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A 2-Day, 1-night trip or Day trip Tour from Kanazawa to Fukui and Katsuyama! Enjoy dinosaurs, history and nature

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A 2-Day, 1-night trip or Day trip Tour from Kanazawa to Fukui and Katsuyama! Enjoy dinosaurs, history and nature

A two- Tomari, one-night trip and day trip itinerary for Fukui and Katsuyama , which can be reached from Kanazawa by public transport. You can also enjoy the Dinosaur Museum, Echizen Great Buddha(Echizen Daibutsu), historic shrines and experience facilities.

Latest update :
Katsuyama DMO

Written by

Katsuyama City is located in the northeastern part of Fukui Prefecture. The city is located on a river terrace formed along the course of the Kuzuryu River, and is a rural city rich in water and greenery, with commerce and industry based on the local textile industry since the Meiji period, and agriculture and forestry having been thriving since ancient times. Our company is a DMO (tourism region development organization) that works with local communities to develop tourist areas. Katsuyama City is a treasure trove of attractive tourist content, including the Dinosaur Museum and Heisenji Temple! We provide detailed services to customers visiting Katsuyama , such as guided tours that allow many people to experience Katsuyama , the Geo Terminal in the parking lot of the Dinosaur Museum, and the operation of the "Dinosaur Valley Katsuyama" Roadside Station , which opened in June 2020. We are also actively challenging ourselves to create new businesses centered around tourism, aiming to revitalize the town of Katsuyama.

Required time

2- Tomari, 1-night itinerary(recommended), day trips also possible

Transportation
train Train
directions_bike Bicycle

1
Kanazawa Station
Kanazawa Station

The Hospitality Dome is located at the Kenrokuen Exit of Kanazawa Station. Kanazawa gets a lot of rain and snow, so it was created with the concept of "hospitality, offering an umbrella to those who get off the station." The geometric glass ceiling gently welcomes visitors to Kanazawa. A popular photo spot is the majestic Tsuzumimon Gate. It is modeled after the drum used in Noh, Kanazawa's traditional performing art. The gate is 13.7 meters high and supported by two thick pillars, making it an impressive sight. Many tourists who visit Kanazawa start their commemorative photos here. Kanazawa Station has been selected as one of the 14 most beautiful stations in the world.

Tsuzumimon Gate is lit up from sunset to midnight.

train
About 30 minutes by Hokuriku Shinkansen

2
Fukui Station
Fukui 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.

train
Echizen Railway Katsuyama Station Approx. 55 minutes

3
Katsuyama Station
Katsuyama Station

Echizen Railway “Katsuyama Station”

directions_bike
Approximately 20 minutes by rental bicycle

edit_note
If it's raining or you're only visiting one location, we recommend taking a direct bus.
Direct bus to Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum Approx. 10 minutes Adults 300 yen
Bus to Echizen Great Buddha(Echizen Daibutsu): 15 minutes, 100 yen for adults

4
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

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'' .

5
Katsuyama Dino Park
Katsuyama Dino Park

Located within Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest, this is a leisure land with a dinosaur theme.

directions_bike
Approximately 20 minutes by rental bicycle

6
Daishizan Seidaiji temple Echizen Great Buddha
Daishizan Seidaiji temple Echizen Great Buddha

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.

directions_bike
Return to Katsuyama Station by rental bicycle (approx. 15 minutes)

Transfer to the hotel by shuttle bus for guests

7
Hotel Harvest Ski Jam Katsuyama
Hotel Harvest Ski Jam Katsuyama

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.

Day 2

We leave the hotel and rent bicycles again at Katsuyama Station.

directions_bike
Approximately 25 minutes by rental bicycle

8
Heisenji Hakusan Shrine
Heisenji Hakusan Shrine

"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.

