Article summary
・ You can experience fossil excavation
・ Reservation is mandatory, and reservation starts from the 1st of the previous month
・ You can enjoy it even in the rain without any problems
What is the Outdoor Dinosaur Museum?
The Outdoor Dinosaur Museum is a facility in the same area as the Fukui Dinosaur Museum..
You can experience the excavation of real fossils and visit by reservation-based bus tour.
We will introduce the charm of the outdoor dinosaur museum that both adults and children can be absorbed in.
Flow of the day
Let's start with the flow of the day.
Reception at the parking lot
First of all, we will accept at the prefabricated hut in the parking lot at least 30 minutes before the reservation time.
If you arrive early, let's finish the reception first and go around the exhibition at the Fukui Dinosaur Museum.You can re-enter the museum on the day of the event.
Take the designated bus
When it's time, board the bus specified at the reception.
The bus bears the name of a dinosaur found in Fukui prefecture.
I got on the Fukuititan.It is a large dinosaur that is said to have lived in Fukui.
It takes about 20 minutes by bus to the excavation site.
Inside the car, the bus guide will talk about the precautions for fossil excavation, so you will arrive in no time.
To the actual excavation site
You can also visit the excavation site where the fossils of dinosaurs were actually found.
The excavation is still going on, and during the summer vacation season, heavy machinery will be included and the excavation work will be carried out.
Excavation experience (rain is okay)
When you're ready, it's time to start the excavation experience.
It's done under the tent, so you can enjoy it regardless of whether it's raining.
After that, just break the stone
I will break the stone by borrowing a hammer, chisel, and goggles.
The actual time limit is about 20 minutes because there are explanations.
At first, I thought, "Is there a time limit of 20 minutes?", But when I actually tried it, the time passed in no time.
It ends when I get used to it, so I'm convinced that there are many repeaters.
I'm crazy about searching for fossils and I don't have many pictures left, but I can find plant-based fossils.
Animal fossils are also found several times a day.
After all, I could only find fossils of plants and shellfish.
If the fossils you find are plants or shellfish, you can take them home up to the size of a palm.
In the case of fossil animals, we cannot bring them back for research, but if it is a new species, we will get the naming right.
In the past, a new kind of dinosaur was found from the excavation experience, and it seems that a new kind of lizard was found in March 2021, so there seems to be more chances.
How to find fossils
There are three points that I personally think are important.
Point XNUMX: Pay attention to the surface of the stone
There are quite a lot of fossils visible on the surface of the stone.
If you break it, there is a higher probability that other fossils will come out, so I think it is more efficient to devote it to the search time rather than the time to break the stone.
Point XNUMX: Search from dark stones
The whitish stone is so hard that it doesn't really break.
Look for it from the dark stones.
Point XNUMX: Ask the staff
It's okay to just start at the beginning, so if you think "Is this a fossil?", Check with the staff nearby.
The fossil part seems to have a glittering luster, but I think it is important to grasp the criteria for judging whether it is a fossil or not at the beginning.
Clothes of the day
We recommend long sleeves and long trousers even in summer.Because there are mosquitoes in the mountains.
If you don't sit on the ground, your clothes won't get dirty.If the wind is strong, I think it will get dusty smoke.
(The official website recommends "clothes that can get dirty")
Shoes are normal and OK
All the tour courses are paved, so ordinary shoes were fine.
You need to go down a steep slope like the one in the photo, so wear comfortable shoes.
You can use an umbrella instead of a kappa for rain gear.
Bring work gloves
Bring your work gloves.
Even if you forget it, you can buy it at the reception for 100 yen, but if you are at a home improvement store, you can buy about 100 pairs for 3 yen.
However, if you buy 12 sets or something without using work gloves in your daily life, it will become an object in the room, so be careful.
Fees and travel times
The price is as low as 1220 yen for adults and 610 yen for children.
The price includes all of the bus tour fee + equipment rental fee + one fossil takeaway.
There are 120-minute regular courses and 60-minute explanations omitted, but let's start with the 120-minute course.
Reservation method and implementation time
The Dinosaur Open Air Museum is held for a limited time only from April to October.
It's a very popular tour, so be sure to make a reservation before you go.
If there was a vacancy on the day, an announcement was made about 10 minutes before the start, saying "If you want to participate, go to the reception." (Maybe not now)
Reservation method: Official website
Personally, I recommend that you visit the Fukui Dinosaur Museum exhibition first and then participate in the excavation experience.
The museum gets crowded as time goes by, and you can re-enter the museum on the day.
Recommended souvenirs: Dinosaur excavation type Nuki Baum
There was a sweet that looked interesting, so I bought it.
You can enjoy it by cutting it out like this.
The taste is normal, but I think it's an ant as a souvenir.
You can buy it at the souvenir shop in the parking lot.
I think it wasn't sold in the Dinosaur Museum.
Access and great deals
Address | 911-8601 Terao, Muroko-cho, Katsuyama-shi, Fukui 51-11 Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest | |
Phone | 0779-88-0001 | |
Train + bus | About 60 minutes from Echizen Railway "Fukui Station" → 15 minutes by bus | |
Number of parking spaces | 1500 stand | |
Parking Fee | Free | |
Official Website | Access(Please check the latest information) |
If you go by train + bus, it takes about 90 minutes from Fukui Station including waiting time.
There is also a great-value ticket that includes an admission ticket to the Dinosaur Museum and a ticket.
Normally, it costs 2670 yen for a round trip between a train and a bus, so an adult can save about 500 yen.
You can buy it at the Echizen Railway window.
Map
Finally
The fossil excavation experience is a tour that both adults and children can enjoy as if they were looking for treasure.
It's more satisfying than the Fukui Dinosaur Museum in the main body.
Make sure to visit when you go to the Fukui Dinosaur Museum.