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Front Range

The Front Range is a region in the US state of Colorado. It includes the range of the Rocky Mountains that gives it its name, as well as the Eastern Slope with communities in the eastern foothills of the mountains.

Other destinations

 * Arapahoe Roosevelt National Forest
 * Eldora Ski Area
 * Hohnholz Lakes State Wildlife Area
 * 14271 ft
 * Murphy State Wildlife Area
 * Owl Mountain State Wildlife Area

Understand
Roughly speaking, this region is bounded on the:
 * South, by the metropolitan Denver Area, Gilpin County and the northern half of Clear Creek County, bisected by east-west running Interstate 70 near Georgetown.
 * West, by the Continental Divide, an imaginary line that marks the flow of precipitation. Rain falling on the west of the Divide makes its way to the Pacific Ocean. Rain on the east makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
 * North, by the Wyoming State line.
 * East, by the eastern boundary of Weld County and the beginning of Colorado's Eastern Plains.

Region boundaries in Colorado are indistinct, and sometimes contentious. If you're looking for a destination/attraction that you think should be in this region, but can't find it, check the pages for Northwestern Colorado, Eastern Plains, Denver Area, and even South Central Colorado and Southwestern Colorado. This is especially so because the term "Front Range" can also refer to the Front Range Urban Corridor, a string of cities connected by Interstate 25 that includes Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo (as well as Cheyenne, Wyoming).

This region takes its name from possibly the best-known sub-range of the Rocky Mountains in the United States, so called because it was the first range encountered by historic settlers as they moved in from the east. However, the region also contains other mountains. In Colorado, the Rockies consist mainly of two broadly parallel ridge lines running diagonally across the state, with high mountain parks (valleys) between them, and it's convenient to treat both the mountains of the Front Range and also the Gore and Park Ranges (two of the "rear" ranges paralleling the Front Range) as part of the region, along with the intervening parks and a few cities in the foothills that some other sources call the Eastern Slope.

The mountains in this area, with a few exceptions, are generally not as high as the southern extension of the Rockies or the geologically distinct San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado. However, they're still high enough to get serious winter weather, and winter sports are important here, with several world-famous ski resorts as well as Rocky Mountain National Park. East-west routes through the mountains are relatively few and far between, and generally go over high, rugged passes that may close for a while in the winter (and tax the cooling systems of passenger cars in the summer).

Talk
English, although you may find all manner of languages spoken at the ski resorts. Interpretive materials in several other languages are available at Rocky Mountain National Park.

By foot
For the dedicated long-distance hiker the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (in short Continental Divide Trail) is a United States National Scenic Trail running 3,100 miles between Mexico and Canada. It follows the Continental Divide of the Americas along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states; Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Get around
During the winter, heavy ice and snow are a major concern, which can make driving difficult and slow going. Always check the weather and road conditions before heading out. Even on a clear winter's day, make sure your vehicle's wiper fluid reservoir is full. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) spreads both sand and magnesium chloride on the roads, which makes for an impenetrable, gluey mess on your windshield.

In the summer months, it's not uncommon to see the shoulders of the highways littered with broken-down vehicles that could not handle the steep grades and high altitude air of the Rocky Mountains. If you are venturing from a lower altitude, make sure your car can handle mountain driving. Thinner air means you will be burning more gasoline. Also, with so many steep grades, expect to gear down to avoid unnecessary friction to your brake pads.

Health
There's no reason to fear the mountains, as long as you approach them with proper respect and preparation. As with anywhere else, recklessness and a lack of forethought can get you into trouble, especially in Colorado's vast back country.

 * Altitude sickness - Can lead to dizziness, headaches, nausea, even blackouts and pulmonary edema. Give your body a few days to adjust to the high altitudes before going full throttle with your hiking or skiing.
 * Dehydration - When you engage in strenuous outdoor activities, be sure to replenish your fluids as you go. You may be losing moisture through your mouth and nose and through sweating, but be completely unawares due to the arid mountain air. May result in dizziness, intense thirst and elevated heart and breath rates.
 * Giardia - Drinking untreated water from regional streams is not a good idea owing to Giardia parasites, but tap water is not a problem.
 * Hypothermia - Prolonged exposure to the cold can result in confusion, a slowed heart rate, lethargy, even death. Dress warmly in non cotton clothing to allow any sweat to wick away from your body and evaporate. Otherwise, it may thoroughly chill you later in the day when temperatures drop.
 * Frostbite - During periods of severe cold, your circulatory system pulls all your warming blood into the core of your body to protect your vital organs. This makes your extremities such as your ears, fingers and nose especially vulnerable. Wear a face mask, insulated gloves and other heavy gear on the worst winter days. It gets cold sitting still on those ski lifts!
 * Sunburn - Lather up with sunscreen, even if there's cloud cover. Colorado's high elevation means you have less protection to the sun's powerful ultra violet rays. This can be compounded while skiing or snowboarding, when the rays are reflected off the snow and hits the underside of your jaw. Don't forget to wear UV-rated goggles or sunglasses, as well. There's nothing more painful than sunburned eyeballs.

Safety

 * Avalanches - Colorado claims about a third of all avalanche deaths in the U.S. The ski resorts have groomed slopes that are safe, but it is extremely dangerous to ski or snowboard outside of the designated terrain. It's popular amongst daredevil skiers to "run the chutes," steep, shaded slopes that funnel into tight gullies. These are classic avalanche zones. Far more common (and deadly) are slab avalanches that break along a fault line and bury unsuspecting snow mobilers or skiers. Always wear a homing beacon and check the conditions at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center before heading into the back country.
 * Lightning - This is especially deadly in the high country above timberline when no shelter is nearby. If you hear crackling or hissing sounds, or your hair begins to stand on end, squat down immediately in the "lightning desperation position" - feet together and your hands clapped over your ears. Remember, a tent and inflatable mattress offer no protection from a lightning strike. Avoid the high ground, or solitary objects like trees that stick out higher than the surrounding terrain (they may act like natural lightning rods). For more information, see the safety tips at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA).

title: Front Range


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Front Royal

Front Royal is a town of 15,000 people (2019) in the US state of  Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. It is the county seat of Warren County.

Get in

 * The town is at the intersection of Interstate 66, US-340 and US-522 near US-55. It is just miles from the intersection of Interstate 66 and Interstate 81
 * The closest airport is, a small airport with scheduled commercial service only to Chicago–O'Hare and Washington–Dulles.
 * About an hour drive from Front Royal is major airport with numerous domestic and international flights.
 * For passenger train service, is about an hour drive from Front Royal.
 * Passenger bus service is available from, about a 90-minute drive from Front Royal.

Get around
Front Royal's downtown area along Main Street is walkable.

There is a bus, the called Front Royal Trolley, which travels around the town of Front Royal but not the surrounding areas. ($0.50 fare; free for ages 0-12). (Route map)

Otherwise, you will definitely need a car to get around.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Front Royal


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Frosinone (province)

Frosinone is a province of Lazio Region of Italy.

Cities

 * — a largely industrial town on a hill
 * — its cathedral, mainly constructed at the end of the 11th century, has some of the best examples of Byzantine art in Italy
 * — it has two parts: a medieval Italian hill town, and a 20th-century spa town

Other destinations

 * — a hilltop monastery made famous by four battles during World War II
 * — the national park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, one of the first national parks in Italy
 * — the natural park of the Aurunci Mountains occupies the southern peaks of the province

title: Frosinone (province)


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Frostburg

Frostburg, often referred to as Mountain City, is a charming little town tucked in Allegany County, Western Maryland. The town is home to Frostburg State University and has a lively variety of student-oriented pubs. Frostburg has a slow, but rich history. Being one of the primary coach stops along the historic National Road, the town is built centered along Route 40 and is truly a Main Street community. The town is positioned in the Appalachian mountains, and its best attraction is its natural surroundings. From the center of town, once can take in a gorgeous, panoramic view of the surroundings mountains. Because of this natural setting, a wide range of outdoor, recreational activities are easily within reach. Frostburg is one of the primary stops along the Rails to Trails cycle path which connects Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. Garrett County is just minutes away by car and is the least-densely populated region in Maryland, offering excellent opportunities for hiking, cycling, mountain-biking, kayaking, white-water rafting, skiing, and many other outdoor pursuits.

Frostburg itself can seem a sleepy town at times, especially when the university isn't in session. Yet the newly designated "Arts and Entertainment District" has spurred local growth, and an afternoon strolling the downtown area offers its relaxing charms. From the historic diner to the indie bookstore and art collective, Frostburg is probably the finest destination in Western Maryland for those wanting a slow-paced escape in a natural setting.

Get in

 * Baltimore - Approximate travel time three hours. Interstate 70 West to Interstate 68 West, Exit 33 or Exit 34.
 * Washington, D.C. - Approximate travel time three hours. Interstate 270 North to Interstate 70 West to Interstate 68 West, Exit 33 or Exit 34.
 * Harrisburg - Approximate travel time three hours. Interstate 81 South to Interstate 70 West to Interstate 68 West, Exit 33 or Exit 34.
 * Pittsburgh - Approximate travel time two hours. Interstate 79 South to Interstate 68 East, Exit 33 or Exit 34.
 * Morgantown - Approximate travel time one hour. Interstate 68 East, Exit 33 or Exit 34.

Get around
A car is best, but the town itself is small enough to get to most places by walking, typically within 20-60 min. There is also a public shuttle running 3 times an hour around the university campus during the day, switching to once an hour connecting campus to the stores in La Vale in the afternoons & evenings.

Do

 * Annual Soapbox Derby Every year, the big attraction on July Fourth is the Soapbox Derby which is run on a steep hill right in the middle of town on Main Street. Bring blankets or chairs and stake out a good spot. You will get to see youth from the area race in the soapbox derby cars they have been working on all spring. This event has occurred every year for over thirty years and is a great chance to experience the better things about small town living.
 * Mountain City Chili Cook-Off Judged event and a local favorite, this chili cook-off offers great family entertainment featuring local music and fun kids activities. Several contests take place during the event, one of which is an eating contest open to the general public.
 * Welcome Back Frostburg State University Block Party Annual event held on Main Street to welcome back the Frostburg State University students when they return from the summer break. Some interesting things take place including live local music. But it isn't too much of an attraction for tourists. It is primarily a way for local businesses to advertise their services to local students.
 * Cruisin' Main Street Frostburg Late August Hundreds of nostalgic vehicles fill the streets for this day of 1950s nostalgia. This one's a charmer.

