Last Updated: Sep 11, 2023

Fukui Prefecture

Zen Buddhism, Castles & Dinosaurs

Welcome back to yet another installment of my in-depth area guides for Japan’s hidden gems. In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at Fukui Prefecture. Lovingly referred to as “Dinosaur Country” by members of the expat community (more on that later), this rural region rarely pops up on the radars of overseas tourists. Seeing the prefecture is home to some of the most serene Japanese Zen Buddhism temples, I’m of the mindset that this really needs to change. While Fukui is definitely the type of destination that requires a major time commitment, the area more than delivers in many manners.

If this is the first you are hearing of Fukui, know that the prefecture resides along the Sea of Japan coast, just to the south of the ever-charming Kanazawa. A part of the historic Hokuriku region, Fukui is a prefecture that is equally rich in both history and nature. In the days of yore, Fukui used to be split into the domains of Wakasa and Echizen. Later, when Japan’s feudal era came to an end, the neighboring fragments were fused into Fukui. Today, this amalgamation is evidenced throughout the vast varieties of landscapes comprising the prefecture.

As alluded to above, Fukui is assuredly one of the more rural prefectures out there. In a stark…