of Fukui's inhabitants, Fukuiraptor, Fukuisaurus and Fukuititan. The museum welcomes visitors with three life-size, moving monuments of Fukui's former inhabitants, Fukuiraptor, Fukuisaurus, and Fukuititan!

▲Dr. Dinosaur

Dr. Dinosaur, wearing these underwater goggles, is also located around the station, but in a slightly obscure location, so if you find him, sit next to him and take a picture with him, posing as if you were studying fossils together!

The space, typical of the dinosaur kingdom of Fukui, is a popular spot for meeting and taking commemorative photos. Many dinosaur goods are also sold at nearby commercial facilities!

"Facility Information "
Name: JR Fukui Station
Address: 1-1-1 Chuo, Fukui-shi, Fukui 910-0006
Phone: 0570-002-486
URL:https://www.jr-odekake.net/eki/top?id=0541430

Delicious Specialty Foods

Fukui Prefecture has many delicious specialty foods!
Particularly recommended is miso katsu, Fukui Prefecture's soul food.
Thick slices of pork are wrapped in a batter and slowly deep-fried. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, it is delicious eaten as is, but it is best served with sweet and spicy miso sauce. Try it at a local diner or restaurant.


summary

How was Fukui Prefecture, the city of dinosaurs?
As I just mentioned, you may not have visited Fukui Prefecture very often, but it is actually a fascinating destination that blends beautiful natural scenery and historical sites!

Fukui Prefecture is particularly attractive for its beautiful seasonal scenery, and in spring the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Kasumigajo Park, where visitors can enjoy a picnic.
In summer, visitors can enjoy swimming in the sandy beaches of Echizen Kaigan or hiking in the cool mountains of Hakusan.
In autumn, the leaves turn beautiful colors and you can enjoy the autumn scenery around Echizen-Ono Castle Ruins and Hakusan Heisen-ji Temple. And in winter, snow-covered landscapes offer opportunities for skiing and relaxing in the hot springs.
It is especially moving to see the dinosaurs that greet you at JR Fukui Station covered in snow.

In addition to the sightseeing facilities introduced here, Echizen Ono Castle Ruins and Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins are ruins from the Warring States Period, and there are many interesting places for history buffs! Tojinbo is another popular tourist attraction. However, since each sightseeing spot tends to be located far from each other, it is a good idea to use buses, but we recommend renting a car at Fukui Station or other locations and enjoying a drive to the fullest to fully enjoy the sightseeing facilities!

Fukui Prefecture is a wonderful blend of nature, history, and delicious food. Please visit!

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