Not many travelers make it to Fukui, Japan. In fact, not many people have heard the name yet alone can place it on that map and yet I find myself in the countryside of such a place. If you have heard of Fukui, it’s likely due to the dinosaur museum in Katsuyama, Fukui which sees the majority of tourists or perhaps you passed through Fukui while transversing the Hokuriku Arch from Kanazawa to Kyoto. It’s not that Fukui doesn’t have anything to offer, it’s that it was difficult to access without a car. However, with the extension of the shinkansen to Fukui Station, all that’s changed. Fukui can be reached within 3 hours from Tokyo and less than 30 minutes from Kanazawa by shinkansen.
God’s Island: Oshima
Oshima Island is famous for its vermillion bridge that stretches across the sea. But be careful, the locals believe that if you transverse the island counterclockwise, you’ll be cursed by an evil spirit. Oshima island has been revered as sacred since antiquity. Emperor Monmu had a shrine erected in 701. Thanks to this, Oshima is a pristine virgin forest. Like Tojinbo it is adorned with interesting rocks, these rocks look like the scales of Godzilla. The island is home to a fascinating legend of the island’s god battling with the fish monster Mokkuri Kokkuri. And if you love Sengoku history, Akechi Mitsuhide, the famous betrayer of Oda Nobunaga visited the island and composed a tanka (poem) of the island. “If you come to this god’s island, there’s no need to travel far to the land of legendary gods.”
Cliffs of Legend: Tojinbo
The cliffs of Tojinbo are named after a monk that is said to have belonged to Heisenji (another amazing site in Fukui). One version of his story tells of how he was in love with a princess and when visiting the cliffs, another one of the princess’s suitors took the opportunity to push him from the cliffs. A ritual is held every year, by the locals to appease his spirit. The cliffs are unrestricted which make them the perfect place to climb and explore, but be careful! The sunsets from the cliffs of Tojinbo are some of the most beautiful I've seen and every year an event is held to honor them. If you are lucky you might even see the Green Flash phenomenon, which the locals believe will grant you a happy life if you witness this mesmerizing spectacle.
Eat the Famous Echizen Crab in Mikuni
Mikuni Minato, the town where Tojinbo and Oshima are located, boasts the most delicious snow crabs in all of Japan. Every year, exceptional specimens are chosen as an offering to the Imperial Household of Japan. Mikuni Minato has been recognized as a food city for some time now, but in 2025 that was made official as the town was 1 of 5 to be certified as a Gastronomic City. Mikuni, despite its size, is home to some culinary giants like Hata Kazuya of S’amuser Samuse who took home bronze at the World Culinary Olympics and Tateru Yoshino, who was awarded the Ordre du Mérite Agricole for his outstanding contributions to French cuisine by the government of France.
Haunted Castle: Maruoka Castle
Maruoka Castle is the only surviving castle keep in the entire Hokuriku region. And Guess what? It also has a morbid ghost story. Legend has it that no matter how many times the stonemasons piled the stonewall of the castle, they would find it collapsed the next day. After some deliberation, it was agreed that a human pillar or hitobashira was needed to appease the spirits. A poor young widow and mother of two children named Oshizu, volunteered herself on the condition they made her eldest son into a samurai. Unfortunately, the deal was never honored, and it is said her ghost can be heard weeping at night and walking the castle grounds.
If ghost stories aren’t your thing, the castle grounds are extremely beautiful in the spring with over 400 cherry blossom trees. Ranked in Japan's top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots.
The Center of Zen: Eiheiji
Lately Fukui is being recognized as a center for Zen and wellness with the incredible Daihonzan Eiheiji, the main temple of Soto Zen, the largest sect of Zen. The "Temple of Eternal Peace," was founded by Dogen Zenji in 1244, that's almost 800 years ago! Eiheiji still trains monks that will go on to oversee their own temples throughout Japan. Meditation or zazen experiences are available to tourists along with temple stays. The lush green gardens really add to the atmosphere of serenity.
Echizen Daibutsu Great Buddha
Who cares if its not ancient! This Great Buddha is impressive but its the temple containing the building, housing rows and rows of Bodhisattvas stretching to the ceiling. You'll feel like you've shrunken down like Arrietty in this massive complex. As soon as you walk in you'll have a visceral experience. I felt like I had walked onto a film set of something grand like Star Wars. The pagoda itself is worth the trip.
World's Best Dinosaur Museum
Regarded as one the three best dinosaur museums in the world and one of the best museums in Japan, the Fukui Prefecture Dinosaur Museum in Katsuyama is certainly impressive even if you aren’t a dino-fanatic. In the case that you are one, this place is paradise. I found myself rediscovering my childhood fascination with the terrible lizards. And with four floors to discover, this place is a wonderful choice for families with children.
There was a time when Fukui would have rivaled Kyoto. Unfortunately, the local lords allied against Oda Nobunaga and as a result the entire province burned and then calamity visited Fukui again in the form of American bombs and shortly after the Great Fukui Earthquake hit. Despite these three disastrous events, Fukui remains full of untapped potential.
Two honorable mentions are places that were struck by Fukui's first calamity, Oda Nobunaga. The first is Heisenji, the temple of Tojinbo. All that's left now is a shrine. The temple structures were all burned down by Nobunaga's men as he quelled the Ikko Ikki Uprising. But it's not so much the shrine itself that's special but the verdant moss that carpets the land and a tranquil stillness that can be found amongst the old cedars.
The second is Ichijodani, which was a castle town of 10,000 strong under the leadership of Asakura Yoshikage until it was burned down by Oda forces. Today, many of the gardens still remain, making the ruins a place of scenic beauty. Over 1 million relics were discovered at the site. 2,343 were designated as Nationally Important Cultural Properties and are housed at the Fukui Prefectural Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum.
