[Fukui] Take an extraordinary trip surrounded by dinosaurs! 6 hotels and ryokan with dinosaur rooms

Fukui is a city with many different faces. It is an area with famous tourist spots such as Tojinbo, famous for its columnar joints, and the historic Eiheiji Temple, as well as thriving traditional crafts and industries such as washi paper and glasses. In recent years, dinosaurs have been attracting a lot of attention! Fukui has a geological layer called "Bonehead" where dinosaur fossils and bones are particularly concentrated, and it is said that about 80% of the dinosaur fossils found in Japan have been excavated in Fukui! Many dinosaurs, such as "Fukuisaurus" and "Fukuititan", were discovered here for the first time, which is why it is called the "Dinosaur Kingdom."

Furthermore, in the spring of 2025, the "Faculty of Dinosaurs (tentative)" will be established at Fukui University. Dinosaur research will progress further, and a dinosaur boom may come! There is also a "dinosaur bus" that goes to the "Fukui Dinosaur Museum" from in front of JR "Fukui Station", so you can access dinosaur-themed spots. After visiting dinosaur spots during the day, why not stay at a hotel with a dinosaur room at night? ♪ This time, we will introduce dinosaur concept hotels, such as hotels with dinosaur motifs and hotels with fossil exhibits. Let's embark on a journey full of ancient romance!

Hanahasu onsen Somayama is about a 10-minute drive from JR Nanjo Station. It is located in Minami Echizen Town, next to Hanahasu Park, where about 130 types of flowering lotus bloom. This inn has a charming hideaway atmosphere, where you can enjoy hot onsen that bubble up from about 1,000 meters underground and dishes inspired by flowering lotus. At Nanjo SA (outbound), about a 15-minute drive from the inn, there is a giant moving dinosaur monument, so it's a great place to visit while you're out for a drive.

There is only one spacious 12-tatami "Dinosaur Room" on the second floor. It is the perfect room to stay in when you are traveling to dinosaur spots. The dynamic dinosaurs on the wall will get you excited. It's also nice to take photos in front of the dinosaur tapestry.

There is also a dinner menu exclusively for the Dinosaur Room, although it is only available to elementary school students. The curry served on the plate has rice in the shape of a dinosaur! This is sure to please children. Other dishes available include a multi-course meal using seasonal vegetables and seafood, as well as a seasonal course using lotus. Be sure to try the "lotus udon," a specialty of Hanahasu onsen Somayama. Become even more beautiful with the power of lotus, which is packed with nutrients and said to be good for your health and beauty.

Hotel Harvest Ski Jam Katsuyama is located next to the ski resort. It is a resort hotel with facilities such as a natural onsen overlooking the Kuzuryu River and a heated pool. You can enjoy the refreshing grassland breeze in summer and the snowy world that stretches out as far as the eye can see in winter. If you are going on an active trip to experience the four seasons of Fukui, we recommend staying here. It is about 40 minutes by reservation-only free shuttle bus from Echizen Railway's Katsuyama Station.

The "Dinosaur Lab Room", which opened in 2021, is based on the concept of a dinosaur laboratory, as its name suggests. The life-size silhouettes of dinosaurs painted all over the walls are very impressive! They also rent out loungewear so you can feel like a researcher, so it's great to wear it and become a dinosaur expert. There's no doubt your love for dinosaurs will grow even more!

There are fossil excavation items at the entrance, and skeletal specimens are displayed inside the room. Just looking at them will make you feel excited♪ The authentic and playful rooms are irresistible for dinosaur fans. There is also a plan for children where they can receive special benefits such as "excavation experience goods" and "fossil specimens". If you stay here, it will be a wonderful trip that will be remembered forever.

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About 10 minutes by car from JR Awara onsen Station. Grandia Housen Housen is a onsen inn with a 23,000m2 Japanese garden. The hotel has a variety of facilities, including a spa and beauty salon, and the lounge offers a free welcome drink. There are also dinosaur ornaments on display in the courtyard. Being greeted by cute dinosaurs is sure to add to the excitement of your trip.

You can stay the night with dinosaurs in the Dinosaur Room at Sakuratei Nagomi. At first glance, the Japanese-Western room has a calming atmosphere, but if you look closely, you'll see that dinosaur motifs are scattered all over the bedside table and pillows. Thanks to the fantastical tapestries, you'll feel as if you're peeking through the window into the scenery of when dinosaurs were alive.

*The photo shows a different type of Japanese-Western room.