Buy
Frostburg Farmer's Market Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods, plants and flowers on Frostburg's Main Street as local farmers and merchants sell their wares and crops. Every Friday beginning at 9:30 from June to September.

Go next

 * La Vale is the nearest commercial area, where most of the stores & restaurants are, including the Country Club Mall. There is a public shuttle service between Frostburg and La Vale.
 * Nearest train station (AMTRAK) is in Cumberland (Maryland). There is no way to take public transportation from Frostburg for outgoing eastbound trains, due to the transfer time in La Vale.
 * Nearest major airport is Pittsburgh International in Pittsburgh, which is also the nearest major city. Dulles International in Washington, D.C. and BWI near Baltimore are not that much further in travel time though.

title: Frostburg


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Fruita

Fruita is a town in the Northwestern part of the Rocky Mountains state of Colorado near Grand Junction. Fruita is perhaps most famous for its dinosaurs and as the Western portal to Colorado National Monument. Fruita is also the westernmost town in the Grand Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), a part of Colorado's Wine Country.

Sleep
Campsites available at Colorado River State Park on highway 340

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Frutillar

Frutillar is a town of 19,000 people (2018) in the Los Lagos region of southern Chile on the shores of Lake Llanquihue. Frutillar is known as the "City of Music", and is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Understand
The area around Lake Llanquihue was settled by German immigrants in the 19th century. Some of these German immigrants founded the town of Frutillar in 1856, and the German influence is still evident. Many of the buildings here are so well preserved that it occasionally seems as though the whole town is a museum documenting German architecture in the region.

Frutillar consists of two towns. Frutillar was founded around the pier. Later, when the railway was introduced, another settlement formed farther away from the lake. The part of the town by the lake is called Frutillar Bajo (bajo meaning low) and is the center of tourist activity. The other part is a bit higher in elevation and is therefore known as Frutillar Alto (alto = high). Frutillar Alto is mostly people's homes and is a bit more rundown; most tourists will not want to stop here.

For most of the year, Frutillar is a fairly quiet small town. However, for 10 days in January/February, Frutillar hosts the Semanas Musicales, a music festival drawing hundreds of classical musicians from Chile and beyond. There are concerts year-round, though with irregular frequency during the winter.

Get in
Local buses (micros) run frequently between Puerto Montt and Frutillar, stopping at Puerto Varas, Ensenada, and Llanquihue in between. Make sure the micro is going to Frutillar Bajo and not Frutillar Alto.

Get around
Frutillar is very small. Exploring by foot is by far the best option.

See
Part of Frutillar's charm is in simply walking around and observing the Germanic architecture. On a clear day the lake is very beautiful, with a fantastic view of the Volcano Osorno. There are two main attractions in the town which should not be missed:

Do
During the summer it is possible to go kayaking on the lake. Some tour operators offer trips to the Volcano Osorno, Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, and other sights in the Lakes District from Frutillar.

A 2-week musical festival, or “Semanas Musicales”, takes place at the end of January and the first week of February in the theatre. This cultural activity brings thousand of visitors every year.

Eat

 * Kuchenladen (on the road by the lake, just in front of the little island beside the Theater) Sells German cake (kuchen).
 * Fábrica de Kuchen Tante Lilian (Tante Lilian Kuchen Factory) (on Av. Vicente Perez Rosales 823) Also sells kuchen.

Sleep
The most popular accommodations in Frutillar are cabañas along the shore. There are also hostels and B&Bs for those traveling alone or who do not wish to rent a cabaña.

Go next
Puerto Octay, Ensenada, and Llanquihue are all nearby and accessible by micro. These are all small towns, however; in order to get farther away you will have to go through either Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt for more transportation options.

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Fryeburg

Fryeburg is a rural town that lies near the New Hampshire/Maine border.

By car
Route 302 runs through the middle of the village from the state line with New Hampshire just a mile away. From Portland, take Route 302 west for approximately 50 miles. Other routes in include Route 5 coming down from Bethel to the north.

By plane
Fryeburg has its own airport serving western Maine and eastern New Hampshire - Eastern Slopes Regional Airport - KIZG. Fryeburg is also a one-hour drive from Portland Airport, which serves more commercial flights.

See
Check out the abundance of outdoor activities including hiking, photography, camping, and many others.

title: Fryeburg


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Frye Island

Frye Island is a seasonal resort town in Cumberland County on an island in Sebago Lake. Frye Island is vacant from November through April.

Get in
Getting to Frye Island is easy. The island is accessible via a public car ferry that runs every half-hour from Raymond, Maine's Cape Road. Two ferries, the Leisure Lady and the Ellie Corliss, each have a 9-car capacity, and take only 10 minutes to make the short trip to the island.

From November through April, the ferry does not operate due to the formation of thick ice during cold winter months.

Get around
Frye Island has a network of roads that span the entire island. All roads are dirt/gravel, and are maintained extremely well by the public works department.

Transportation on the island is mainly car or golf cart (most homeowners own golf carts which are permissible as transportation on the island).

There are also many bike and hiking trails on the island for those looking for outdoor adventures.

Connect

 * Frye Island local information

title: Frye Island


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Fuchu

There is more than one place called Fuchu (府中), all in Japan:

 * Fuchu (Tokyo) — a city in Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
 * Fuchu City (Hiroshima) — a city in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
 * Fuchu Town - a town in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

title: Fuchu


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Fuchu (Tokyo)

Fuchu (府中 Fuchū-shi) is a suburban city of Tokyo.

Tourist information

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

By train
Several train lines go through Fuchu.

 * Keio Line: Run from Shinjuku to Fuchu. The faster Tokkyu (特急) and Jun-Tokkyu (準特急) trains make trip in 20 minutes and cost ¥320.
 * JR Nanbu Line: Takes about 50 min from Kawasaki to Fuchu-honmachi (府中本町).
 * JR Chuo Line: Takes about 60 min from Tokyo station to Fuchu-honmachi via Nishi-kokubunji (西国分寺).

See

Do

Buy
Between the station and the shrine is Fuchu's main shopping area.

Eat
There are a collection of restaurants in the area around the railway underpass.

Go next

 * Chofu
 * Kokubunji
 * Mitaka
 * Koganei
 * Inagi
 * Hino
 * Hachioji
 * Tachikawa
 * Tama

title: Fuchu (Tokyo)


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Fugging

Fugging, until 1 January 2021 Fucking, pronounced roughly "fooking" (rhymes with "booking"), is a village in Austria. It was home to Austria's most stolen sign and was known for its name. This village of only around 100 inhabitants can be visited quite easily from Salzburg. The village was officially renamed on 1 January 2021.

Get in
Fugging is north of Salzburg and  south of the German town of Burghausen. The nearest border crossing to Germany is 8 km west of Fugging at the also delightfully named town of Tittmoning. If using public transport, plan your journey carefully (using online journey planners: for buses and for trains) as connections are infrequent. Buses do not run on weekends. Taxis in Salzburg can make the trip.

By train
The nearest railway station is at Ostermiething (4 km by road). The nearest German stations are Burghausen (Oberbayern) (15 km by road) and Tittmoning-Wiesmühl (16 km by road). Simbach, in Germany, and nearby Braunau am Inn (notorious as the birthplace of Adolf Hitler), in Austria, (both 33 km by road) may also be useful.

From Vienna, take a train to Salzburg. Normally, there are "EXP" or "Westbahn" trains running this route. It's best to leave as early as possible as going from Vienna to Fugging is a full day of travel; one can take a train from Wien Westbahnhof as reasonably early as 5:40, arriving around 8:10 in Salzburg. However note, from Salzburg train station, you need to walk approximately 5 minutes to "Bahnsteige 11-12"; train platforms 11-12.

From Salzburg, local train S11 heads to Ostermiething. You may need to take local train S1 to Bürmoos and then another train to Ostermiething. Salzburg to Ostermiething takes 45-60 min and costs €6.80. Once in Ostermiething, you can walk along one of two pathways. The more rugged path past fields is more scenic and requires some uphill walking to get to, while the main roadway is busier but primarily flat, which may be better for cyclists.

Alternatively from Salzburg, a taxi company, Taxi Kirchhammer, can be called on +43 664 4219253.

From Munich, head to Tittmoning-Wiesmühl, Burghausen (Oberbayern), or Simbach. The journey to each is around 2 hours and costs around €20. Discounts can be had with the Bayern Ticket.

From Burghausen (Oberbayern), either take a taxi or walk across the river into the Austrian village of Ach and find the bus station Ach b.Burghausen Ortsmitte (see By bus below).

From Tittmoning-Wiesmühl station, take a bus for 5 km to Tittmoning town. Tittmoning to Fugging is a further 11 km by road. To go from Tittmoning to Fugging may take up to two hours by foot, consider using other ways. A Tittmoning taxi company, Maier Gerlinde, can be called on +49 8683 1248.

Deutsche Bahn, the German train operator, can arrange taxis from its smaller stations such as Tittmoning-Wiesmühl.

If going from Germany via Simbach/Braunau am Inn, do not buy a direct ticket to Branau am Inn. The international fare is a lot more expensive than the domestic local fare. From Simbach, either walk or take a taxi for 2 km to the Branau am Inn bus station in Kolpingplatz. Then take bus 885 (see below).

By bus
On weekdays, buses run to the village of Döstling, which is only 2 km from Fugging. Use an on-line route planner.

The best connections are from outside the railway station in Oberndorf (home of the carol Silent Night and on the same train line as Trimmelkam), bus 885 (30 min, 4 or 5 journeys each way on weekdays).