9
Hakusan Heisenji Historical Museum ”Mahoroba”
Hakusan Heisenji Historical Museum ”Mahoroba”

This is a general information facility in the former precincts of Hakusan Heisenji, a national historic site. Heisenji has a long history of people's prayers and daily lives of about 1,300 years. Please take your time and enjoy this wonderful place, Mahoroba.

directions_bike
5 minutes by rental bicycle

10
Katsuyama Castle Museum
Katsuyama Castle Museum

Opened in 1992, this historical museum is located inside a 5-layer, 6-story castle tower that boasts the highest height (57.8m) in Japan. From the observatory on the top floor, you can see the scenery of Katsuyama, which has a history dating back to the Paleolithic age, and the beautiful nature that is registered as a geopark. In addition to the collection of daimyo armor and battle screens, we also store and display works related to the calligrapher Nishiwaki Goseki. Now that most of the remains from the feudal era have been lost, the existence of this museum also functions as a symbol that allows you to feel at a glance that there was once a domain in Katsuyama.

directions_bike
Approximately 10 minutes by rental bicycle

11
Kagetsuro
Kagetsuro

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.

directions_bike
Approximately 5 minutes by rental bicycle

12
Yume Ole Katsuyama
Yume Ole Katsuyama

Yume Ole Katsuyama is a living cultural asset where you can enjoy the world of textiles.
It is a must-see to see the textile-related machines that were active in the Showa era moving with a sense of realism. You can learn about the history of the textile industry and the structure of textiles while operating the weaving machine and picking threads from the cocoons. The hand-woven coaster experience and cocoon ball craft experience are also very popular. You can enjoy creating your own original work.

directions_bike
Approximately 5 minutes by rental bicycle

13
Katsuyama Station
Katsuyama Station

Echizen Railway “Katsuyama Station”

train
Approximately 55 minutes by Echizen Railway

14
Fukui Station
Fukui 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.

Recommended spots that can be visited on a day trip from Kanazawa!

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

15
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

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'' .

16
Katsuyama Dino Park
Katsuyama Dino Park

Located within Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest, this is a leisure land with a dinosaur theme.

Daishizan Seidaiji temple Echizen Great Buddha(Echizen Daibutsu)

17
Daishizan Seidaiji temple Echizen Great Buddha
Daishizan Seidaiji temple Echizen Great Buddha

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.

3. Heisenji Hakusan Shrine

18
Heisenji Hakusan Shrine
Heisenji Hakusan Shrine

"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.

19
Hakusan Heisenji Historical Museum ”Mahoroba”
Hakusan Heisenji Historical Museum ”Mahoroba”

This is a general information facility in the former precincts of Hakusan Heisenji, a national historic site. Heisenji has a long history of people's prayers and daily lives of about 1,300 years. Please take your time and enjoy this wonderful place, Mahoroba.

summary

Why not take a little trip from Kanazawa and enjoy a trip to Fukui, Katsuyama to see dinosaurs, Buddhist statues, shrines, and other experiences? You can enjoy it at your leisure for one Tomari and two days, or even as a day trip.

Spots introduced in this itinerary

Katsuyama DMO

Written by

Katsuyama DMO

Fukui

Katsuyama City is located in the northeastern part of Fukui Prefecture. The city is located on a river terrace formed along the course of the Kuzuryu River, and is a rural city rich in water and greenery, with commerce and industry based on the local textile industry since the Meiji period, and agriculture and forestry having been thriving since ancient times. Our company is a DMO (tourism region development organization) that works with local communities to develop tourist areas. Katsuyama City is a treasure trove of attractive tourist content, including the Dinosaur Museum and Heisenji Temple! We provide detailed services to customers visiting Katsuyama , such as guided tours that allow many people to experience Katsuyama , the Geo Terminal in the parking lot of the Dinosaur Museum, and the operation of the "Dinosaur Valley Katsuyama" Roadside Station , which opened in June 2020. We are also actively challenging ourselves to create new businesses centered around tourism, aiming to revitalize the town of Katsuyama.

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