Dinosaurs were first found in Japan in Fukui Prefecture. Since then, Fukui has called itself the “Dinosaur Prefecture”. Indeed, the station has turned into a mini Jurassic Park.
Outside the West Exit of JR Fukui station, three dinosaurs greet you, occasionally with angry grunts and cries. These dinosaurs move – admittedly in a mechanical and programmed fashion – and you feel as though you’ve slipped into the film set of Jurassic Park. The brown dinosaur above is the Fukuiraptor, a species first discovered in this prefecture!
Another sight you cannot miss is the dinosaur prints all over the station building. One really feels as though she is in the kingdom of dinosaurs – wouldn’t it be wonderful if all station were this interesting?
If you’re passionate about dinosaurs, you may want to consider visiting the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum. At this museum, you will find exhibits on dinosaurs, as well as be able to experience digging fossils. Meanwhile, Fukui doesn’t have too many tourist spots of interest, so if dinosaurs aren’t your cup of tea, you may consider heading down the train line towards Kyoto and Osaka, or up towards Kanazawa and Toyama (if you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can board and alight as frequently as you like).
More information:
Address: 1-1-1 Chuo, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture 910-0006
Access: One minute from JR Fukui Station West Exit
Admission: Free
Hours: 24 hours
Website for the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum: http://www.dinosaur.pref.fukui.jp/en/
Map:
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