Fukui Travel Guide

Located on the west coast of central Japan, you’ll find Fukui to the north of Kyoto and Shiga Prefectures. The beautiful, rugged coastline is peppered with fishing towns and villages which harvest deliciously sweet prawns and pricey snow crabs which are prized around the country.

The capital city that shares its name is separated from the coast by mountains, located in a mountain-flanked valley once ruled by a branch of the formidable Matsudaira Clan. Their domain, known as Echizen, nowadays comprises the northern portion of the prefecture. This land has birthed some fantastic delicacies over the years, including some delectable varieties of soba noodles, and world-class seafood.

If you’re at all interested in Japanese history, then you really should visit Fukui at some point. Here you can explore the gardens of the Matsudaira Clan — Yokokan Gardens — a beautiful spot seemingly suspended in time, and in the city of Sakai you’ll find Maruoka Castle, which dates back to 1576.

If a few centuries of history aren’t enough to tickle your fancy, then how about a few dozen million? If you head to Katsuyama, you’ll find one of the world’s best dinosaur museums (the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum), which features world-class paleontology exhibits sure to capture the imagination of families, academics, and amateur Indiana Joneses alike.