Possibly also useful are the buses from outside the railway station at Trimmelkam, bus 883 (to Döstling) and 885 (from Döstling) (10 min, 3 each way on weekdays); and from the bus station at Kolpingplatz in Braunau am Inn (1 hr, only one trip on weekdays). The latter's stop in the village of Ach (stop Ach b.Burghausen Ortsmitte) puts it within 2 km of the German railway station of Burghausen (Oberbayern).

Get around
Fugging is not a very large village. You can probably get around within the borders on foot.

See

 * The Fugging locality sign at each entrance to the village.
 * The countryside - once the novelty of the name wears off you may realize that you're in a fairly pretty area.

Do
Admire the mere thought of the name Fugging.

Drink
Fucking Hell is a German pale ale (Helles Bier). It is named after the village of Fucking (though it is not produced there).

Go next
Fugging is not so very far away from and, both in Bavaria, Germany. Petting is a nice, small village just over 25 km to the south; Kissing is further away to the west. Moreover, and  are positioned about 70 km northeast as the crow flies, and are probably best accessed by car. There is another village in Lower Austria called "" that was also once called "Fucking".

Munich-Fugging-Salzburg could be travelled easily in a day by train, though you'd need a taxi to take you from Tittmoning-Wiesmühl to Fugging and on to Trimmelkam.

 * Munich is 2-3 hours away from Tittmoning-Wiesmühl by train.
 * Salzburg is 40-50 min away from Trimmelkam by train.
 * Oberndorf, where Silent Night was composed and premiered, is nearby.
 * See also Hell, Norway and other places with unusual names.

title: Fugging


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Fuengirola

Fuengirola is a city in the Costa del Sol in southern Spain that is popular with tourists for its long sandy beach and malécon.

Understand
It is one of a number of villages along the Costa del Sol that has grown up with and due to tourism. Note that Fuengirola encompasses a few of the other small nearby communities like Los Boliches, and Carvajal, and has bus and train line serving that area.

Get in
The main airport is Malaga International and just about every airline in Europe runs regular flights into it. The cheapest options from the UK being the usual, Ryanair, Jet2 and EasyJet; Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian from Scandinavia. Once on the ground you have a few options.

By car
Fuengirola is a 25-km drive from Malaga airport. Numerous rental car agents operate from within the airport, but you can usually save a few euros by going to cheaper rental companies across the road from the airport, rather than renting from a company inside

By taxi
Fuengirola is 20 minutes by taxi from Malaga airport, and taxis are available 24 hours a day. Fares are usually €30–35 (depending on time & season). The usual, common sense rules apply when taking a taxi abroad: agree the rate in advance, and if the driver is being vague mention ask to see the rate card "to help him understand your requirement". All taxis are required to have one.

Be aware of the minibuses, as they will often try to charge you €65 or more.

It is always recommended that you use the first in first out policy, commonly.

By train
This will take you approximately 35 minutes by light rail from Málaga airport. Fuengirola is the last stop. The station is about 2 minutes' walk from the terminal building, just go out of the door at departures and turn to the right. It's well sign posted. The fare is €2.80 (€2.80 weekends and holidays) but make sure you have change as it's self-service and there is almost always a ticket inspector. The first train leaves at 05:34 and then every 20 minutes until the last train at 23:03 and is very punctual indeed. Be aware the Los Boliches is also part of Fuengirola, and has a train stop, before the end of the line stop.

You can use the Renfe train between Málaga and Fuengirola if you purchase the Season pass card, for 2024 for 1st quarter, as a part of their green initiative to reduce car traffic.

Get around
Fuengirola is a city, but chances are you will only visit the centre and beach front and it is possible to walk everywhere. The light train is excellent for getting up the coast as is the bus service. Both stations are in the centre of the city, 5 minutes walk from the marina.

By bus, there are two major bus lines in the town, with the Avanza bus (red) station about a block from the end of the train station. That station sells the longer route tickets along the Costa del Sol coastline, rather than the local (blue) within the city that has 5 routes and an app. You can buy single tickets or save money if you buy them using their €2 card, which can be refilled at corner stores. The town bus stops are different than the ones at the main station. They cost about €2 for out-of-town riders. You can also buy a 10-stop pass for €10 from the bus driver.

See

 * Beaches: there are more than 8 km of sandy beaches.
 * Plaza de Toros: the local bullring.
 * Port - a marina and fishing port, with lots of small restaurants.
 * Roman ruins: visit the ruins left behind by the Roman Empire at the Torreblanca end of Los Boliches.
 * Roman ruins: visit the ruins left behind by the Roman Empire at the Torreblanca end of Los Boliches.

Do

 * The Mijas Aquapark (located in Las Lagunas, Mijas Costa) 5 minutes walk from Fuengirola center is a nice day out for the kids.
 * Rent pedal boats, jet skis, parascending on the beach.
 * Visit the Roman ruins at the Torreblanca end of Los Boliches
 * Benalmádena port and the aquarium (about 10 km away).
 * Train ride to Málaga.
 * Ferry cruise to Benalmádena.
 * Feria week in mid-October every year. A mixture of music, flamenco, religion, horses, eating and drinking See the Spanish at play, when they party they do it seriously.
 * Play golf at one of the many courses within easy reach.

Buy
Most merchants are able to accept Credit Cards, and can use contactless tap. Although tipping is not required, if you want to add a tip to a payment being made with a credit card, you need to tell the merchant before they put the amount into the credit card machine, because there is no option to add the tip in the machine. Even most bank ATMs are able to do contactless (Apple Pay) withdrawals. Most ATMs charge €7 foreign transaction fee, but Deutsche Bank only charges €4.
 * Super Sol and Mercadona close to the train station for your shopping and cheap wine.
 * Dunne's for the luxuries from home for the UK and Irish. Watch out, it's not the cheapest!
 * Venture up to the centre of town from beach front. There is a great selection of shops and the prices are not bad. Zara is a favourite but there are a wide range of other shops at good prices.
 * Parque Miramar (get a taxi, €5 from Marina, or a Nr. 4 bus, €1.00) is a huge shopping centre on the edge of town. If you're looking for a change it's worth a look.
 * El Corte Inglés, a huge department store 10 minutes walk from the centre, just walk Avenida de Mijas to the other side of A7 (Coastal road) underpass.
 * Markets are open most mornings along the Costa. If you are unsure just ask where it is at any shop or from a taxi. For Fuengirola the days and locations are: Tuesdays in the Market square, Saturdays car boot sale in the Market square and Sundays next to the mosque.

Eat
In addition to the waterfront strip and the block inland, there are a number of good restaurants in the Marina area.
 * The Tres Amigos, C/ Martinez Catena no 3. Good for lunch and evening meals at a fair price. The Mexican pizza is excellent and very clean. It is also child-friendly.
 * Ku Damm, German restaurant on the waterfront. Head towards the marina right down to the water. Turn right once you reach the marina, you can't miss it. The hanging Skewers are legendary. Their lunch menu is also good value.
 * Fish Alley is the food quarter of Fuengirola; every possible food type can be got here. Just follow the crowd, on the beach front.
 * The Punjab, C/Hernan Cortes (just up from PYR Hotel). Good for a take away when you want to stay in. The dishes are not as hot as you'd think but they are nice. Only average for sit down meal.
 * Ying Bing, Chinese restaurant on C/de La Crus. Halfway down "Fish Alley" and turn right. Chinese food in general is a little too greasy on the Costa but this place does a good lunch special. Lunch specials are always smaller than the same main meal!
 * The Punjab, C/Hernan Cortes (just up from PYR Hotel). Good for a take away when you want to stay in. The dishes are not as hot as you'd think but they are nice. Only average for sit down meal.
 * Ying Bing, Chinese restaurant on C/de La Crus. Halfway down "Fish Alley" and turn right. Chinese food in general is a little too greasy on the Costa but this place does a good lunch special. Lunch specials are always smaller than the same main meal!

Groceries

 * Maskom Supermercados, Av. Condes de San Isidro, 13, 29640 Fuengirola, Málaga, Central location has a great selection of just about everything, including basement for cleaning and pet supplies.
 * Mercadona, C. Córdoba, 35, 29640 Fuengirola, Málaga is a little further from the beach zone, but broader selection.
 * Supercor, Av. Nuestro Padre Jesús Cautivo, 33, 29640 Fuengirola, Málaga, Located at train stop, great selection.

Drink
The clubs are mostly on the beach front and get going at around midnight. There are some very good bars towards the centre of town if the beach front isn't your scene. Nightlife in Fuengirola is amazing. There are places for both the young crowd as well as the elder. Most of the action is centered around the marina and the seafront promenade so this is a good place to rendezvous with friends for a sundowner.

 * The Claret Jug Bar & Food, close to the Port, in the alley (Fish alley) behind the hotel El Puerto on the sea front. Has a great pool table, good food and sports on TV. Nice and friendly staff.
 * Nearby is the popular Beetle Bar complete with DJ housed inside a Beetle car!
 * At Hollywood Nights in the port you can dine and be entertained by well-known acts. Or try Moochers Jazz Café and Restaurant in Calle de la Cruz where you can listen to live music and munch your way through giant pancakes with every imaginable filling.
 * Bar Kudos in Los Boliches is open seven nights a week and is a good starting point for gays to glean tips on the best bars, beaches and restaurants. Stuart's gay bar near the port has live cabaret every Friday and karaoke on Saturdays.
 * You'll find nightly karaoke at Zanadu's at Los Boliches and at many of the other bars on and around the seafront. Check the local English language papers and gig guides for details of live entertainment.
 * The big clubs include the Millenium where you get the latest UK house music, the Funk Club Funk for hip-hop and Maxi's Disco, favoured by "oldies" who enjoy rock and roll and 1960s and 70s music. Heaven's Gate Disco is the favoured nightspot of the young and trendy foreign visitors.
 * Pig 'n' Whistle - Calle Ollerias
 * Pig 'n' Whistle - Calle Ollerias

Sleep

 * RV camping park, without amenities for 1 Euro per day in the "Castle" Castillo Sohail parking lot.

