Ichijodani Castle

The Ichijōdani Asakura Clan Ruins, located in Kidonouchi-chō, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, are an important historical site left behind by the Asakura clan, the Sengoku-period warlords who ruled Echizen Province. The site comprises Ichijōdani Castle on the mountainside and the castle town at its foot, which included the Asakura clan’s residence and the homes of their retainers. Covering a total area of 278 hectares, it has been designated as a National Special Historic Site. Additionally, four well-preserved Japanese gardens within the site—collectively known as the “Ichijōdani Asakura Clan Gardens”—have been recognized as a National Special Place of Scenic Beauty.

The ruins lie about 10 kilometers southeast of present-day Fukui City, along the Ichijōdani River, a tributary of the Asuwa River, itself a tributary of the Kuzuryū River. The valley is approximately 500 meters wide from east to west and stretches about 3 kilometers from north to south. Although narrow, it occupies a strategic point at the edge of the Fukui Plain where the terrain transitions into mountains. To the north, it connects to the Hokurikudō and the Minō Road leading to the Ōno Basin, while the Shikamata Pass provides access to Echizen-Fuchū. Several routes, including the Asakura Road, converge here, making Ichijōdani a critical transportation hub during the Sengoku period.

Geographically, Ichijōdani is surrounded on the east, west, and south by mountains, with the Asuwa River to the north, forming a natural defensive barrier. In the past, castle gates were built at the northern and southern ends, and within the 1.7-kilometer-long “Kidonouchi” area, a neatly arranged network of streets and buildings was established. This included the Asakura residence, samurai mansions, temples, and merchant and artisan houses, creating a large-scale castle town. Fortresses and watchtowers were also built on the surrounding peaks, forming an extensive defensive system.

Although the town’s prosperity of the Sengoku era has long faded, the site still retains its orderly urban layout and some architectural remains. Combined with reconstructed townhouses and gardens, visitors can experience the cultural and military grandeur of the Asakura clan’s castle town. In spring, when cherry blossoms bloom along the old roads and ruins, the scenery becomes even more picturesque, attracting history enthusiasts and travelers alike.