Asakura Clan Ruins, Ichijodaki Waterfall

Ichijodani

Special historic site / special place of scenic beauty

Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins

Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins are the ruins of the castle town owned by five warring lords of the Asakura Family who ruled Echizen for 103 years. The grand castle town was founded in 1471 and developed a graceful culture with the peak population exceeding 10,000. However, when the Asakura Family was defeated by Oda Nobunaga in 1573, the town was burned down and its long history came to end. The first earnest excavation research started in 1967, revealing the shape of the whole town, including the an house of the lord, samurai residences, temples, houses of merchants, houses of craft workers, and streets. In 1991, four gardens of the ruins were designated national "Special Places of Scenic Beauty."

Karamon

Karamon gate stands in the front of the manor house ruins facing the street. The gate is said to dedicated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to console the soul of Asakura Yoshikage. You can see the crest of the Asakura family on the front side of the gate and the crest of the Toyotomi family on the backside.

Ruins of Asakura Manor House

This central feature of the whole Ichijodani ruins is up to 80 square meters in area, guarded by a mountain on the east side, 4 meter high ramparts on the west, south and north sides and further surrounded by a moat. You can see large foundations of the main house, an assembly hall, a teahouse, stables, etc. inside the ruins.

Ruins of Nakano Goten

Kotokuin, the mother of the fifth lord Yoshikage, is said to have lived in the palace that once stood here. The Muromachi Government bestowed the title of "Niino Ama" (second highest ranked nun) on her.

By train	Take Etsumi Kita Line from JR Fukui Station, get off at Ichijodani Station and walk 20 minutes.
By bus	Take a bus toward Jokyoji from JR Fukui Station, get off at Bukeyashiki Mae and walk 1 minute.
By car	Coming from Hokuriku Highway Fukui Interchange, turn east on Route 158 and drive 10 minutes.
Parking	available

Special Places of Scenic Beauty

Garden of the Suwa Yakata Ruins

Suwa Yakata was a house built by the fifth lord Yoshikage for his concubine, Kokosho. The garden of the ruins is one of the most gorgeous kaiyu chisen-style gardens (wet garden with promenade) in Japan.

Garden of the Yudono Ruins

The wild and powerful rock work of the garden exudes the spirit of the Age of Warring Lords. It is inferred to be the oldest of the four gardens of the Asakura Clan Ruins.

Garden of the Nanyoji Ruins

The temple that once stood here was rebuilt by the third lord Sadakage for his daughter. Women of the Asakura family lived here as nuns. Ashikaga Yoshiaki, who later became the 15th Shogun of the Muromachi Government, visited Ichijodani and was welcomed here with banquets.

Garden of the Yoshikage House Ruins

The garden is located in the south of the Asakura Manor House Ruins. It is inferred that guest facilities were once arranged around the garden.

Restored Townscape

The samurai residences, merchant houses, etc. were restored along the 200 meter long street. You can imagine how life was in those days.

Open	9:00 - 17:00 (entrance is closed at 16:30)
Closed	Year End / New Year Holidays
Fee	210 yen per adult 100 yen per child of 6 - 14
Parking	available
Contact	Asakura Clan Ruins Preservation Society 0776-41-2330 Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins Preservation Administration Office 0776-41-2173

Ichijo Castle Mound

On the top of the 473 meter high hill to the east of the Ichijodani Ruins, a hill castle was built taking advantage of the natural topographic features. There still remain the Kannon Yashiki Ruins with an earthen wall and foundation stones called Senjo Jiki (on the thousand tatami room), the Akabuchi Myojin Shrine Ruins, the Night Watch Ruin with a panoramic view of the Fukui Plain, the remains of the primary, secondary and tertiary enclosures, and remains of empty moats, defense ditches and places for ambush. It takes about one hour on foot to the hill top.

 

Nishiyama Koshoji Ruins

Ruins of the greatest temple at the time of the Asakura family's reign. The temple of the Tendai Sect Shinzei School has been lost, leaving only 38 Buddhist images carved in shakutani stone along the former approach to the temple. Nearly 3000 stone images and stone pagodas lie scattered all over the valley, giving the name "Stone Buddha Valley" to the area around the ruins.

 

Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins Reference Library

The reference library offers a three-dimensional introduction to the Ichijodani culture by exhibiting numerous historical materials, models, and photo panels as well as precious articles excavated from the Asakura Clan Ruins. The library also preserves such usual articles as a musket and Japanese chess pieces.

Open	9:00 - 17:00 (entrance is closed at 16:30)
Closed	Mondays Holidays and Year End / New Year Holidays (Open on May 5 and November 3)
Fee	100 yen per adult free for junior high students and younger
Parking	available
Contact	0776-41-2301

Ichijodaki Waterfall

The 12 meter high mystic waterfall is located upstream of the Ichijodani River, which flows through the Asakura Clan Ruins. There is another 5 meter high waterfall called Mesudaki. Both of them are in the bosom of a densely wooded gorge where it is cool and fresh even in midsummer. According to the legend, Taicho Taishi created the falls after his seven-day ascetic practice here. Sasaki Kojiro, the renowned swordsman who was defeated by Miyamoto Musashi on Ganryu Island, is also said to have trained and created his specialTsubamegaeshi (V-turning swallow) tactic here.

• By bus: Take a bus toward Jokyoji from JR Fukui Station, get out of the bus at Jokyoji and walk 25 minutes.