🗺️ Ichijōgaku Asakura Clan Ruins一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡

The Asakura clan was a prominent daimyo during Japan's Sengoku period, spanning five generations and ruling the Echizen region for 103 years. The fifth head of the clan, Asakura Yoshikage, was also an outstanding cultural figure, and during his reign, the cultural and artistic development of the Ichijō Valley, the center of Echizen Province, flourished. However, in the wars for supremacy, the allied forces of the Asakura and the Azai clans were defeated by the armies led by Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu. This resulted in the tragic end of Asakura Yoshikage, who committed suicide, and the town being almost completely burned down by Oda Nobunaga. The prosperous era of the Asakura clan, which lasted for five generations, came to an end in the first year of Tenshō (1573). In an effort to commemorate the glorious history of the Asakura clan while lacking a concrete understanding of the situation, formal excavation investigations began in 1967, revealing that the ruins of the castle town were well-preserved and buried underground. Spanning an area of 278 hectares, the mountainous site yielded numerous remains of buildings and gardens, allowing the appearance of that time to be vividly recreated. Around the Ichijō Valley, there are many historical sites that tell the stories of the past, such as the ruins of Nishiyama Kōshō-ji, which retains many stone Buddhas and stone pagodas, and the Ichijō Waterfall, known as the training ground of Sasaki Kojirō, the rival of Miyamoto Musashi. Four gardens are designated as special scenic spots, and out of the 1.7 million artifacts unearthed from the ruins, 2,343 have been designated as important cultural properties. Additionally, the "Restored Street" within the ruins almost completely recreates the street scene of the once-flourishing castle town. Samurai residences and commoners' houses stand side by side, giving visitors a feeling of traveling back in time to the Sengoku period.

The free shuttle bus to the main attractions within the ruins operates on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays from April to November. Free bicycle and wheelchair rental services are available; for details, please inquire at the "South Entrance" window in Fugencho. On Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays from April to November, guides provide free explanatory tours. You can enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets in the Fugencho street area. Tablets are available for rent, allowing you to virtually travel back to the Sengoku period.