Fukui prefecture review
Located in northern Honshu bordering the Sea of Japan Fukui prefecture shares boarders with Ishikawa, Kyoto, Shiga and Gifu. The prefecture is famous for dinosaurs and geological formations such as the Tojinbo cliffs sometimes named as one of the top three scenic places in the world. Dinosaurs are so famous here that the Fukui dinosaur museum is recognised as the best in Japan and has connections with other notable Dinosaur museums and institutions globally. Many dinosaur fossils have been found in this prefecture and the Fukuisaurus was named after this prefecture where it was discovered. The prefecture is recognised for its importance because of the findings at the kitadani dinosaur quarry. To put it simply Fukui is a dinosaur lover’s dream come true. I came to this prefecture for exactly this!
With my time in Japan limited I decided to hit up Fukui early, I was worried I wouldn’t get a chance to see it. Despite extreme weather warnings that day, I took a gamble which paid of and arrived in Fukui city on the night of the 8th of February. Japan was hit by an extreme snow front which covered most of its prefectures in snow. My train to Fukui was only half an hour delayed, but the journey to the city was magical as I watched the snow falling silently down. It reminded me of my Hokkaido trip the year prior. Japan in the snow looks magical and I recommend seeing some of it during the colder months.
The area is rich in history, and the mountain ranges make for amazing hiking, skiing, winter sports and rock-climbing opportunities. The area is known for its clear water and high-quality crops. This prefecture has a lot to offer a wide variety of people with indoor and outdoor activities being plentiful. Fukui has a relatively small population and three main cities. Much of the prefecture is taken up by mountains. In the winter it is prone to receiving a lot of snow as it faces the Sea of Japan, during the summer it experiences very hot and humid temperatures. Fifteen percent of the prefecture is designated as natural parks. Fukui’s Myotsu-ji’s three storied pagoda and main hall is also recognised as a national treasure. Meaning Fukui has many claims to fame.
Fukui’s early modern history is also fascinating it once held a castle in the city however during the second world war it was heavily bombed and now government buildings call the old site home. It is also home to the oldest standing castle in Japan, Maruoka castle which dates to 1576. 90 percent of Japanese glasses are produced in Fukui prefecture. Another interesting fact about the prefecture is that Fukui has the most nuclear reactors in Japan, it has a total of 14 reactors which power the metropolitan areas. It is another prefecture facing an aging population with declining birthrate and when I took a trip to Tojinbo the area felt rural but also abandoned. Many old, abandoned homes can be spied dotted around the landscape when using the local trains.
The food of Fukui is varied with a wide variety of seafood such as crabs and Genge a fish local to the prefecture that when eaten is said to cause a brief tingling sensation. Fukui has local dishes such as soy sauce covered cutlets, buckwheat noodles with radish and deep-fried tofu. Whilst in the prefecture I enjoyed an all you can eat yakiniku and tried a variety of side dishes too.
Whilst in the prefecture I relied on local trains which were very scenic and traditional. I was able to see a lot of the prefecture this way and saw very old platforms which made me get a sense of how rural the prefecture was. I was able to get taxis easily in the city and out by Tojinbo so for transport the prefecture does very well. Originally, I was planning on travelling from Tokyo up though Niigata, Ishikawa and then arriving in Fukui. Meaning the prefecture has good connections to the capital. It also has a shinkansen route that can be used for fast travel. This prefecture is friendly to those reliant on public transport. For those in nearby prefectures there are multiple tour companies who run trips into Fukui via the mountain routes. The prefecture is home to many traditional onsens in the mountain areas.
I really enjoyed my time in Fukui I was able to see the dinosaur museum whilst enjoying the mountains covered in snow. The prefecture was covered in around 15 CMS of snow and the buildings looked beautiful. All around the prefecture you will see animatronic dinosaurs, dinosaur statues, mascots and cute dinosaur themed merch everywhere. I love how united the prefecture is behind this aspect. The dinosaur museum was fun, and I really enjoyed seeing the interactive layout in the dome. I was also happy to see real fossils in the museum when I visited the Nagasaki one, I was sad when I realised every exhibit was a replica. But there are real fossils included in the displays in the Fukui museum. I also explored Tojinbo cliffs and admired the stunning rock formations. The trip turned out to be a fun educational one and I really like the prefecture. I’m so happy I saw it in the snow as I believe it elevated my enjoyment just a little more. The city coped nicely with the snow as it is used to heavy snow and the streets were equipped with sprinklers.
Overall, I really like this prefecture there is a lot to do, I also appreciate the focus on science in the area. There are at least three planetariums in the prefecture and multiple science museums. Many of the universities focus on sciences and they attract many international students who are studying these fields. The only downside for me was the main station area in Fukui city was lacking in food options many were further afield. But I also visited during a snow storm so many places where closed. I would research ahead for food options and just prepare to travel a little further afield for them. The prefecture has good connections which allows for onward travel to the big cities in Kansai and to the big airports. The prefecture ranks highly for me and for those on a tighter schedule I would allow at least three days to hit the main attractions and have some down time to explore the cities.
I will be doing a prefecture ranking system like my Love hotel system soon. I will be creating a link to this very soon. So far, the short list of 28 prefectures can be seen on the main page. I am now happily at thirty prefectures. I never thought I would achieve so much and even as my time is ticking, I am hoping to do and see as much as I can before time is up.
