Explore the City of Fukui and Eiheiji Temple - Full-Day Tour

Soon after grouping up we will hop on the train to Fukui. The about 40 minute ride will give you an excellent view of the mountains to the west. They are especially stunning from December to April when they are covered in snow.

After arriving at Fukui Station, you will be greeted by some unlikely hosts, a multitude of dinosaur statues. This prefecture is the location of Japan’s largest archaeological dig and has a few dinosaurs named after it. There will be time to walk around the station and find some of the more artistic and funny ones. Those starting the tour from Fukui Station will join us in front of the dinosaur skeleton next to the East Exit inside the station.

Next, we will walk to the castle ruins. It is most famous for its great walls and moat and even more unusually, the prefecture office and police headquarters inside. The walls are original to the construction but there is also a bridge that faithfully reproduces what it looked like during the Edo period. There wasn’t a keep for many years so instead the gates around the castle were reinforced to act as the final line of defense, making it unique among castles in Japan.

A short walk away from the castle is a shrine that has recently become popular because of the origami cranes that are hung at the entrance. The cranes are a really striking visual that imbues hope for a better future. Following the shrine is walk and short bus ride to a different part of the city.

This area of the city has a long history, recorded in historical records from before the 700s. We will walk along the edge of a large hill until reaching Zuigenji Temple. This temple has two rooms from the former Fukui castle. They were both rooms where the daimyo used to conduct his private business and often slept. One of the rooms is preserved as is from that time period. The stunning details and colours used by the Japanese upper class is something to marvel at.

The final stop before lunch is the Atagozaka or the Atago Slope. This is a series of staircases that lead up to the top of a large series of hills. One of the oldest shrines in all of the prefecture as well as probably the best view of Fukui City’s modern skyline is near the top. The brand new buildings against the tree-covered mountains in the background is really beautiful.

Coming down from the view point, we will head towards the Katamachi area near the station where you will have time for lunch. Feel free to ask your guide about recommendations. The local specialties in Fukui City are Echizen soba noodles and katsu(fried port cutlet).

The afternoon part of the tour will start by gathering at Fukui Station and hopping on a direct bus to Eiheiji Temple. It is one of the head temples of the Zen Buddhist sect that has been in existence since the 1200s. Many of the buildings and cedar trees that surround them are said to be from around the founding, making them about 680 years old. This makes for an unbelievable sight, especially during the autumn months.

There are so many great angles to find that mix traditional architecture and timeless nature, both on the temple ground itself and around it. As we slowly walk through the complex your guide will talk about the history of Zen Buddhism, Eiheiji Temple and their importance to Japanese history. You will be given some time to explore the temple and town for yourself so try to find that perfect picture spot or just decompress in the chilly mountain air. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your guide!

After getting a taste of Zen in its Japanese homeland, we will head back to the hustle and bustle of city life. We will get on a direct bus back to Fukui, that will take just under 30 minutes. At Fukui Station it will be time to leave our friends and say the first goodbyes of the day. Then for those who joined us earlier on, we hop back on a train to Kanazawa. Here we will say our goodbyes but if you have any questions about Kanazawa city or ideas for what to eat/do, please do not hesitate to ask!