After touring the dinosaur spots, we recommend relaxing in a hot onsen. At Grandia Housen Housen, which has three private hot springs, you can enjoy Awara onsen, which was selected as one of Japan's 100 famous hot springs. Enjoy the ultimate relaxation at the Heavenly SPA, which consists of Tsuki no Yu, which boasts an open-air shelf bath, and Hoshi no Yu, which is equipped with a micro-bubble bath and Mirable. Looking up at the night sky while surrounded by the soft hot water will surely refresh your body to the core.

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Katsuyama New Hotel is about a 10-minute drive from Katsuyama Station on the Echizen Railway, and is also about a 5-minute drive from the Fukui Dinosaur Museum. This convenient location makes it a perfect base for sightseeing. The dinosaur rooms available at this hotel include the Stegosaurus Room and the Tyrannosaurus Room.

This is the "Tyrannosaurus Room." The interior features a part of a Tyrannosaurus, and the wallpaper creates the atmosphere of an era when dinosaurs existed. The interior makes you feel like an adventure is about to begin, and it's sure to put you in an exciting mood. Also noteworthy is the painting of a pterosaur flying freely on the ceiling. This room can accommodate up to four people and is equipped with two beds and a loft. A sleeping bag is provided for the fourth person, so you can experience the extraordinary feeling of camping.

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The on-site restaurant serves a buffet-style breakfast. Even on the most sleepy mornings, the delicious smells will surely wake you up refreshed. In addition to Japanese dishes made with seasonal ingredients, the restaurant also offers Western dishes such as salads, thick omelets, and waffles. Once you've recharged your energy by eating as much as you like, you can continue your exploration.

Hotel Keifuku Fukui Ekimae, located just a one-minute walk from JR Fukui Station, is a comfortable business hotel with great attention to detail. They offer simple and functional Western-style rooms, as shown in the photo, and Japanese-style rooms that are perfect for families with children, but the highlight is the Superior Twin Room, which opened in February 2023. This simple Western-style room is lavishly decorated with dinosaur motifs. The walls are decorated with projection mapping of dinosaurs that change color when touched, and the tables feature dioramas of dinosaurs discovered in Fukui. The unique interior is sure to tickle the hearts of dinosaur lovers.

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With the "Dinosaur Morning & Dinner" plan, you can enjoy a special dinosaur-themed breakfast at CHEZ SAKAI on the first floor of the hotel. The "Dinosaur Morning" includes bread, dessert, and a soft drink to get you excited from the morning. This menu is perfect for dinosaur lovers and will make you happy every time you visit meal ♡.

As a nice bonus, there is also a plan where you can get a dinosaur picture book figure and an assembly-type Tyrannosaurus Rex. One per room, but if you are staying with children, you will receive one for each child, so you don't have to worry about fights. If you display it in your room, it will bring back fun memories from your trip every time you look at it.

*The image is for illustrative purposes only. The actual bonus may differ.

"Rivage Akebono" is about a 10-minute walk from JR Fukui Station. It is located along the Asuwa River, which flows through the center of Fukui City. It is equipped with a "Sky Public Bath" that overlooks the cityscape and the Hakusan mountain range, and has a full range of facilities such as restaurants, shops, and lounges. At the restaurant you can enjoy Fukui local cuisine and French cuisine. It is a hotel that increases the joy of traveling even more by staying at it.

The "Superior Type East Wing" is a spacious, open space as shown in the photo. The "Rivage Double Dinosaur Room" is particularly popular among dinosaur lovers, and is equipped with dinosaur puzzles, games, and picture books that the whole family can enjoy. Even adults may find themselves wanting to play and lose track of time. There is also a delightful gift hidden inside the "dinosaur egg." A dinosaur planetarium is projected onto the ceiling, making this a room where you can spend a truly dreamy time.

On the second floor is Fukui French Aujus, a restaurant inspired by Fukui's culture and beauty, such as Echizen washi paper and the cherry blossoms of the Asuwa River. Here, you can enjoy French cuisine made with local specialties such as Fukui salmon and Wakasa beef. Enjoy a stylish and delicious dinner to your heart's content, adding a touch of color to your trip. For breakfast, try the specialty "Heshiko Chazuke," made from blue fish pickled in salt and rice bran. This gentle local cuisine is sure to pamper your mind and body.

If you're going to visit Fukui, the mecca of dinosaurs, you'll want to choose a hotel with a dinosaur theme. They're not only cute, but also have a stylish atmosphere, and you can enjoy onsen and local cuisine... Hotels with dinosaur rooms are packed with the charm of Fukui and dinosaurs. You'll surely feel like you've traveled back in time if you stay there. From children to adults who love dinosaurs, you can have a fulfilling and satisfying stay. Why not stay in a dinosaur room and enjoy an exciting journey that touches on the mysteries of dinosaurs and the romance of ancient times?