Fukui Prefecture

Fukui is a place in Japan.

It sits by the Sea of Japan. It can be very snowy there.

You can find old dinosaur bones here.

These bones help us learn about the past. Many kinds of dinosaurs lived there.

There are also very old buildings. You can see Maruoka Castle. It is a very old castle.

Some people make glasses in the city of Sabae. This city makes most of the glasses in Japan.

Fukui is a place full of surprises.

It is fun to explore.

Fukui is a prefecture in Japan.

It sits in the Chūbu region. It faces the Sea of Japan. The land is part of a place called snow country. This means it gets a lot of snow.

Fukui has many interesting things to see. You can visit the Tōjinbō cliffs.

You can also see Maruoka Castle. It is the oldest standing castle in Japan. It was built in 1576.

Another special place is the Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins.

If you like dinosaurs, visit the city of Katsuyama.

People found many dinosaur bones there. You can see them at a museum. Many types of dinosaurs lived in this area.

Fukui is also known for making things. The city of Sabae makes 90% of the glasses in Japan. People there also make paper in a traditional style. Many people live in the eastern part of Fukui. The capital city is also named Fukui.

It is a big part of the area.

Fukui is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of Honshū, Japan.

It sits along the coast of the Sea of Japan. To the north, it borders Ishikawa Prefecture. To the east is Gifu Prefecture. Shiga Prefecture is to the south, and Kyoto Prefecture is to the southwest. The area is part of the historic Hokuriku region. Because of its location, it is known as "snow country."

The land has two very different parts. The western side was once called Wakasa. It is a narrow plain between the sea and the mountains. The eastern side was once called Echizen. This part has wider plains where most people live. The capital city, also named Fukui, is located here. Other big cities include Sakai, Echizen, and Sabae.

History is found in many places throughout the prefecture. Long ago, the area was made of two provinces. In 1871, these were joined to form the prefecture. During the Edo period, the powerful Matsudaira clan lived here. They were based at Fukui Castle.

Sadly, Fukui Castle was destroyed by bombs during World War II. Today, the government offices sit on that same site. You can also visit Maruoka Castle, which was built in 1576. It is the oldest standing castle in Japan.

Many amazing things can be discovered in Fukui. If you visit Katsuyama, you might find dinosaur fossils.

Many animals like Fukuiraptor and Fukuititan lived there. You can see these bones at the dinosaur museum. For a look at old ruins, visit the Ichijōdani Asakura Family site.

You can also see the Tōjinbō cliff range.

For quiet moments, the Eihei-ji temple offers a place for monks to study.

Fukui is also a place where people make famous things. The city of Sabae makes 90% of the glasses in Japan.

The area is also famous for traditional Echizen papermaking. Many people enjoy the local food like Echizen soba noodles. They also enjoy fresh crabs and rice. Even though the population is getting smaller, the people of Fukui keep their traditions alive. They even have a special way of speaking called Fukui-ben.

Fukui Prefecture is a coastal region in Japan. It sits within the Chūbu region on the island of Honshū.

The prefecture is part of the historic Hokuriku region. It faces the Sea of Japan to the west. To the north, it borders Ishikawa Prefecture. Gifu Prefecture lies to the east. Shiga Prefecture is located to the south. Kyoto Prefecture sits to the southwest. The land covers a total area of 4,190 km2.

The geography of Fukui is divided into two distinct sections. The western part was formerly known as Wakasa. It consists of a narrow plain. This plain sits between the mountains and the sea. The eastern part was formerly known as Echizen. This area contains much larger plains. Most of the population lives in these eastern plains. The capital city, Fukui, is located in this section. Other major cities include Sakai, Echizen, and Sabae.

The region is often called "snow country" due to its weather.

Fukui has a long and complex history. Originally, the area consisted of the provinces of Wakasa and Echizen. These provinces were joined to form the prefecture in 1871. During the Edo period, the region was ruled by the Matsudaira clan. This was a powerful samurai clan. They were descendants of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The clan was headquartered at Fukui Castle.

This castle was surrounded by a moat. During World War II, Fukui was heavily bombed. The bombing demolished Fukui Castle. Today, the prefectural government buildings stand on that site. However, Maruoka Castle still stands. It was built in 1576 and is the oldest standing castle in Japan.

Prehistoric discoveries add to the wonder of Fukui. The Kitadani Dinosaur Quarry is located on the Sugiyama River. This quarry is within the city limits of Katsuyama.

Scientists have found many dinosaur fossils here. These include animals like Fukuiraptor and Fukuisaurus. Other fossils include Nipponosaurus and Koshisaurus. Researchers also found Fukuivenator and Fukuititan. Tambatitanis and an unnamed dromaeosaurid were also discovered. These fossils are displayed at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum.

Cultural heritage sites are very important in Fukui. The Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins are a major site.

Another significant site is Eihei-ji. This Buddhist temple was founded by Dogen Zenji in 1244. It covers about 33 hectares of land. It provides training and education for monks. Myōtsū-ji is also famous. Its Three-storied Pagoda and Main Hall are National Treasures of Japan.

Visitors can also see the Tōjinbō cliff range along the coast.

The economy of Fukui is built on several unique industries. Sabae is a global leader in eyewear. It produces 90% of Japan's domestically made glasses. The prefecture is also famous for Echizen papermaking. The Echizen Papermaking Cooperative uses traditional styles. Energy is another major part of the economy. There are 14 nuclear reactors located in Fukui. This is the highest number of any prefecture. Many of these plants are near Wakasa Bay in Tsuruga. They supply power to the Keihanshin metropolitan region.

Demographics show that Fukui is one of the less populated prefectures. As of January 1, 2025, the population was 737,229. In 2015, the population was estimated at 785,508. The prefecture faces an aging and decreasing population. In July 2015, 28.6% of people were over age 65. The population fell by 2.6% between 2010 and 2015. To help this, the government launched a dating website in 2010. It was called the Fukui Marriage-Hunting Café. Couples who marry through the site receive money and gifts. This aims to help increase the population growth.