Go next

 * Málaga

title: Fuengirola


text:
Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura is one of the islands that makes up the Canary Islands (Spanish: Las Islas Canarias). It is the second largest island of the Canaries to Tenerife, with population around 106,000. Fuerteventura is located south of Lanzarote, the two islands are 11 km apart.

Understand
The island is about 100 km long and 30 km wide. The mountains (of volcanic origin) in the north reach a height of up to 700 m above sea level (Maxorata). The highest peak is in the south - peninsula of Jandía, the Pico de la Zarza (807 m).

Municipalities
Fuerteventura is divided into six historical municipalities (though most tourist areas are fairly recent):

Cities

 * — a popular destination on the island for British tourists and expatriates, and for golfers from mainland Europe due to its two courses just outside the town
 * — The small fishing village on the west coast is always worth a visit and not overcrowded. Here one can visit the caves of Ajuy, but the rocks are already very worth seeing. There is also the black sand beach. There is plenty of parking for cars. Also, a small restaurant is here - with friendly service, simple Spanish food and drinks. Swimming is not too recommended here - after a few meters of beach it gets very deep and there are strong currents. However, you can just lie in the still shallow waters and get a refreshment from the Atlantic.

Cofete
A small village in the south (west coast of it), Jandia peninsula. It has nothing to do with the tourist harbours on the rest of the south coast. It is an hour of drive on a narrow, winding and very bumpy gravel road with relatively heavy traffic - if you have a car; without it, there is infrequent bus service (on the same road). It's not very big, but has a bar.

Franco had a military restricted area here, from which he pursued his interests in Africa. Nearby is also the, which is named after the name of the builder (Gustav Winter), surrounded by many legends. There is a (somewhat creepy) private museum in the villa with voluntary entrance fee.

There is a very wide beach with not so many people. In the vicinity are a lot of beautiful landscapes.

Costa Calma
At south-east coast, German-oriented. The right place for relaxation without stress. The town of Costa Calma is located outside of the tourist town. There are only a few houses. In the tourist resort of Costa Calma everything revolves around the tourist.

Eternally long yellow sand beaches mark the place, inviting for long walks. In the area of the village itself, they are guarded and quite cramped. To the south it becomes less sandy. Here the surfers and the kite surfers share their area. The waves and wind are always certain here.

El Cotillo
West from Corralejo. It is a small place that has been the focus of tourism for only a few years. The individual life has not yet fused very much with the tourist. This is ideal for individual tourists.

The tourist buses also pass El Cotillo. The destination is the fortress of the old fishing village, where lime was burnt in the past. From the tower it was seen whether pirates were approaching the island. In the fortress, art pictures are exhibited. For a glimpse of El Cotillio this stop is enough. But the place has offers next to the fortress too. In the small Cotillo there are surprisingly many good restaurants (especially Canarian and Italian cuisine).

The place has a lot of peculiarities. From the fortress one has a beautiful view of the coasts to the north and south. The lagoon beach in the north towards lighthouses is suitable for families with small children. In the south the waves roll harder to the beach.

Hourly bus from Corralejo to El Cotillo is available. The direct bus connection with Puerto del Rosario is much rarer. It is best to visit the place with a rental car. No problem for parking.

Jandia
A purely tourist artificial village, bordering Morro Jable. Jandia consists only of hotels, shops, bars and restaurants. The village has a small zoo.

The most important asset of Jandia is the beach. From Morro Jable, the beach with bright yellow sand stretches far east. There are beach sections that are guarded (with rent couches, bars and fast food), but also sections where you are very alone.

In the direction of Morro Jable the waves can hardly be felt. Going east, the waves become stronger. At the corner, where it goes northwards, a rock divides the beach; high waves can be enjoyed there.

The main street is also the shopping street. All are located in the north of the street, so you always have a view of the sea.

On Thursday, the African market takes place on the market square of Jandia.

Morro Jable
The village begins with the harbour. There is a daily ferry service to Las Palmas; approx. 3½ hours. Morro Jable can not be reached directly from the port, a rock wall blocks the path.

Morro Jable rises up the mountain. Here are the people who work in the Jandia hotels. From the port you have to go up the mountain, then down to the village centre. The town centre has not yet been taken over by tourists and there is something to do until late night.

Pájara
The capital of the southern province, but it's just a small village in the middle of the island.

The town is worth seeing to get a glimpse of the life of the locals. You can enjou some Spanish cuisine or coffee "Leche y Leche", which is an espresso on which one puts sweet condensed milk.

The church in the centre has a nice portal. Aztec art can be visited here. There is a lot of speculation as to how these works have emerged, the most plausible being a monk came home rich after the trip to South America and donated this portal.

Understand
Fuerteventura is a volcanic island, in some places untouched but in others heavily developed for tourism. "Fuerteventura" roughly translates to "strong winds" or Fuerte (Strong) Ventura (Venture).

Talk
Spanish is the national language in Fuerteventura, although English and German are widely spoken in many tourist areas.

By ferry
Several ferries run between and Tenerife, Grand Canaria, Lanzarote.

Car and foot-passenger ferries sail roughly hourly from Playa Blanca on Lanzarote to Corallejo near the north tip, taking 30 min.

By plane
Flights from Spain, Europe, and from the other islands land daily, via the.

It plays host to a mix of scheduled flights from national operators such as:
 * Iberia
 * British Airways

Being a tourist destination there are also numerous charter operators flying into the airport. These include:
 * Condor
 * TUI Airways

The airport has only one runway and 5 boarding bridges but is still undergoing expansion. It handles around 45,000 flights and 5 million passengers per year.

By car
A hire car is the best option for discovering the remote wilderness regions, and numerous car rental companies are available.

Rental companies (always compare!):

 * AutoReisen – Only available in the Canary Islands. Cheap, reliable and no deposit; from €9/day. Though, apparently not very well known and not listed on the common price comparison websites. Pickup and drop-off only at the airports.
 * Avis, Europcar, Thrifty, Hertz, Enterprice – Probably not worth the extra money, unless you have a membership thing or get a good discount.
 * Cabrera Medina – Around 20 branches all over the island, though not all are always open.
 * CICAR – Similar to Cabrera Medina.
 * Goldcar, Dollar, Interrent – Not worth the stress—they are well known for ripping off their customers.
 * PaylessCar – Affordable and good.
 * PlusCar Rent a Car – Conditions are similar to AutoReisen — sometimes cheaper, sometimes more expensive. Likewise no deposit.
 * TopCar – From €12/day, but many people complain about consecutively being charged for fuel and cleaning. Deposit: €500.

By bus
The bus lines from Puerto del Rosalio (via airport) to Correlejo, Caleta de Fuste, Morro del Jable and Cotillo are easy to handle, cheap and very reliable (timetables). It is extremely easy to get from Correlejo to the sand dune beaches south of town.

By bicycle
Renting a mountain bike is a great way to see the island. There are many bike paths that run parallel to the main roads and many well-marked trails

See

 * Corralejo sand dunes
 * Corralejo sand dunes
 * Corralejo sand dunes

Do
Important centres of tourism are Jandia and Costa Calma on the south, and Corralejo on the north.

 * Beaches: There are many guarded ones, but you can also find secluded ones (by driving a little and then being alone on a kilometer long beach). Many colours are "available": white, yellow, black...
 * Surfing: In the summer, Fuerteventura is the first choice for wind and kite surfers in Europe. Ideal weather and wind conditions bring in lots of sports enthusiasts (wind and kite surfing). There are regular international competitions at Playa de Sotavento, where tourists can also watch the most spectacular jumps.
 * Swimming: The waves sizes also differ, and there are places with virtually no waves, but also places where the waves are so violent that it is advised against bathing.
 * Go into the mountains to see how the locals survived on this arid island over the centuries.
 * Discover the strong connections with the countries of South America. Learn a few words like GuaGua (wah wah - "bus").

Sleep
See also Sleep listings in Corralejo and Puerto del Rosario.

Go next
Lanzarote is 15 min away by ferry. Ferry connections to other Canary Islands are available too, though they take much longer.

title: Fuerteventura


text:
Fujairah

The easternmost of the United Arab Emirates, Fujairah is the only emirate not to have a coastline along the Persian Gulf. It is also the youngest of the emirates: it only became independent from Sharjah in 1952.

By plane
While Fujairah has an airport, it is closed to commercial aviation. Airborne visitors will arrive at one of the western emirates.

By train
Trains only operate in Dubai.

By car
Fujairah is roughly 2 hours by car from Dubai and the trip is on sealed roads throughout.

It is also quite easy to reach Fujairah from nearby Oman, as the border is very close. Visitors must have separate visas for Oman and UAE in order to move from one to the other by car or any other mode of travelling.

By bus
Buses run regularly between Dubai and Fujairah (around one every hour during the day and evening); the cost is 25 dirham one way (tickets to be bought from the ticket window before boarding).

The bus service is comfortable. Women, couples and families sit in the front two to three rows, and men in the remaining seats.

Buses leave from Union Square in Dubai, and from the old Plaza Cinema/HSBC in Fujairah (stopping at the bus station on the way out of town, where passengers need to disembark to buy their tickets before re-boarding).

By taxi
Taxis run from Fujairah (next to the old cinema) to Dubai and Sharjah. A shared taxi to downtown Dubai (Deira taxi stand) costs around US$7 and they go as soon as the car is full. An unshared one costs about US$28 but it depends on where you want to go in Dubai. Add another US$15 if you want to go the Marina area where all the tourist hotels are. Beware - metered taxis from Dubai to Fujairah are twice the price.

Get around
Fujairah city is not designed for pedestrians, being dominated by main roads. The fleet of Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry taxis are metered, and are plentiful. Fares start at 2 dirham during the day (2.50 dirham at night). Visitors attempting to walk around the city will attract horn tooting from taxi drivers, who seriously cannot believe that anyone would choose to walk.

