Touring Fukui with Happy Bus
It’s easier than ever to enjoy sightseeing in Japan’s Dinosaur Kingdom.
Cover photo: Posing outside the snow-covered grounds of Heisenji Hakusan Shrine, Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan (2025).
Intro
Japan’s Fukui Prefecture is famous for secluded temples, historic ruins, and dinosaurs. The area is growing more popular thanks to last year’s extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo. With new sightseeing tours by Happy Bus, it’s easier than ever to enjoy the Dinosaur Kingdom!
Highlights Tour
Though I live in Fukui City, I don’t often go sightseeing because the area’s top attractions are spread across the region — but thanks to tours by Happy Bus, sightseeing can be an easy experience. I joined a free monitor tour last Sunday and it was wonderful! The service offers a truly comfortable and convenient way to enjoy all the best Fukui has to offer.
I attended the “Nice to Meet You: Fukui Sightseeing Trip” tour, including both courses A and B, with visits to the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, Heisenji Hakusan Shrine, Eiheiji Temple, and the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins. It’s so nice to enjoy sightseeing without worrying about the logistics of train timetables or ticket reservations! Please read on for more details.
Dinosaur Museum
The tour bus departed from Fukui Station just after 8:00. It was a beautiful sunny day, following a week of grey skies. Our first stop was the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum in Katsuyama, Fukui’s most popular attraction. Some 80% of Japan’s fossils have been found here, including six unique species. The museum underwent a major renovation and expansion in 2023, and it now boasts an incredible ‘mummy fossil’ on loan from the United States.
The institution is currently hosting the travelling exhibit “Pokémon Fossil Museum” through May 25th. The inventive show compares Pokémon characters to real-life specimens. “Observation and comparison are the foundations of science,” read exhibition materials.
I appreciated the exhibit’s clear explanations: “‘Evolution’ in the world of Pokémon is a phenomenon that occurs in individual bodies . . . In our world, ‘evolution’ does not happen to an individual, but occurs as a group, over the course of generations.” It’s a simple and interesting way to introduce children to important scientific topics.
As someone who grew up with Pokémon, I have a newfound appreciation for the franchise. Both Pikachu and Fukui’s official ambassador Dragonite made an appearance, and I purchased many goods at the special gift shop.
Heisenji Hakusan Shrine
Next, we departed for Heisenji Hakusan Shrine. Founded in 717 AD, it’s the oldest shrine on holy Mount Haku. It’s said that some 8,000 monks lived on the grounds during the temple’s peak in the Sengoku (Warring States) era. The famous mossy grounds were still blanketed in snow upon our visit — challenging to traverse but absolutely beautiful.
This May, the temple will open its doors to the main halls, so that visitors may admire the deity statues. It’s a special occasion that takes place only once every thirty-three years! The three-day event will include musical performances, a parade, and a fire ceremony. Happy Bus is offering a special tour!
Eiheiji Temple
After a quick bento (boxed lunch) — lunch is not included in this tour set — we embarked on the second course, starting with Eiheiji or “Temple of Eternal Peace.” It’s one of the most important Zen monasteries active today, with over 100 practicing monks. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs considered studying here!
With melting snow dripping down the tiled roofs, the temple felt especially serene. I walked carefully in my slippers through the quiet hallways. My favorite room is the sanshokaku (reception hall), which features 230 unique paintings of flowers and animals. It’s simply marvelous. I was also pleased to see the nearby cafe and crafts center DDC Eiheji has finally opened, though we had little free time for shopping.
Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins
Lastly, we visited Ichijodani, home to the largest medieval ruins in Japan. Furthermore, it’s one of only six sites to receive a rare triple national designation as a Special Historic Site, Special Place of Scenic Beauty, and an Important Cultural Property.
We walked through the regal Chinese-style gate Karamon, and then roamed the Restored Townscape, meticulously rebuilt with traditional tools and methods. We made one more stop to the Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum, opened in 2022. Highlights include a diorama of the castle town, an excavated stone path, and a life-size reconstruction of the Asakura Residence. Amazing!
Conclusion
By 17:30 (5:30 PM), we returned to Fukui Station. It was a fast-paced trip, but thorough and satisfying. Our local tour guide was particularly sunny and I appreciated the pre-recorded English audio descriptions played onboard the bus. What a wonderful day!
I know that planning a trip outside Japan’s Golden Route (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka) can be intimidating, but Fukui has much to offer brave travelers. So, how about easy sightseeing with Happy Bus?
Advertising Disclosure
I attended this tour with Happy Bus for free. Also, as part of the Fukui Reporter program, I am tasked with participating in local events and publicly promoting the prefecture. This is a volunteer position that allows me free entrance to a selection of museums throughout the area. The opinions I share are my own.
