On March 16th, the Hokuriku Shinkansen line will be extended from Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture to Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture, making the Hokuriku region more accessible from Tokyo. Visitors are encouraged to explore the springtime beauty of Hokuriku. The article also highlights the excavation and preservation efforts of the Asakura clan’s castle town in Ichijodani, Fukui. The article describes the exhibitions at the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins Museum, featuring reconstructions of the historical town and displaying artifacts such as tableware and coins from the period. Additionally, the article provides information on the museum’s location, operating hours, admission fees, and transportation options.
On March 16, the Hokuriku Shinkansen line will be extended from Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture to Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. With this extension, the Hokuriku region will be even closer to Tokyo. Take this opportunity to visit the spring Hokuriku region.
Preserving the castle town of the Asakura clan alongside ruins and excavated items integrated with the landscape
About 13 km east of the current city center of Fukui, a tributary flows into the Asuwa River. In the late 15th century, warlord Takakage Asakura moved his base to Ichijodani, a north-south stretch of about 3 km along this tributary, and built a castle in the mountains. Since then, for over 100 years, the Asakura clan ruled Echizen Province from Ichijodani, where a castle town was also built.
However, in the first year of Tensho (1573), Oda Nobunaga advanced with an army of 30,000 troops. The Asakura army fought back, but suffered a major defeat in Tsuruga. Ichijodani was set on fire and burned for three days and nights, turning to ashes.
Museum adjacent to restored ruins
Excavation surveys at Ichijodani have been ongoing for over 50 years. In October of Reiwa 4 (2022), the Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins Museum was opened to showcase the survey results. Curator Momoko Otake says,
“After the castle town was destroyed by fire, there was not much development in the area. As a result, we were able to excavate the entire medieval castle town. This is very rare. This museum is not just for historians and archaeologists, but also includes landscape gardeners, who work to preserve the overall landscape of the site.”
The building has large windows throughout, allowing the scenery to naturally enter the eyes. Nearby, a reconstruction of the town during the Asakura clan era has been created. It is an experience that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the castle town from 450 years ago through the interplay of landscape and exhibitions. The museum is a two-story low-rise building, with the highlight being the exhibition of ruins on the first floor. Visitors can see the stone-paved facilities in their excavated state. The second floor displays a vast number of excavated items.
Reminiscent of the Pompeii archaeological site in Italy, which was buried in ash overnight due to a volcanic eruption. Ruins and excavated items from ancient cities and castle towns that perished in a short period of time appear to be frozen in time, offering a glimpse into the daily life of that era.
Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins Museum
8-10 Nakajima-cho, Abahaga, Fukui City
Phone: 0776-41-7700
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
Closed on Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday)
Admission: 700 yen
Transportation: Approximately 15 minutes by Echizen North Line from JR Fukui Station to Ichijodani Station, then about a 3-minute walk from the station
Opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga
On March 16, the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, which previously connected Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture to Tokyo, will be extended to Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture, with six new stations opening. This makes travel to the three Hokuriku prefectures of Ishikawa, Toyama, and Fukui more convenient.
Reporting and Writing/Hiroyuki Aino Photography/Shuhei Fujita
*This article is reprinted from the April 2024 issue of “Sarai” magazine.
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