Do
Fujairah can also be used as a base from which to go on excursions to the surrounding areas, such as Khorfakkan and Kalba. The city is growing in stature as a business destination, particularly where oil is concerned.
 * The Blue Diamond Alsalam Resort offers a plethora of water activities and is in the middle of Fujairah's coast.
 * Fujairah Corniche - Fujairah beach and coasts, good for walking and cruising around hosts many restaurants and activities such as bike renting, horse riding and mini football fields for rent and sand activities.
 * Umberalla Beach - Renovated beach restarted again and which has many recreational spots to Children and adults. It hosts a few food trucks and a place for picnic - free.

While the Indian Ocean is enticingly close, some parts of the beach would not seem to be a good option to swim at certain seasons. However, Dibba Al-Fujairah which is 30 km from Fujairah city would be a good choice, where you can enjoy the sunny beaches and you can practice any sea activity you like. One more interesting thing to do is that you can make a boat trip to one of many islands that lie in the Gulf of Oman, a good place for strolling and fishing.

Learn
Fujairah Aviation Academy is a flight school in Fujairah's airport.

Budget

 * Gulf Flower Bakery sells good falafel sandwiches and other bits and pieces.

Mid-range

 * The al-Meshwar restaurant is in the centre of the city in a whimsical-looking building and features a ground-floor "cafe" serving the regional staples (shawarma, felafel etc.) and shishas. Above that is the main restaurant, which serves good-quality Lebanese fare.

 * Sadaf - Persian Restaurant is also to be found in the city. The decor is rather startling (including a waterfall in the middle of the dining room), but the food is of a good standard.

 * Asmak AlBahar Restaurant offers a wide range of seafood that is freshly caught from the local ocean, in front of the Fujairah's fish market.
 * Tha-Tha Kadai Restaurant offers a mouthwatering dishes of Briyani, Kari Virundhu, Parotta and Idli/Dosas.

Drink
There are no local specialties as far as drink goes, which means that the usual collection of water, juices, tea, coffee and softdrinks are readily available.

Alcohol is mostly only available within top-quality hotels. Cheaper alternatives include the Fujairah Marine Club on the corniche and Fujairah Beach Motel, which also has a retail "hole-in-the-wall." You'll have to ask as it's hidden away a bit.

The best value drinks in town are to be had in the pub at the Tennis and Country Club (go on a Tuesday and you get karaoke too).

Budget

 * YHA backpackers hostel with rooms for around 75 dirham. The owner is not very friendly and doesn't speak very good English but rooms are clean and comfortable with private bathrooms.

 * Novotel Fuajirah

Mid-range

 * The Al Diar Siji Hotel (part of Abu Dhabi-based Al Diar Hotels) is generally designed for business travellers. Staff are attentive and the rooms are pleasant. There are also a number of clubs attached to the hotel, including a 10-pin bowling alley.

 * Emirates Spring Hotel Apartments

Splurge

 * Nour Arjan by Rotana

 * Blue Diamond Alsalam Resort

 * Radisson Blu Resort Hotel Fujairah

 * Concord Fujairah

 * Royal M Fujairah, 5 stars hotel adjacent to Fujairah Mall.

Stay safe
The customary cautions regarding drivers in the UAE apply in Fujairah as well. Road rules are understood to exist, but drivers will tend to take risks which would seem borderline-suicidal to many visitors. Most roads are multi-lane in each direction in the city, which may well mean that a taxi or one's own car is the best bet here. Where the taxi meter is either not present or "not working", agree on the fare before starting the trip.

Go next

 * A trip to nearby Khor Fakkan (an enclave of Sharjah) is highly recommended, as the beach is regarded as one of the best in the region.

 * A drive through the Hajar Mountains (which extend over the border into Oman) may also be enjoyable, however this will require some planning as regards the standard of car to be driven.

 * Dubai

 * Oman border is just 30 minutes away by car. You will need to check your Visa requirements in advance.

title: Fujairah


text:
Fuji

 * For the mountain, see Mount Fuji. For other places with the same name, see Fuji (disambiguation).

Fuji (富士) is a city in Shizuoka prefecture.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Eat
In Fuji city, Japanese-style confectionery is one of the special products. It is called "Fujisancho". It is image of Mt.Fuji. The top of this Japanese-style confectionery is made from the coffee bean. It is sold at "Tagonotsuki". The other is "sakurabo". It is sold at cheap sweet shop and festivals. It is very delicious!! It is only sold in Shizuoka.

Go next
This is by far the best activity that Fuji City has to offer, leaving!
 * Fujinomiya
 * Numazu
 * Nagaizumi
 * Susono
 * Mishima
 * Gotemba
 * Shizuoka
 * Shibakawa
 * Minobu

title: Fuji


text:
Fuji (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Fuji:

Japan

 * Mount Fuji (Fuji-san) — Japan's highest mountain mountain, a near-mythical national symbol (on Japan's main island Honshu)
 * Fuji (Fuji-shi) — a city in the Shizuoka prefecture
 * Fuji (Fuji-chō) — a town in Saga prefecture, which was merged into the city of Saga in 2005

title: Fuji (disambiguation)


text:
Fujian

Fujian (福建 Fújiàn) is a coastal province in East China. It has long been an outward-looking province, much involved in maritime trade, and is the ancestral homeland for many overseas Chinese, especially in Southeast Asia. Located just across the sea from Taiwan, it is also the ancestral homeland for most Taiwanese, and continues to share close cultural ties with the island.

The terrain is very hilly. There is a saying that Fujian is 80% mountain, 10% water, and 10% farmland. Because of its mountainous terrain and relative isolation, Fujian has a large number of local languages and dialects, many of which are not mutually intelligible.

Population in the 2020 census was 41.5 million, which is small for a Chinese province but slightly more than Canada, Poland or California. The most important cities are either on the coast (Xiamen and Quanzhou) or a few miles up a navigable river (Fuzhou).

Cities
Fujian is divided administratively into nine regions. Eight of them are prefectures, each around a central city and named for the city. For the ninth, Xiamen, there is no separate prefecture, just the city. The nine cities are:

 * (福州) — the provincial capital
 * (龙岩) — in the West of Fujian, and gateway to the Fujian Tulou
 * (南平) — up the Min river from Fuzhou, and gateway to Mount Wuyi
 * (宁德) — on the coast, North of Fuzhou
 * (莆田) — between Fuzhou and Quanzhou, and birthplace of the popular sea goddess Mazu
 * (泉州) — historic port on the Maritime Silk Road, a
 * (三明) — up in the mountains
 * (厦门) — special economic zone and port city, ferries for Taiwan
 * (漳州) — southwest of Xiamen

These are substantial cities; none are under two million population.

Other destinations
Fujian has several sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List:
 * — a car-free island near downtown Xiamen, full of old colonial-period buildings
 * — a scenic area famous for its tea, mountains, rivers and traditional architecture, up a river from Fuzhou
 * — fascinating, centuries-old earth building also known as Hakka roundhouses, in the west of the province

There are other interesting places as well:
 * — a well preserved (or restored) seaside fortress
 * Peninsula — windswept beaches and ruins of an ancient and modern fortifications
 * — a UNESCO Global Geopark near Sanming

Understand
The Fujian area was historically inhabited by non-Chinese ethnic groups collectively known as the Baiyue. Prior to being conquered by the Han Dynasty in 111 BCE, Fujian was an independent Minyue Kingdom, paying tribute but not part of the Chinese Empire. After the conquest the Baiyue people gradually assimilated into the Han Chinese.

Fujian has long been one of the more prosperous and outward-looking provinces of China, an area of traders and seafarers. As its terrain is largely mountainous, this presented a natural barrier between Fujian and the rest of China, making it primarily connected to the outside world by sea. In the era of tea clippers, two of China's five Treaty Ports — Xiamen and Fuzhou — were in Fujian, and Fuzhou shipped more tea than any other port. The English word "tea" was in fact derived from the word in the local dialect of Xiamen, where Dutch traders had obtained their tea from to sell to the British.

Fujian has been a large source of Chinese migrants, and many overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, as well as the vast majority of Taiwanese trace their ancestry to Fujian. In fact, Taiwan was once administered as part of Fujian province before being split off to form a separate province by the Qing government in 1887.

After the Second World War, times were fairly hard in Fujian; trade with traditional customers Japan and Taiwan was greatly reduced. The Chinese Civil War resulted in Fujian becoming a divided province, with most of the province being controlled by the People's Republic of China (PRC), but the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu being controlled by the Republic of China (ROC). Fujian has recovered, however: like other coastal provinces, it is one of the more modern and prosperous areas of China. Many ethnic Chinese from Southeast Asia have invested heavily in Fujian due to family ties in the province. South Fujian has also become a popular investment destination for Taiwanese businessmen due to their close cultural and linguistic ties. Fujian's GDP surpassed that of Taiwan in 2019, marking an important milestone in the province's economic development.

Light industry, especially clothing and shoes, predominates but there is some heavier industry. Agriculture is also important; in particular, Fujian produces a great deal of tea — notably some excellent Oolong teas. As a coastal province, Fujian is much involved with the sea. Fishing and fish farming are important industries and the local cuisine emphasizes seafood.

Fujian has a higher proportion of Muslims than most areas of Southern China due to the history of trade via the Maritime Silk Road, and quite a few Christians since it was a focus of 19th century missionary activity.

There is some tourist information on the provincial government site.

Talk
Today, all educated people in Fujian speak Mandarin. It has been the language of education throughout China since the 1950s and is now the lingua franca in Fujian as with everywhere else. However, it is often spoken with strong accents, particularly in rural areas, as a result of non-native Mandarin speakers approximating various sounds from Mandarin into sounds from their native dialects. The most stereotypical mispronunciation of Mandarin among non-native speakers from Fujian is of the "f" sound, which is often pronounced as a "h" sound by people from Fujian. People from Fujian also often mispronounce the Mandarin "sh" as "s", "ch" as "c" and "zh" as "z".

However, Fujian also has many local dialects. The terrain is mountainous; at one time nearly every valley had its own language. These dialects are usually described with the prefix "Min" (闽 Mǐn), where Min is another name for Fujian. These dialects are not mutually intelligible, though they do share certain common features. Generally speaking, the "Min" group of Chinese dialects is the most different from standard Mandarin of all the dialects in China. Minnan has fewer similarities with Mandarin than English has with Dutch.

