My trip to Central Japan has been nothing but amazing!! It is also perfect for those who wish to visit snow covered Shirakawa-go during winter. I have to say that it is truly magical. Do you know that just one hour away from Shirakawa-go, there are another two gassho villages called Ainokura and Suganuma? Purchasing at a station etc. Please be aware that to travel on the Tokaido Shinkansen, you will need to pay the required basic fare and any additional fees separately.
In other words, it includes all the inter-city transport marked in the map below. Once you reach Kansai International Airport, you can head to the JR office to exchange for the pass and to reserve seats for certain high demand trains. You should also get your Haruka train ticket here. However, the buses are often in high demand so it is best to call the numbers above in advance to secure your seats. We were so lucky to ride the new Haruka Express for free, included in THJR pass which is covered in Hello Kitty-themed illustrations and exciting features.
Detailed explanations are in both Japanese and English. We enjoyed a quick lunch in Dino, the only cafe inside the museum. The food was simple but good. The museum is also a family friendly attraction, as the visitors are mostly families with young kids. Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is the largest dinosaur museum in Japan and is recognized as one of the top three dinosaur museums in the world.
Katsuyama-city is also famous as the site of the largest number of dinosaur fossil digs in Japan. The museum, which opened in , has become a popular tourist destination in Fukui and draws over , people annually. Kisho Kurokawa. The robotic moving Tyrannosaurus is a very popular photo spot here. This room has more than 40 real-size mounted dinosaur skeletons. Although they are many replicas, but some of them are real fossils. Apart from this room, there are more than exhibits in the museum, dioramas and also a CG theatre.
Be sure to also enjoy the outdoor dinosaur museum where you can experience searching for fossils yourself by breaking up actual stones brought from local excavation sites. Tours leave from the museum approximately a minute bus ride ; however, you need to apply for the two-hour tour in advance.
