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Hop over to Fukui Prefecture to visit one of Japan’s largest dinosaur museums
Fukui Prefecture
The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture, is one of the largest paleontological museums in Japan. After undergoing a number of renovations in 2023, the permanent exhibition increased their total number of complete dinosaur skeletons on display from 44 to 50.
The new annex ―nicknamed the “Little Dinosaur Egg” for its shape― houses a storage room full of archeological artifacts you can see from outside, a special exhibition hall that doubles as an immersive three-screen theater, and the Dinosaur Tower, an art installation showcasing the five dinosaur (and one bird) species discovered in Fukui.
One of the highlights is the Field Station―the largest dinosaur quarry in Japan―where visitors can look for actual fossils during a three-hour experience/tour. For those with limited time, a brand new facility within the museum now also offers hands-on experiences for those obsessed with dinosaurs.
Don’t forget to say hi to the 7-meter T-rex robot that greets visitors near the entrance, a fan favorite since this world-class museum opened in 2000.
Reservations are recommended, but on less crowded days tickets may be available for sale at the museum.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa Station (about 3 hours), then take the Shirasagi or Thunderbird Limited Express train to Fukui Station (about 45 minutes). Switch to the Echizen Railway Eiheiji Katsuyama Line, bound for Katsuyama (about 1 hour). From Katsuyama, you can either take a taxi (about 10 minutes) or the community bus line to the museum.
51-11 Terao, Muroko-cho, Katsuyama-shi, Fukui-ken
