福井县

Fukui is a prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast of central Honshu, a quiet region of fishing ports and deep Zen tradition better known to Japanese travelers than to foreign ones. Its claim to world attention is fossils; some of Japan's most important dinosaur finds were dug here.

The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum in Katsuyama is among the best of its kind anywhere, built beside the excavation sites. Eiheiji Temple has kept strict Zen monastic life running since the 13th century, and on the coast the basalt cliffs of Tojinbo drop straight into the waves. Maruoka Castle preserves one of Japan's oldest keeps.

Winter is Echizen crab season, when the celebrated local catch draws diners from across the region, and grated-radish soba is the everyday staple year-round. The Hokuriku Shinkansen now reaches the prefecture, which makes Fukui far easier to fold into a Kanazawa or Kyoto route. Two days covers the highlights comfortably.