Fukui Dinosaur Museum | One of the Three Great Dinosaur Museums in the World (Fukui)　★★☆

What is Fukui Dinosaur Museum?

Fukui Dinosaur Museum is a museum located in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture.

Katsuyama City is a dinosaur kingdom where fossil excavations are active and new types of dinosaur fossils have been found.

Access is a bit bad, but if you like dinosaurs, we will introduce you to the Fukui Dinosaur Museum, which is a must-see.

One of the world's three largest dinosaur museums

At the Fukui Dinosaur Museum, 44 dinosaur skeletons are on display, making it the best in Japan.

Along with Canada's Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleobiology and China's Zigong Dinosaur Museum, it is one of the three largest dinosaur museums in the world.

(In the English-speaking rankings, the Fukui Dinosaur Museum is often included, but the Utah National Nature Museum in the United States is included. I would like to go around all of them to see which is the real three major dinosaur museums in the world. I will.)

Real dinosaur fossil

Speaking of dinosaur museums, they are fossils, but unfortunately, replicas are often exhibited in museums around the world.

At the Fukui Dinosaur Museum, 44 of the 10 whole-body skeletons use real fossils.

Some people may think, "Is it only 10?", But fossils are usually sent for research and kept in a safe place, so even 10 are an amazing number.

There is a good chance that replicas will be on display at the other three major dinosaur museums in the world mentioned above.

How to identify real fossils?

There is a simple point to distinguishing replicas.

It is to check "Is the fossil fixed to the rattling?"

Since it is not allowed to damage real fossils, there are many fixing brackets.

On the other hand, in the case of replicas, the metal is passed through the bone to reinforce it, so the fixing brackets cannot be seen from the outside.

I think it's fun to tour while checking which fossils are genuine.

Since whole-body fossils of dinosaurs are rarely found, it is common to combine real parts and replicas for display.

However, in the case of this "Camarasaurus", most of the whole body is a real fossil. (Maybe it's almost real except the head?)

It's a bit clunky with a lot of metal frames, but this is the real proof.

Highlights of the Fukui Dinosaur Museum

Let's introduce the inside of the Fukui Dinosaur Museum.

First of all, the building is amazing

The main hall of the exhibition room is in the shape of a sphere.

I thought that it was an image of a dinosaur egg, but it seems that it was rounded as a countermeasure against snow accumulation.

Once inside, it becomes the entrance hall.

I was surprised at how to use this luxurious space.

This is one of the top-class favorite entrances in Japanese art museums.

The escalator goes down to the basement at once to the exhibition room, but the road to Tyrannosaurus after that is also elaborate and exciting.

Moving Tyrannosaurus

The first thing you'll see is a machine-powered Tyrannosaurus.

It moves to a relatively small detail.The size is about 2/3 of the real thing.

Recently, it has been said that "Tyrannosaurus had hair", but it is thought that only small dinosaurs that need temperature protection had hair.

Exhibition of whole body skeleton

After all, the exhibition of dinosaurs is the whole body skeleton.

In the main hall, 44 large and small whole body skeletons are exhibited.

I will introduce some of them.

Triceratops

Everyone loves Triceratops.

It looks like it has a high attack power, but it is thought to have been herbivorous.

Paquiquefarosaurus

Pachycephalosaurus seems to be good at head-butting, but recent research has said that "head-butting was impossible due to the structure of the bones."

It is a such a fool.

Nipponosaurus, a new species of Japan

It's a dinosaur that looks sober and 99% of people are likely to pass by, but it's the first dinosaur to be discovered in Japan.

Since there are closely related species in Europe, it is believed that they were active in a wide range.

Many other exhibits

There are many other dinosaurs and a diorama corner that reproduces those days.

Fukuiraptor robot

After passing through the whole body skeleton zone, there is a robot of a new species "Fukuiraptor" discovered in Fukui.

It's exciting to think that this kind of thing was also in Japan.

To the 2nd floor

After looking at the first floor, take the slope to the left of this white fossil to the second floor.

You can go upstairs by stairs or elevator, but the slope is recommended because you can look around the whole area.

Exhibits other than dinosaurs

On the 2nd floor, creatures other than dinosaurs are exhibited because it is called "History of the Earth".