Among the most important is Minnan Hua (闽南话 Mǐnnán huà; Southern Min), spoken in Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou and surrounding areas. There are dialectal variations of Minnan between the three cities; the Xiamen dialect is considered to be the prestige dialect. Many people in Taiwan speak the same language, though they may call it Taiwanese. In Malaysia and Singapore, the same language is called Hokkien (the Minnan word for Fujian). The Teochew dialect spoken just across the border in the Chaoshan region of Guangdong is similar to Minnan, but only partially mutually intelligible, while Hainanese is also closely related to Minnan, but not mutually intelligible with it.

The Mindong (闽东话 Mǐndōng huà; Eastern Min) or Fuzhou Hua (福州话 Fúzhōu huà; Fuzhou speech) dialect is spoken in Fuzhou and also has many speakers in the northern coastal areas. The same language is spoken on the Matsu islands, which while closer to Fuzhou are controlled by Taiwan. In Malaysia and Singapore, it is known as Hokchiu or Foochow. There are dialectal variations; the Mindong dialects in Fuzhou and Fu'an, which are only about 4 hours apart by car, are not mutually intelligible, though the Fuzhou dialect is considered to be the prestige dialect of Mindong.

Other Min dialects include Minbei (闽北 Mǐn běi; Northern Min), Minzhong (闽中 Mǐn zhōng; Central Min) and Puxian Min, named for Putian city and the surrounding Xianyou county.

The Hakka (客家 Kèjiā) people in the West of Fujian, and in several other areas of Southern China, came as refugees from one of Northern China's wars some centuries back. Hakka means "guest people". They have their own Hakka language (客家话 Kèjiāhuà), more closely related to Northern dialects and Cantonese rather than to any other Fujian language.

As with the rest of China, English is not widely spoken, though airline and high-end hotel staff in the larger cities will usually have a basic grasp of English.

Get in
Fujian is well connected via China's domestic airline, bus, highway and train networks.

The largest airport in Fujian is at Xiamen. It is the main hub of XiamenAir, and is well-served by international flights to other Asian countries, as well as intercontinental flights to Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Sydney and Vancouver. There are also a limited number of international flights into Fuzhou and Quanzhou  from other Asian cities. Numerous other cities also have an airport, though these cater almost entirely for domestic flights.

There are good highway connections around the province and out of it into neighboring provinces. There are regular buses from any of the main Fujian cities to any of the major cities in nearby provinces. Many of the roads are through mountainous (or at least very hilly) terrain and are feats of engineering involving a lot of bridges and tunnels. During World War II, the Japanese controlled most of Fujian but did not reach Sanming because of the mountains. Today, it is a few hours' drive on good roads from Fuzhou.

There is a high-speed rail line in service which connects the main cities along the Fujian coast north to Wenzhou, Ningbo, Hangzhou and Shanghai, and south to Shantou, Shanwei, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Speeds are over 200 km/hour (125 mph) and the Fuzhou-Shanghai trip takes about six hours. Two more high-speed lines connect the province with the interior of the country: one runs from Fuzhou to Hefei (and, ultimately, Beijing); the other, from Fuzhou and Putian to Nanchang (in Jiangxi), with some trains continuing to Wuhan (in Hubei).

Older rail lines which wind inland through the mountains carry passengers as well and are considerably cheaper, but much less convenient. For example, Fuzhou-Shanghai costs ¥130 instead of ¥280 (or ¥330 first class) on the fast train, but it takes 17 hours instead of 6.

There are ferry boats to Taiwan-controlled islands that are located near the Fujian coast: from Mawei (a suburb of Fuzhou) to Matsu, and from Xiamen to Kinmen. To reach the main island of Taiwan, there are ferries direct from Xiamen or from Matsu, but not from Kinmen. There are flights from either island to the main island of Taiwan.

If you are a citizen of certain countries and in transit to a third country, you may be eligible for visa waiver to visit Xiamen only for up to 144 hours (6 days). See the Xiamen article for details.

Get around
The main mode of intercity travel is traditionally by bus. The standard low-cost low-speed trains are less convenient in Fujian than elsewhere because they wind around a lot in the mountainous terrain. Flying within the province is relatively expensive.

New lines for high speed trains, on a more direct route along the coast, are now in service. For anywhere they go — Zhangzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Putian, Fuzhou, Ningde and beyond toward Zhejiang and Shanghai — they are now the most convenient way to travel.

Parks and landscapes
Wuyishan: Climb up this mountain and enjoy the view from the top. It is worth it! It takes about an hour to reach the top and half an hour to come down. Enjoy the scenic bamboo raft ride down the river. You get to see huge rocks of different shapes and sizes - some of which resemble people or animals. You will also get to see some "hanging coffins" - coffins, believed to be more than 2000 years old, placed inside large cracks in some of the gigantic rocks. These cracks are about 20–40 metres above the river. Nobody knows how the coffins got there. The ride takes about one-and-the-half hours. Each raft comes with two rowers and can take six passengers.

Gulangyu is a smaller island next to Xiamen Island, across the 500-meter-wide Lujiang from downtown Xiamen. Gulangyu was originally named round sandbar (Yuen Chau Tsai) during the Ming Dynasty because of a grotto created by the action of the waves. Gulangyu is known as “Sea Garden” since the island climate is warm in the winter and cool in the summer, as if it experiences spring all year around. All kinds of flowers bloom, and the grass and leaves are always green.

The China Danxia landscape near Taining are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Museums

 * The provincial museum is in Fuzhou, in the park beside West Lake (西湖 Xīhú).
 * Mawei (马尾 mǎwěi), just outside Fuzhou, has a museum commemorating a battle there between the Chinese navy and the French in the 1880s.
 * Xiamen has an Overseas Chinese Museum, located downtown roughly halfway between the ferry terminal and Xiamen University (厦门大学 Xiàmén dàxué).
 * Quanzhou, formerly one of the world's great ports (Marco Polo considered it "one of the two greatest havens in the world for commerce"), has a Maritime Museum.

Religious buildings
One could plan a tour of Fujian devoted to exploring its amazing variety of religious structures. Xiamen, Fuzhou and Quanzhou all have major Buddhist temples, and there are dozens of lesser temples in smaller cities or scattered around the countryside. The Hualin Temple (华林寺) in Fuzhou, founded in 964, is one of the oldest wooden structures in China.

Of course there are many Taoist and Confucian temples as well. Quanzhou has Qingyuan Mountain, a major Taoist site that attracts visitors from all over China, partly because it has a famous statue of Lao Tse, the founder of Taoism. The original Shaolin Temple, one of China's greatest centers of kung fu, is in Henan, but during one of China's many wars a lot of the monks fled South and founded Southern Shaolin with one temple on Qingyuan Mountain and another in Putian.

Quanzhou also has relics of several religions introduced via the Maritime Silk Road. It has one of China's oldest mosques, built in 1009, and the tombs of several Muslim saints. Across the river in Jinjiang is the world's last Manichean temple. Quanzhou and Jinjiang have relics of Nestorian Christians; the sect was based in Persia and sent missionaries east, reaching China by the 7th century AD. The first Catholic missionaries, Franciscan monks, reached China via Quanzhou in 1313.

Fujian was also a major area of missionary activity in the 19th century and well into the 20th. Christian churches of various denominations abound; China's oldest Protestant church is in Xiamen. The cities all have several churches and many villages have one or two.

Meizhou Island, near Putian, has the main temple of the sea Goddess Mazu; the annual festival in her honour attracts tens of thousands of worshippers from all over the Chinese diaspora, especially fishermen and sailors.

Eat
Fujian has its own cuisine, largely based on seafood. Fujian cuisine can be sub-divided into several distinct cuisines, with perhaps the clearest distinction between South Fujian cuisine, Fuzhou cuisine and West Fujian cuisine. Hakka people have their own distinctive cuisine.

Drink
Fujian is famous for tea (in the 19th century, Fuzhou was China's busiest tea port) and you can get good tea almost anywhere. In fact, the English word "tea" was derived from its Minnan name. Try the tea eggs (茶葉蛋 cháyèdàn), hard boiled eggs cooked in tea, available on streets everywhere.

Like most of China, Fujian has many locations for large Chinese coffee (上岛咖啡 shàngdǎo kāfēi) chains — including UBC, Ming Tien and SPR — and a few Starbucks. For most Western tastes, SPR are easily the best of those, but avoid their airport locations which have astronomical pricing. There are also some good smaller local chains, Blenz, Dawin and King Buck; these are usually cheaper.

Alcoholic beverages, especially beer, are common, served in almost every restaurant except Muslim places and Buddhist temples. Hui Quan is a Fujian brand, a light palatable lager. Bai jiu (white lightning) is used mainly for formal toasts at banquets.

Stay safe
Like other areas on the Southern coast of China, Fujian is prone to typhoons, which occur mostly from July to September. The province is also located on several small fault lines, and so is occasionally hit by earthquakes, though these tend to be minor.

Go next
Neighboring provinces along the coast are Zhejiang to the North and Guangdong to the South. Jiangxi lies inland of Fujian. There are good connections to any of these by road or rail.

The Taiwanese-controlled islands of Kinmen and Matsu can be visited by regular ferry service from Xiamen to Kinmen (30 minutes or 1 hour) or from Fuzhou (Mawei) to Matsu (2 hours). There are also ferries directly to the main island from Taiwan from Xiamen and possibly Pingtan, as well as ferries continuing from the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands to Taiwan. There appears to be no ferry from Kinmen to Taiwan, only direct from Xiamen to Taiwan.

title: Fujian


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Fuji Five Lakes

The Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖 Fuji-goko) are a group of five small lakes in Yamanashi prefecture, on the North side of Mount Fuji in Japan. From East to West, they are Lake Yamanaka (山中湖), Lake Kawaguchi (河口湖), Lake Sai (西湖), Lake Shoji (精進湖) and Lake Motosu (本栖湖).

