Dinosaur Museum and Katsuyama Course

The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is one of the largest dinosaur halls in the world. Enormous skeletons and moving restorations set your heart racing. In the afternoon you walk the old streets and rural hills of Katsuyama and touch the history and nature of Echizen. It is a course popular with families. The ancient romance of dinosaurs and the stillness of a moss covered old shrine: Katsuyama packs a day of leaping across vast stretches of time.

Course Route

9:30 Start at the Dinosaur Museum Be overwhelmed by the full skeletons lined up in the dome hall. You can also try a fossil excavation experience. Admission to the regular exhibition is 1,000 yen for adults, 800 yen for high school and university students, 500 yen for elementary and junior high students, 500 yen for those aged 70 and over, and free for preschoolers. The museum now runs on a reservation system, so buying a date and time ticket in advance on the official site is the sure way to visit. It opens from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30) and closes on the second and fourth Wednesdays.

12:00 Lunch at Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest In the vast park surrounding the museum, take a break at the outdoor exhibits, play areas, and shaded benches. The grounds are free to stroll and suit families who want to relax.

13:30 Stroll the streets of Katsuyama Along streets that once thrived on textile weaving, storehouse buildings and old shops remain. From around Katsuyama Station on the Echizen Railway, walk slowly and trace the traces of the past.

14:30 To Heisenji Hakusan Shrine Visit an ancient shrine full of stillness, with a moss covered approach path. There is no admission fee to stroll the grounds, and the Mahoroba history hall that conveys the Hakusan faith is also free. Only the former Gensei-in garden requires an entry fee of 50 yen. The moss and giant cedars underfoot still convey a history in which the site flourished as a great religious town in medieval times.

16:00 Take in the rural scenery Enjoy the peaceful landscape of rice fields and mountains unique to Katsuyama and close out the day.

Highlights

The powerful dinosaur exhibits and the deep, quiet world of moss covered Heisenji: the experience of leaping across vast stretches of time is the charm of this course. The green approach path brings a calm feeling to every visitor. The number and force of the full skeletons at the Dinosaur Museum are among the finest in the country, drawing in adults as well as children.

Practical Travel Notes

Time Needed The Dinosaur Museum alone takes two to three hours to see carefully. Adding the Katsuyama streets and Heisenji, plan for a full day to cover it all with room to spare.

Getting Around From Fukui Station, take the Echizen Railway Katsuyama Eiheiji Line to the terminus at Katsuyama Station. Community and route buses connect Katsuyama Station to the Dinosaur Museum. Services toward Heisenji are limited, so a car is more efficient. The Echizen Railway offers a one day pass that can be cheaper on a trip with several stops.

Reservations and Avoiding Crowds The Dinosaur Museum uses a reservation system, and morning slots fill first on holidays and long weekends. Booking a morning visit lets you view the exhibits at leisure before the afternoon stroll.

Budget Sense The main costs are the museum admission (1,000 yen for adults) plus rail and bus fares and lunch. Since strolling Heisenji is itself free, you can spend a rich day while keeping costs down.

A Quick Tip

The museum has so much to see that you can never have enough time. Deciding in advance which exhibits you most want to see leaves you plenty of room to enjoy the afternoon stroll.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest (park): Open 7:00 to 20:00 (subject to seasonal change), closed 29 December to 2 January. Parking for about 1,200 vehicles
• Hakusan Heisenji History Museum Mahoroba: Open 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30), closed over the New Year period. 0779-87-6001
• Parking for Heisenji Hakusan Shrine: You can use the car park in front of Mahoroba and the No. 1 and No. 2 car parks, with a capacity of 30 vehicles (5 large buses). A tourism maintenance contribution of 300 yen per ordinary car and 3,000 yen per large bus applies
• Enquiries: 0779-88-0001 (Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum) / 0779-88-8777 (Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest park management office, 8:30 to 17:30) / 0779-88-8117 (Katsuyama City, Commerce, Industry, Tourism and Hometown Development Division)
• Official information: Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum official website / Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest official website / Katsuyama City official website, "Hakusan Heisenji History Museum Mahoroba" / Fukui.com (Fukui Prefecture Tourism Federation)

The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Times and prices are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.