Classic Itinerary to Enjoy Katsuyama, Fukui: Japan’s Largest Buddha Statue, Beautiful Moss-Covered Garden, and Dinosaur Museum

departure!

At Tsuruga Station, the platform in the foreground is the current conventional line, and the large building in the back is the new station building after the Hokuriku Shinkansen is extended in March 2024.

It was designed with the concept of ``a station in the sky, surrounded by nature and overlooking the port.'' The height of the station building is approximately 37 meters, which is equivalent to a 12-story building. It has a three-story structure with the Shinkansen platform on the third floor, the concourse on the second floor, and the conventional limited express platform on the first floor. The station building expresses the sparkle of the waves of Tsuruga Bay with glass windows, white walls, and garari (air vents attached to the wall).

When you arrive at JR Tsuruga Station, there is a bus stop at the rotary where Tsuruga city circulation buses and community buses arrive and depart, making it convenient to use. Taxis are also available.

Fukui Station is a JR West station located in the center of Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture. It is served by the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Happy Line Fukui, making it a key transportation hub in Fukui Prefecture. It was completely renovated in 2018 and reborn as a modern station building. In addition, a dinosaur monument has been installed in the square in front of the station, promoting Fukui as the "Dinosaur Kingdom." It is the gateway to Fukui, welcoming visitors from inside and outside the prefecture.

Echizen Railway “Katsuyama Station”

Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture is known nationwide as a treasure trove of dinosaur fossils. Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is one of the world's leading dinosaur museums. The vast, immersive space is filled with exhibits of dinosaur skeletons, fossils, specimens, dioramas, reconstructed models, and more, allowing you to see impressive dinosaurs up close. The area surrounding the museum is also full of experiences such as fossil excavations and play equipment, making it an area that the whole family can enjoy.
The Dinosaur Tower, which reopened in July 2023 and appeared in the new small egg hall, is a must-see.
In the atrium of the new building, there is a 13m-tall monument called the Dinosaur Tower, which features five species of dinosaurs and one species of bird discovered in Fukui. In addition, the facility has been upgraded to be a facility that can be enjoyed in all seasons, including the impressive ``3-sided Dino Theater'' and the ``Fossil Research Experience'' .

Skijam Katsuyama is the largest snow resort in western Japan. The longest running distance is about 5,800m! The slopes consist of three areas for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers, and there is also a kids park.
There are plenty of activities that you can enjoy not only during the winter season, but throughout the year. Segway experience, cycling, park golf, paragliding, etc. After playing to your heart's content, please soothe your tired body in the large hot spring bath "Sasayuri". The magnificent view from the open-air bath will make you feel refreshed.

This hotel is attractive for its magnificent view of the Hakusan mountain range. Located at the front of the Ski Jam Katsuyama, you can enjoy the pure white snow world in winter, and mountain biking, Segway riding, barbecues, and other outdoor activities throughout the seasons from spring to autumn. The large Sasayuri hot spring bath is famous for its beauty-enhancing waters, and the sunset view from the open-air bath is a must-see. It is also conveniently located about 10 minutes by car from the Dinosaur Museum.

"Heisenji" is a base temple for worshiping Hakusan, located at the entrance to the Echizen side of the sacred Mt. Hakusan (altitude 2,702m).
In the Middle Ages, it became one of the most influential in the Hokuriku region, and it is said that there were dozens of temples and shrines and thousands of temples in the precincts, which were much larger than the current Hakusan Shrine.
However, in the 2nd year of Tensho (1574), the whole mountain was destroyed by fire during the battle against the Ikko Ikki, and most of the things that tell of the past have been lost.
However, a full-scale excavation survey that began in 1989 revealed that the remains of the former precincts remain splendidly. The full picture of Heisenji in its glory in the Middle Ages is now being revealed little by little.

This is a general information center for the former grounds of Hakusan Heisenji Temple, a national historic site. Heisenji Temple has been a place of prayer and daily life for approximately 1,300 years. Please take your time to enjoy this wonderful place, the land of Mahoroba.

The model for the Great Buddha is a seated statue in the Longmen Grottoes on the outskirts of Luoyang, Henan, China, the origin of Buddhism. It is 17 meters tall. It is larger than the Nara Great Buddha (16.2 meters in documents, 14.98 meters in actual measurement). In addition, the halo is 23 meters, and the 3-meter lotus pedestal is placed on a 2-meter stone base, making the total height 28 meters. While the Nara Great Buddha is stocky, the Echizen Great Buddha is characterized by its slender and gentle face and neck. It is made of copper, with a total weight of 200 tons. In addition, 1,281 stone and gold Buddhas are enshrined on the three walls on the left, right, and back of the Great Buddha, and two arhat statues (10.3 meters) and two bodhisattva statues (11.2 meters) are enshrined on each side of the Great Buddha as attendant Buddhas.

Renovation of the cultural property "Former Ryotei Kagetsuro" built in 1897 (Meiji 30). It is a tasteful building that once prospered as a geisha district.
The first floor is a restaurant where you can enjoy local cuisine for lunch and a cafe menu with a Japanese taste. You can relax while looking at the garden where you can feel the four seasons of Japan. The “umbrella ceiling” that looks like an open umbrella on the second floor is also a must-see.

Echizen Railway “Katsuyama Station”

Fukui Station is a JR West station located in the center of Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture. It is served by the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Happy Line Fukui, making it a key transportation hub in Fukui Prefecture. It was completely renovated in 2018 and reborn as a modern station building. In addition, a dinosaur monument has been installed in the square in front of the station, promoting Fukui as the "Dinosaur Kingdom." It is the gateway to Fukui, welcoming visitors from inside and outside the prefecture.