Fukui Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast is one of Japan’s least-visited prefectures — an oversight, given that it contains two remarkable sites: Eiheiji, the head training monastery of Soto Zen Buddhism, one of Japan’s most atmospheric religious complexes, and the Tojinbo cliffs, a dramatic 1km stretch of columnar basalt sea cliffs with no equivalent in Japan. Fukui city is also the dinosaur fossil capital of Japan, with Asia’s largest dinosaur museum.
Eiheiji Temple
Eiheiji (founded 1244 by Dogen Zenji, who brought Soto Zen practice from China) is not a tourist destination — it is an active training monastery where approximately 150–200 monks (unsui) undergo rigorous Zen training at any time. Visitors enter specific areas of the complex: the 70 buildings connected by covered wooden corridors (kairo) wind through deep forest at the foot of a mountain. The sound of bells, chanting, and percussion from the meditation hall; the sight of robed monks moving silently through the corridors in formation; the smell of cedar and incense — the atmosphere is genuinely unlike any other temple complex in Japan. Key buildings: Butsuden (main Buddha hall), Sodo (monks’ meditation hall, viewable from outside), Sanmon (mountain gate, 1749). Photography is restricted; respect for the active practice is required.
Tojinbo Cliffs
Tojinbo is a 1km sea cliff of columnar basalt (kisewage) — hexagonal and pentagonal rock columns formed by rapid cooling of volcanic rock, rising 20–25 metres above the Sea of Japan. The formations are classified as a natural monument and are among the finest examples of columnar jointing in Asia (the other notable examples: Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, Fingal’s Cave in Scotland). Sightseeing boats operate from the base of the cliffs in calm weather. The clifftop path follows the edge with good views of the column structures and the Oshima Island offshore.
Fukui Dinosaur Museum
Fukui Prefecture has produced the largest number of dinosaur fossil species of any Japanese prefecture — Fukuiraptor, Fukuisaurus, Fukuititan, and others. The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum (in Katsuyama, 45 min from Fukui) is Asia’s largest dinosaur museum — 44 complete skeletons displayed in a dramatic dome-shaped building, with active excavation sites viewable from the museum and fossil digging experiences available. A must for families and paleontology enthusiasts.
- Eiheiji is 30 minutes by bus from Fukui city (¥730); Tojinbo is 40 minutes by bus.
- Fukui is known for ‘Echizen soba’ (buckwheat noodles served cold with grated radish) and Echizen crab (zuwaigani) — one of Japan’s most prized winter crabs, in season November–March.
- The Hokuriku Shinkansen extension to Fukui opened in March 2024, significantly improving access from Tokyo (2h45m) and Osaka.