Ruins of ASAKURA Clan in Ichijyo-Dani

During the Muromachi Age (1336 - 1573) , ASAKURA Clan governed the "Echizen"Province, currently Fukui Prefecture. ASAKURA Takakage, the seventh generation of ASAKURA Clan, moved his base to "Ichijyo-Dani" Valley in 1471.

"Ichijyo-Dani" Valley is located to the south-east of Fukui City in a mountain area. ASAKURA Clan built the gates at the north end and the south end of the valley. The distance between these two gates is 1.7 kilometers. ASAKURA Clan had their huge residences at the middle of "Ichijyo-Dani" Valley. Their retainers and merchants also lived in the "Ichijyo-Dani" Area and formed the medieval city in the valley. More than 10,000 people lived in this area.

To the south of the "Uekiodo" gate, the ruins of Anyoji Temple are located, Anyoji Temple was built by ASAKURA Takakage (1428 - 1481) , the seventh generation of the ASAKURA Clan, who moved to "Ichijyo-Dani".

Ruins of Anyoji Temple

Site of the "Uekido" Gate

The "Uekido" Gate is the southern boader of "Ichijyo-Dani". The bank of the gate still remains. Near the gate, there were many merchants' houses in those days when the ASAKURA era.

To the east side of the valley, the site of "Suwa-Yakata" garden is located. "Suwa-Yakata" was the residence of the wife of ASAKURA Yoshikage (1533 - 1573) . ASAKURA Yoshikage was the eleventh and the last generation of the ASAKURA Clan.

"Suwa-Yakata" Garden

The garden in "Suwa-Yakata" residence was very similar to nobility gardens. ASAKURA Yoshikage was the leader of samurais in the area of "Echizen" Province. However, it seemed that he preferred to be a noble person and the life style of noble people.

To the north of "Suwa-Yakata" Residence, the site of ASAKURA Yoshikage residence is located. The excavational investigation of the residence was conducted. The sites of buildings were marked on the ground as the results of the investigation.

The site of ASAKURA Yoshikage Residence

These marks of the building indicate that those buildings seemed to be palace buildings. ASAKURA Yoshikage enjoyed his prosperity until ODA Nobunaga (1534 - 1582) attacked Ichijyo-Dani in 1573.

"Karamon" Gate

The "Karamon" gate is located at the front of ASAKURA Yoshikage residence. The graceful architecture of the gate is the symbol of "Ichijyo-Dani". However, the gate was built to mourn for ASAKURA Yoshikage. It is also said TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi (1537 - 1598) offered the gate to mourn for him.

The site of ASAKURA Yoshikage residence was surrounded by a moat and banks.

In the days of ASAKURA Yoshikage in the Muromachi Age, the power of ASHIKAGA Shogun became extremely weak. The fifteenth ASHIKAGA Shogun, ASHIKAGA Yoshiaski (1537 - 1597) visited Ichijyo-Dani to ask a favor of ASAKURA Yoshikage to restore the Muromachi Bakufu in 1567.

ASAKURA Yoshikage did not embrace the favor of Shogun, ASHIKAGA Yoshiaki. It seems ASAKURA Yoshikage missed an opportunity to be a Shogun nor to govern Japan. While he spent an idle time in Ichijyo-Dani, ODA Nobunaga from the Nagoya area rapidly increased his power and destroyed ASAKURA Yoshikage. That was in 1573.

To the south-west of Ichijyo-Dani, residences of the retainers of the ASAKURA Clan were rebuilt. Near the residence of ASAKURA Yoshikage just across the Ichijyo-Dani River, there were large residences. High class retainers lived in this area.

The atmosphere of this area was very similar to the Nagamachi Buke Yashiki District in Kanazawa.

Not only rebuilt houses, the life environment displayed in houses makes you understood how people lived in those days, approximately 500 years ago. Two retainers are playing Japanese chess as shown in the above right picture.

To the north of "Shimo-Kido", the ruins of Nishiyama-Koshoji Temple are located. Nishiyama-Koshoji Temple was also built by ASAKURA Takakage, the seventh generation of the ASAKURA Clan, to mourn his uncle, ASAKURA Yukikage (or TOBA Masakage) (unknown - 1459) .

Ruins of Nishiyama-Koshoji Temple

The ruins of the temple were very quiet and no one was there. Remaining stone Buddha statues stand in silence.

How to get there
From Tokyo, You can take a Tokaido Shinkansen to Maibara and change to a Limited Express "Shirasagi" to Fukui.
Take a bus to Ichijyo-Dani from the fifth bus stop at the west side of Fukui Station, or take a train on the JR Etsumihoku Line to Ichijyo-Dani. The ruins of ASAKURA Clan in Ichijyo-Dani is approximately one kilometer from Ichijyo-Dani Station.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Maruoka Castle
Heisenji-Hakusan Shrine
Eiheiji Temple
Echizen Coast