Fukuchiyama

Understand

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Getting there

By plane The most convenient airport is probably Osaka Itami Airport, which is about 1 hr 30 min away by car. By public transport, the most convenient option is the highway bus which runs via the airport (see below); those who would rather take the train (unless they wish to make a detour via the Japan Rail Pass office at Osaka Station) should head to Takarazuka (on either the hourly Hankyū Bus service (30 mn, ¥240) or the Monorail and Hankyū Railway via Hotarugaike (30 minutes, ¥420)), from where they can catch the Kōnotori Limited Express (1 hr 20 min, ¥3180). Kobe Airport is about 1hr 35mins away by car. By public transport, take the Port Liner to Sannomiya, where you can change either to the highway bus (see below) or the JR train to Amagasaki, where you can change to the Kōnotori. This latter option takes about 2 hr 30 min and costs a total of ¥4720. The nearest international airport is Kansai, which is 2 hr 15 min away by car. By public transport, the quickest option is to take the JR Haruka Limited Express to either Shin-Osaka (for the Kōnotori) or Kyoto (for the Kinosaki or Hashidate). Either option will take about 3 hr 10 min; the total cost is ¥6950 (via Kyoto) or ¥7050 (via Shin-Osaka). If you instead take the Kansai Airport Rapid to Osaka (for the Kōnotori) the price drops to ¥5360.

By train Fukuchiyama is fortunate to be served by limited expresses on two JR lines.

The San'in Main Line starts at Kyoto, and continues beyond Fukuchiyama to Toyooka and Tottori. The Kinosaki and Hashidate Limited Expresses run from Kyoto to Fukuchiyama in 1 hr 20 min at a cost of ¥3180. All trains stop at Nijō, for the Tōzai Subway Line. This is the best train for those coming from places on the Tōkaidō and Hokuriku Lines (such as Tokyo, Nagoya and Kanazawa); from Tokyo, allow 4 hours and ¥16,350 (4 hr 15 min and ¥16,040 if avoiding Nozomi trains). Some Kinosaki and Hashidate trains are coupled to Maizuru services, which split off at Ayabe and do not serve Fukuchiyam

See

1 Fukuchiyama Castle (福知山城) (12 minutes walk along Oshiro Dōri ('Castle Avenue') from North Exit of Fukuchiyama Station). 09:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30), closed Tuesdays. The original castle was built by the Yokoyama family but was ordered to be dismantled during the Meiji Period. This castle was rebuilt in 1986 and houses exhibits of the original castle and artifacts from around the area. ¥320. (updated Aug 2017) 2 Satō Taisei Memorial Art Museum (福知山市佐藤太清記念美術館) (Next to the castle). 09:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30), closed Tuesdays. ¥210 (¥470 for a joint ticket for the museum and castle). (updated Aug 2017) 3 Oni Exchange Museum (日本の鬼の交流博物館) (take the Kyoto Tango Railway Miyafuku Line to Ōe (20 minutes, ¥320), then a taxi for 15 minutes). 09:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30), closed Mondays. A museum dedicated to oni (demons). ¥320. (updated Aug 2017) 4 Fukuchiyama City Zoo (福知山市動物園) (in Sandan-ike Kōen, 40 mins walk or 15 mins drive from North Exit of the station, over the Otonase Bridge). 09:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30), closed Wednesdays. ¥210. (updated Aug 2017)

Go next

Ayabe Kyotamba Nantan Maizuru Miyazu Yosano Kyotango Toyooka Asago