You can see the whole body skeleton of characteristic animals such as mammoths and elks.

It is a skull of "Deinotherium" with amazing fangs growing from the jaw.

It looked like an elephant, but it became extinct about a million years ago.

This time it is the skull of "Arsinoitherium" with a great angle.

If an old Japanese had found it, it would have been mistaken for a fossil of a demon.

Exhibition about dinosaurs

There are many other exhibits related to dinosaurs.

This is the growth record of "Maiasaura", which grows to 8-9m as an adult.

It was cute at first, but as it gets older, it becomes a rugged face.

With this appearance, I am a XNUMX-year-old child.

Dinosaurs grow fast.

Commentary like a picture book

The explanation of the exhibition is like a clipping of a picture book, and it is honestly disappointing.

It's a specialized museum, so it can't be helped, but I personally thought it would be more interesting to let a researcher who loves dinosaurs do whatever he wants.

Sentences that are not read by humans are not even sentences.

Outdoor Dinosaur Museum

As a nearby facility, there is the "Outdoor Dinosaur Museum" where you can experience the actual excavation of fossils.

Make a reservation and visit us together.

Cafe restaurant

There is a "Dyno Cafe" where you can eat.

It will be very crowded from noon, so if you want to use it, let's leave it at the time of admission.
(If the seats are full, make a reservation using the machine at the entrance of the cafe. Be prepared to wait 120 minutes.)

The main menu seems to be these three.

By the way, all the menus are different from the restaurant "Saurus Kitchen" in the parking lot.

I felt that this "Dyno Cafe" had a stronger sense of original menu.

I ordered a dinosaur burger set, but it came out almost as shown in the picture.

This is about 1000 yen, but considering that it is a tourist spot and there are not many restaurants in the area, I think it might be a good idea to use it.

It is a good impression that the glasses and plates were also dinosaur specifications.

Facilities in the hall (coin lockers, audio commentary, shops)

Free coin locker

When you enter the building and go to the right, you will find a 100-yen coin locker.

There are many small lockers, so let's use them.

The locker location is a bit hard to find.

Thanks to that, the lockers were relatively vacant even when the hall was crowded.

Audio commentary (app)

The Fukui Dinosaur Museum has an audio commentary app.

You will have to pay 500 yen at the reception on the day to unlock the app, so download it in advance.

How to download the app

Personally, I think it's more enjoyable to use.At least it's more interesting than the text exhibition commentary.

Only the audio commentary from the Fukui Dinosaur Museum can hear the commentary on Tyrannosaurus's ass.

Stand

It is a shop where you can find dinosaur related goods.

By the way, we sell products that are different from the shops in the parking lot, so if you have something you want, buy it here.

Travel time is 90 to 120 minutes

If you follow the sign that says "Researcher's Recommended Course", you will be able to go around in about 120 minutes.

Although it is not included in the "Researcher's Recommended Course", I think you should take a look at earth minerals.

It is exhibited behind the Fukuiraptor robot on the first floor.

Reservation method and congestion

Reservations are required for the Fukui Dinosaur Museum.

You can choose from 4 to 5 times a day to make a reservation, but we recommend that you enter the museum in the morning.

It's not a replacement system, so the number of people will increase over time.

Reservation method: Official website

This is a photo before Corona, but after noon it is full of people.

I don't think this will happen because we have restrictions on admission now.

Business hours and admission fee

It takes about 90 minutes from Fukui station, so it's difficult if you don't stay the night before, but if possible, make sure to visit first thing in the morning.

Access and great deals

If you go by train + bus, it takes about 90 minutes from Fukui Station including waiting time.

We recommend a great-value ticket that includes an admission ticket and a ticket.

Normally, a round trip between a train and a bus costs 1940 yen + museum 730 yen = 2670 yen, so adults can save about 500 yen.

You can buy it at the ticket office of Echizen Railway.

Map

Finally

The Fukui Dinosaur Museum is arguably the best dinosaur museum in Japan in terms of size and quality of collection.

It's far from Fukui station and has poor access, but it's well worth the trip.

We recommend visiting in combination with "Eiheiji" on the way.