Get in

Access to the area usually involves passing through the town of Fuji Yoshida (富士吉田), located between Lakes Kawaguchi and Yamanaka. Fujiyoshida can be reached from Tokyo by taking the JR Chuo line to Otsuki and changing to the Fujikyu line, which passes through Fujiyoshida and terminates at Kawaguchiko. Starting 2019, there is regular limited express service between Shinjuku and Kawaguchiko. Weekdays have two roundtrips daily, while weekends and holidays have three direct roundtrips. This service is the Fuji Excursion, and trains are coupled and decoupled to Kaiji services at Otsuki Station.

Highway buses are available from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko and Yamanakako, and at certain times, directly to Kawaguchi Fifth Station (Go-gome) on Mt. Fuji. The bus from Shinjuku station takes approximately 1 hr 45 min. Buses are equipped with toilets and luggage compartments, and you get a seat assignment. Buses are also available to and from Tokyo station or Shinjuku station.

Get around
Extensive local bus service is available, particularly in and from Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi) Station, which is the most popular launching point for exploration of this region or a climb of Mount Fuji. The Kawaguchiko Retro Bus (note the bus and bus stop signs say "Saiko Sightseeing Bus") serves the path around the lake, stopping at many of the local tourist attractions like the museums or parks. A two-day ticket costs ¥1,200 from the bus ticket office inside Kawaguchiko station. A regular local bus serves the five lakes and the caves, also popular tourist attractions.

Bus service is available from Kawaguchiko Station to Kawaguchi Fifth Station, the most popular place from which to start a climb of Mt. Fuji. The bus takes about 50 minutes. Climbing is not recommended outside of official climbing season (July and August) and the buses are restricted to the daytime. This means that if you do intend to climb, you will need to arrange a taxi early in the morning or late at night to get to Fifth Station.

There are many rental bicycle outlets outside Kawaguchiko Station. During periods of high traffic such as statutory holidays and the autumn leaves season, bicycles may be a faster way to move around the lake than the buses.

See
Most visitors come here for views of Mount Fuji, with many postcard shots taken from Lake Kawaguchi in particular.

Do
There are no real beaches, and no swimming is allowed in any of the five lakes. Paddleboats and rowboats are available for rental at most, and fishing equipment at some.

Eat
Fujiyoshida is famous for its udon noodles.

title: Fuji Five Lakes


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Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (富士箱根伊豆国立公園) is a national park that straddles Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Kanagawa and Tokyo prefecture. It covers a large area and many different locations ranging from natural hot springs to coastlines to mountainous areas and lakes. Due to the large area encompassed by the park, Wikivoyage has split the park into various articles, these include:

 * Mount Fuji, the center point of the park, Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan and an active stratovolcano, other destinations around Mount Fuji are included in the park like Shiraito Falls in Fujinomiya and the Fuji Five Lakes.
 * Hakone, a hotspring resort outside of Tokyo with views of Mount Fuji, some important components of include Lake Ashinoko and Ōwakudani
 * Izu Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands off the coast of Honshu, most islands are included as part of the park
 * Izu Peninsula, a peninsula with many hot springs and beaches, the most notable component of the park on the peninsula is the hot spring town of Atami

title: Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park


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Fujino

Fujino (藤野) is a town in Kanagawa prefecture. A part of Sagamihara (相模原) City since 2007.

Understand
Fujino, popular with locals as an escape from Tokyo, is approximately one and a half hours away from Tokyo on the train. It has a population of approximately 11,500 inhabitants, and is nicknamed "Tibet of Kanagawa Prefecture" due to its topography, climate, and distance from civilization.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association still maintains a Japanese-only guide site, separate from Sagamihara City's.

Get in
It is quite easy to get the train from Tokyo.

Get around
With quite a few hills to trek up, walking is by far the most tasking way to get around. However, the views you'll receive in return are well worth it. Unless fluent in Japanese it may be hard to rent a vehicle.

Do
There are many hot springs in Fujino, and due to the lack of tourists the prices are much lower than the ones in major cities.

title: Fujino


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Fujinomiya

Fujinomiya (富士宮) is a city in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, on the southwestern slopes of Mount Fuji.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site.

Get in
Fujinomiya is on the JR Minobu Line, linking Fuji city on the JR Tokaido Line with Kofu city on the JR Chuo Line.

There are a few ways to get to Fujinomiya from Tokyo, but the fastest method is to use the Shinkansen from Tokyo: to take a Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama train to Mishima, and change there for a Shizuoka-bound JR Tokaido Line local train. At Fuji station, you need to change again to the JR Minobu Line for the final run to Fujinomiya. This whole process will take about two hours with good connections at a cost of ¥4710.

Even substituting the Kodama journey with Tokaido Line local trains, the trip still takes about three hours from Tokyo if the connections are good, at a cost of ¥2520.

There are also buses from Tokyo station. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the English portion of the website may not be up to date.

There is a bus connection to Fujinomiya from Kawaguchiko station a few times a day.

The closest airport is Shizuoka Airport.

Get around
The best way to get around in Fujinomiya is by bus or taxi - both leave from Fujinomiya station. There is an official tourist information on the ground floor of Fujinomiya station to help with directions. Remember to ask for a tourist map. Some shops also have rental bicycles available.

Buy
There is an Aeon Mall on the south side of Fujinomiya Station. The traditional shopping district is to the north-west from the station.

Local beer breweries

Go next

 * Mount Fuji
 * Fuji
 * Gotemba
 * Numazu
 * Shizuoka
 * Shibakawa
 * Nanbu
 * Minobu
 * Fuji Five Lakes area (including Fujikawaguchiko)

title: Fujinomiya


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Fujioka

Fujioka (藤岡) is a city in Gunma Prefecture.

Understand
Fujioka originates from the Japanese kanji words "wisteria" and "hill" meaning "Wisteria Hill" in English

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

Go next

 * Kanra
 * Kanna
 * Tomioka
 * Takasaki
 * Honjo
 * Misato
 * Yorii
 * Isesaki
 * Kumagaya

title: Fujioka


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Fujisawa

Fujisawa (藤沢市 Fujisawa-shi) is a small town in Kanagawa, Japan, near Kamakura. It is also the name of the municipality that encompasses Shonandai and Enoshima island.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Get in
Most visitors arrive to Fujisawa station via the Odakyu line from Shinjuku and Machida in Tokyo, or from Hakone to the west. After arriving, they immediately change to the Enoden Line and continue onward to Enoshima and Kamakura.

The Odakyu Line trip from Shinjuku to Fujisawa takes 54 minutes via Rapid-express (快速急行) or 66 minutes via Express (急行) and costs ¥570.

The trip to Fujisawa on JR takes about 50 minutes from either Tokyo and Shinjuku. The trip costs ¥950 from both locations and is a good choice for Japan Rail Pass holders.

Enoden
This is a small, scenic train that connects Kamakura and Fujisawa station. This train runs along small roads, near Shichirigahama Beach and on roads with cars like a tram. For any railfans, this train is one of the famous lines in the Kamakura area.

Oddly, you catch the Enoden in the Fujisawa station at the Odakyu department store, but you catch the Odakyu Line across the plaza underneath the JR station.

See

Other beaches are also nearby, including:

Do
Every year, a festival is held in August. Here, you can try kingyo sukui, a game which you scoop goldfish with a paper scoop. In this festival, you can see the largest kingyo sukui in the world. It is even registered in the Guinness Book!

Go next

 * Kamakura
 * Zushi
 * Hayama
 * Yokosuka
 * Miura
 * Chigasaki
 * Samukawa
 * Hiratsuka
 * Ebina

title: Fujisawa


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Fukuchiyama

Fukuchiyama (福知山市) is a city in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

Understand
The local tourist assosiation has a Japanese-only guide site.

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. On both these lines there are direct local and rapid trains to Kyoto and Osaka respectively during rush hours; at other times one change of train is required. Using local and rapid trains, Kyoto can be reached in 2 hours and ¥1490; Osaka can be reached in 2 hr 15 min and ¥1940.
 * 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 Fukuchiyama.
 * The Fukuchiyama Line is served by trains from Shin-Osaka, Osaka, Amagasaki (for connections to Kobe and the JR Tōzai Line) and Takarazuka. The Kōnotori takes about 1 hr 40 min from Shin-Osaka and costs ¥4060.

All these trains are free with the Japan Rail Pass. For travel to Kyoto, Osaka, and other destinations within Kansai, JR West sells the Kansai WIDE Area Pass to Temporary Visitors with foreign passports; this lasts 5 days, costs ¥9000 (¥9500 if bought in Japan), and is valid for local and rapid trains and the non-reserved seats of Limited Express trains. Fukuchiyama is also covered by the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass and the 7-day Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass, for those who wish to venture further; however, it lies outside the area covered by the Kansai Area Pass.

By bus
Nihon Kōtsū operate daytime buses to Kansai on two routes: Osaka Bus runs two buses a day to Osaka station in the morning and back in the evening, taking 2 hours and costing ¥1850.
 * From Namba (Osaka City Air Terminal) and Itami Airport, there are seven buses a day, taking 1 hr 45 min and costing ¥1850 (¥1650 from the airport).
 * From Kobe (Sannomiya Bus Terminal) there are eight buses a day, taking 1 hr 30 min and costing ¥1650.

Go next

 * Ayabe
 * Kyotamba
 * Nantan
 * Maizuru
 * Miyazu
 * Yosano
 * Kyotango
 * Toyooka
 * Asago

福知山市

title: Fukuchiyama


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Fukue Island

Fukue (福江, Fukuejima) is the biggest and by far most populated of the Gotō Islands, located in Nagasaki prefecture, Japan.

Get in
The island of Fukue is the main gateway of the Gotō Islands. See Gotō Islands.

Get around
Except for the few interesting sights inside Fukue City, you will need a car to get around. Buses are few and far between (consider the tourist buses below), and taxis would cost you: a roundtrip to the Osezaki lighthouse and back would be about ¥20,000.

Unless you're very confident cycling, you won't be able to move around the island with a bicycle: Fukue is too big and too hilly for that.

