Echizen, Fukui Pref. – Crabs and dinosaurs. For decades, that’s how Fukui Prefecture has tried to sell itself to the rest of Japan and, more recently, the world — with limited success.
Nicknamed the “Dinosaur Kingdom,” this rural region on the Sea of Japan is home to around 80% of the country’s dinosaur fossil discoveries. This becomes obvious as you step out of Fukui Station and are greeted by towering dinosaur models. One of the giant creatures holds a bright orange Echizen crab in its mouth — a nod to the prized crustaceans from Fukui’s western coastline, another of the prefecture’s icons.
And yet, Fukui still flies under the radar among international tourists — and even among its neighbors. Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture to the northeast, has positioned itself as a cultural alternative to Kyoto, while the nearby city of Toyama caught the attention of the New York Times’ influential ”52 Places to Go” list in 2025.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.