Although it’s Golden Week …

Our child is a huge dinosaur fan. Ever since we visited the dinosaur skeleton model exhibit from the Fukui Dinosaur Museum in Marunouchi, he’s been asking to go to the actual museum. With Golden Week just a few days away, I checked for flights and accommodations. While Awara Onsen in Fukui was fully booked, we managed to find a place on the Ishikawa side and secured tickets to Komatsu Airport. So off we went!

We stayed at Ichirino Onsen, located near the entrance of the Hakusan Super Rindo Forest Road. Unfortunately, the road was still closed, so we couldn’t visit Gokayama as initially hoped. The area still had traces of snow, but spring was making its way, with horsetails starting to sprout.

Dinosaur Museum

The forecast called for rain all golden week, but the morning started off dry. We hurried to the Fukui Dinosaur Museum by car, and though the roads were empty, the parking lot was nearly full just minutes after opening. Knowing there was a dinosaur-themed park nearby, we headed there first to make the most of the clear skies.

The park features dinosaur-themed slides and play equipment, all of which thrilled our child. Left unchecked, they could have played for hours, but with light rain starting, we decided to head into the museum.

The museum itself is breathtaking. Its modern architecture immediately draws you in, and descending via a massive three-story escalator is just the beginning of the adventure. The highlight is the moving T-Rex model, which was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. While our child had seen it countless times on YouTube and wasn’t fazed, many kids were visibly startled.

Inside, the museum boasts an extensive collection of dinosaur skeletons. Even with the golden week crowd, the spacious layout allowed us to enjoy the exhibits at a leisurely pace. The full skeleton of the 30-meter-long Mamenchisaurus, displayed in a massive three-story space, was particularly impressive.

Some displays include life-sized models alongside skeletons, making it easy to visualize the dinosaurs. Our child, armed with a wealth of dinosaur knowledge, excitedly ran around identifying species and asking endless questions. It was exhausting but also heartwarming to see their enthusiasm.

The gift shop was another adventure. Packed with visitors, it was hard enough to navigate, but our child was mesmerized by all the dinosaur toys and models. We finally settled on a detailed Fukuiraptor model and escaped the chaos.

For lunch, we tried the dinosaur burger set, complete with dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets. Made with local vegetables, the handmade burger was a hit with our child.

Around Hakusan area

The Fukui Dinosaur Museum is internationally renowned, but Ishikawa has its own unique spot – Hakusan Dinosaur Park Shiramine. Since we couldn’t secure a reservation for the fossil excavation experience at Fukui Dinosaur Museum, we decided to try it here instead. Compared to the grandeur of Fukui’s museum, Shiramine has a more retro charm.

Interestingly, the fossil excavation here was featured briefly in a NISSAN Serena commercial, and ever since seeing it, I’d been wanting to try it myself. Despite the rain, we grabbed hammers and set out to dig for fossils with our child. Initially, I couldn’t help but wonder if anything could really be found among all the rocky debris. To my surprise, we uncovered what appeared to be a fossilized plant leaf!

Apparently, visitors occasionally discover significant fossils here, which adds an exciting element to the experience. I wish we had found something big, but even this small discovery made the activity unforgettable.

Near Hakusan Shiramine area, there’s an impressive dam where you can get an up-close view of the massive structure. The sheer scale of the tightly packed stones makes you marvel at how it was even constructed. It’s a fascinating sight that leaves a strong impression.

The area is also rich in hot springs, with charming little onsen towns scattered throughout. Local delicacies here include katadofu (a firm tofu) and sweets made from horse chestnuts (tochi). I have a particular love for tochimochi (chestnut rice cakes), but they were often sold out during our trip. Luckily, I stumbled upon some at a roadside station early in the morning.

The tochimochi was soft and fluffy, filled generously with subtly sweet red bean paste. It was simply irresistible – something I could eat endlessly! This simple treat alone made the stop memorable.

While in Katsuyama, we stopped by Teuchi Soba Yasuke, a well-known spot for Echizen soba, especially the famous oroshi soba (soba with grated daikon radish). We hadn’t done much research, but it turned out to be quite popular – the small parking lot was packed with cars from all over Japan.

The entrance, draped with a classic noren curtain, gave off a charmingly rustic vibe. As we approached, the rhythmic sound of the stone mill grinding soba flour filled the air – a delightful prelude to what was to come.

The menu was refreshingly simple, offering only four types of soba. While my Tokyo-born wife was set on tempura soba, I couldn’t resist the allure of trying a bit of everything. In the end, we ordered all four options to share among the three of us.

The soba was aromatic and incredibly fresh. The oroshi soba, served with a flavorful broth topped with bonito flakes and plenty of grated daikon, was a standout. The yamakake soba (soba with grated yam and egg) was equally delightful, with a smooth texture and rich taste. The portions were just right – though honestly, I could’ve easily enjoyed two bowls myself!

It was a satisfying and memorable meal, perfect for savoring the local specialty.

Eiheiji temple

The main goal of this trip was to visit the dinosaurs museum, so we hadn’t put much thought into how to spend any extra time. Flipping through a guidebook we found at our accommodations, we decided to check out Eiheiji Temple.

Eiheiji is a training monastery for monks of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. While it is a temple, it stands out for its sheer size and unique atmosphere – quite unlike your average temple. The grandeur and solemnity of the place were surprising and made the visit all the more intriguing.

At the beginning of our visit, one of the monks who was undergoing training gave us a brief explanation about Eiheiji Temple. He emphasized that this is a training monastery for monks, not a place filled with the extravagant displays that might shock tourists. This comment stuck with me, highlighting the simplicity and purpose of the temple.

Despite its simplicity, the buildings, nestled on the slopes, had a distinct charm. Throughout the temple, we saw monks diligently cleaning and performing tasks as part of their training, which added a unique atmosphere to the experience. The gentle rain that was falling only enhanced the overall ambiance, making it feel even more serene and fitting for the surroundings.

Sabae Eyeglass Museum

The last stop of our trip was the Sabae Eyeglass Museum, and it was a fun and unexpected experience. The first thing that struck me was the large circular decoration made entirely from eyeglass frames – such a creative and eye-catching piece. Even the entrance to the restroom had a figure shaped like a person wearing glasses, which added to the whimsical charm of the museum.

Inside, there were displays of glasses worn by famous individuals, including a pair from Ultraseven, which was a nice nod to pop culture. Despite being a small museum, it was quite interesting and packed with unique exhibits. On the first floor, there was a shop that sold stylish eyeglass frames, including those made from bamboo, which I was very tempted to buy. However, I had to pass due to time constraints, but it was definitely an enjoyable way to wrap up the trip.