See
Inside Fukue Town:
 * Castle remains: (Ishida castle) the feudal lord of Goto waited for around a century for the authorization to build this castle, and when if finally came, only 4 years after completion the Meiji Government emitted the Castle Abolition Order (1873). Today only the walls and pit remain, but it's well worth a visit. Now the Goto High School stands inside the walls.
 * Old houses' street (buke yashiki dōri): 2-3 min. walk from the castle you can find a street that retains the stone walls and doors from the houses of the noble families that once lived here. Regular modern houses stand inside, but there's one house with an old look. They sell souvenirs and rent bicycles (¥500 half a day).
 * Myōjindo: a small temple constructed for protection in the sea by a Chinese merchant that moved to Fukue. Off the commercial street and next to the river.

Around the island (clockwise starting from Fukue Town):
 * Onidake: the grass mount that dominates Fukue City is a good picnic spot. They also have cardboards so you can enjoy "grass skiing".
 * Camelia park (Tsubaki-en): just next to Onidake, the name says it all.
 * Abunze lava coast: a coastal lava formation.
 * Osezaki lighthouse: by far the most famous sight in Fukue, it has been featured in the film Akunin.
 * Takahama beach: a popular spot for swimming in summer.
 * Dōzaki Church: a church turned into a museum about Christianity in Goto.

Itineraries
If you find yourself car-less in Fukue, probably your best option is to book a tour with the bus tour company (Goto Jidosha) at the ferry terminal. Between the morning and evening tour they cover the main sights of the island. There are two courses, A for the morning and B for the afternoon, as well as combos: A+B and B+A next morning. Even if you don't understand Japanese, they are still the cheapest way to get around.

They usually require a minimum of four people to conduct the tour. If you can speak even a little Japanese, try to phone before noon five days before to reserve and make sure they'll do the tour: 0959-72-2173.

For up-to-date info and details check their homepage (Japanese only).

Eat
Torazushi (寅寿司) in the commercial alley at Fukue.

Stay safe
While the town area can get very dark at night due to no lighting, Fukue is as safe or more as the rest of Japan. Just exercise basic caution and you'll be fine.

Go next
You can hop to the other islands of the archipielago by ferry. See Gotō Islands.

Else you can go back to the Japanese mainland, either Nagasaki or Sasebo, by boat or plane.

title: Fukue Island


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Fukui

Fukui (福井市 Fukui-shi) is the capital city of Fukui Prefecture. In 2017, it had a population of 264,000 people. It is home to the Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins, one of the most important cultural heritage sites in Japan.

Understand

The city is a regional commercial and finance centre; however, manufacturing, agriculture and commercial fishing also are contributors to the local economy.

Tourist Information Site
Fuku-iro (福いろ) is the city's official guide site. Japanese only with integrated Google Translate.

By plane
The nearest airport to Fukui is in Komatsu. Buses connect Komatsu Airport with Komatsu Station for ¥260, from which you can take a Hokuriku Line local train for the 50-minute run to Fukui (¥820).

If coming internationally, the best airport to arrive in is Kansai International Airport ( in Osaka. From the Airport, you can reach Fukui by train in about 3½ hours by taking the Haruka limited express train to Shin-Osaka, and transferring across the platform to the Thunderbird, described below.

By train
Fukui is served by the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo, with the fastest trains traveling the distance in 2:51 (¥15,810).

From Osaka or Kyoto, you'll need to take the JR Thunderbird limited express to Tsuruga and transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Tsuruga is also served by the the JR Shirasagi limited express from Nagoya and Maibara.

There is no charge for the above services with the Japan Rail Pass.

By bus
The Dream Fukui overnight bus service runs from both Tokyo Station and Shinjuku to the Keifuku Bus Terminal in Fukui (9 hours, ¥7,800-9,200 one-way). The price varies between seasons. Two departures nightly.

Numerous buses come and go from Nagoya daily. Osaka and Kyoto also have direct buses to Fukui Station.

By tram
Fukui Railway runs a tram that makes the city more accessible and is relatively cheap. Trams conveniently depart from Fukuieki Station (outside JR Fukui Station). There are two lines, one traveling north and the other south. The northern line runs to Tawaramachi Station (convenient for the art museum, history museum, and Yokokan Garden) while the southern line runs all the way to Echizen-Takefu Station in Echizen. Within city limits the final station is Sanjuhassha Station, although most visitors will find most attractions accessible from Asuwayama-Koenguchi Station.

On foot
While there are enough sites within walking distance of the station to tour on foot, many sites are too far apart for walking to be a viable option. In many cases, it's best to at least use public transport to get you within reasonable distance to start your walk.

Eat

While most of Japan prefers to eat its katsudon (breaded pork cutlet on top of rice) topped with a sweet omelet, Fukui is famous for creating the sauce katsudon, which is instead covered by a sweet and salty sauce similar to Worcester sauce. It is ubiquitous on menus throughout the prefecture. Another famous local food is oroshi soba, cold or hot buckwheat noodles with grated Japanese radish. Restaurants serving oroshi soba can be found throughout the prefecture.

Go next

 * Eiheiji — A beautiful temple just east of Fukui
 * Sakai — Tojimbo, cliffs famous for suicides
 * Katsuyama
 * Ono
 * Sabae
 * Kaga
 * Kanazawa
 * Awara — Awara Onsen
 * Ikeda

title: Fukui


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Fukui (prefecture)

Fukui Prefecture (福井県) is the southernmost prefecture in the Hokuriku (北陸) part of the Chubu area of Honshu, Japan.

Enjoy Fukui is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities

 * — Seat of government in the northern part of the prefecture and an important crossroads historically and today.
 * — Second largest city in the prefecture and ancient capital of the prefecture. Famous as the one-time home of the celebrated author Murasaki Shikibu and for its traditional papermaking (washi) industry.
 * — A small fishing city, renowned for having the same name as the US President, as well as a large marketing campaign based on that coincidence.
 * — A historic castle town, often referred to as 'Little Kyoto'.
 * — A small harbor city on both the Hokuriku Toll Road and the Hokuriku Rail Line, and home to two of the JAPCO Nuclear Power Stations.
 * — Home to an original castle and the famous Tojimbo Cliffs.
 * — The center of the Japanese eyeglass industry and home to a museum to the industry.
 * — A mountainous city with popular ski slopes and a very nice dinosaur museum; two dinosaurs, Fukuiraptor and Fukuisaurus, were discovered in Katsuyama.

Other destinations

 * — home to the head temple of the Soto Zen school of Buddhism, established in 1244
 * — Echizen's rocky coastline is famous for its beauty and for delicious crab, and other seafood
 * — literally "Beautiful Beach", a small ancient fishing village where apparently Oda Nobunaga spent a night after a rough battle
 * — a rural town home to one of Japan's few vine suspension bridges (kazurabashi).
 * — literally "Beautiful Beach", a small ancient fishing village where apparently Oda Nobunaga spent a night after a rough battle
 * — a rural town home to one of Japan's few vine suspension bridges (kazurabashi).

Understand
Fukui is directly across the Sea of Japan from the Korean Peninsula. Its harbors are frequented by Russian and Korean cargo vessels.

Although the present characters for Fukui (福井) mean "lucky well", the city was originally given the name "福居" in 1623 by its daimyo Matsudaira Tadamasa. The name was changed during the Genroku era for uncertain reasons—one theory even claims that it was due to a clerical error.

Talk
The dialect spoken in Fukui is widely different between south and north. The southern dialect, called Wakasa-ben, is near to the Kansai dialect, however the northern dialect, called Fukui-ben, has a sing-song-y rural feeling to it. The Mihama dialect in southern is like many country dialects in Chubu.

By train
The Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo stops at Fukui and terminates at Tsuruga, which is also served by the Hokuriku Rail Line from Osaka and Kyoto.

By car
Fukui is accessible via the Hokuriku Tollway by car from all parts of Chubu, and several different bus lines make stops at Tsuruga and Fukui City from places like the new Chubu International Airport and Nagoya, home of the 2005 World Expo.

Get around
Fukui has the largest rate of car ownership in all of Japan, which is necessary because public transport is not well developed. Still, it is possible to access most areas by train or bus.

JR trains run go south to Kyoto and Osaka and north to Kanazawa. Most JR trains stop at Tsuruga, Takefu, Fukui, and Awara. There are a few private train line with their own stations that are better for shorter distances, though more expensive than the local JR trains.

For most rural locations, buses only run several times per day. Be sure to check on the last bus time, which can be mid-afternoon, depending on location.

See

 * Marvel at the geological beauty of the Tojimbo Cliffs (Sakai)
 * Journey to the secluded Eiheiji Temple (Eiheiji)
 * Enter Maruoka Castle, one of only twelve original castles left in the nation (Sakai)
 * Stroll about Yokokan Garden (Fukui)
 * Roam the Dinosaur Museum in the town where multiple new dinosaur species have been uncovered (Katsuyama)
 * See the "top three" torii gate at Kehi Shrine (Tsuruga)
 * Explore the historic ruins of Ichijodani (Fukui)
 * View Myotsuji Temple's pagoda, a National Treasure, and continue on to other pilgrimage temples (Obama)

Do
The prefecture has many great beaches and historical sites.

Eat
Fukui is well known for its beef from the Wakasa area of Western Fukui Prefecture, its echizen-gani (crabs) which are prized for their guts, called kani-miso, and for oroshi soba buckwheat noodles with grated radish. While most of Japan prefers to eat its katsudon (breaded pork cutlet on top of rice) topped with a sweet omelet, Fukui is famous for creating sauce katsudon, which is instead covered by a sweet and salty sauce similar to Worcester sauce.

Drink
Water in Fukui comes from mountain springs. Some say the rice is the best in Japan, but people in a dozen other prefectures make the same claim. Regardless, put the rice and water together and you get some excellent sake.

Go next

 * Kanazawa — the largest city in the Hokuriku region
 * Kyoto — the old capital of Japan is the obvious destination if you're heading south
 * Amanohashidate

title: Fukui (prefecture)