Ruins of Fukui Castle
Fukui Castle was constructed by Hideyasu Yuki, the first feudal lord of Fukui domain. Four moats were surrounded by solid stone wall. Shakudani stone was used for all the stone walls and it was also used for building materials for irrigation canals, underdrains, foundation stones and roof tiles for buildings, etc. The beautiful appearance of the ruins of this castle adds beauty to the townscape of Fukui City even today.
5 minutes by car or 9 minutes on foot
This is a garden of a villa of the Matsudaira family, the feudal lord of Fukui domain with a grove that features a path around a central pond and spring. Famous stones produced in Echizen are used in various places in the garden such as a stone bridge made of a huge natural stone with 5 meters in length and 90 cm in width, kageishi, a type of stone used in the landscaping of Japanese gardens, vertical stones, a washbasin set called Tsukubai made of Shakudani stone, etc. We can enjoy beautiful landscape created by water and stones while walking around the garden in a relaxed manner.
3 minutes on foot
This is a huge citadel built by Katsuie Shibata, who ruled Echizen province after Asakura clan ruined. Luis Frois, a Portuguese missionary, wrote about the beautiful appearance of Kitanosho Castle with roof tiles made of Shakudani stone. A part of excavated stone wall is preserved in the precincts of Shibata Shrine.
7 minutes by car or 15 minutes on foot
This is a bridge built by Katsuie Shibata half of which was made of stone and the other half made of wood. It was constructed at an important point of transportation where Hokuriku-do Road and the Asuwa River intersect. There are various views on why this bridge was built this way. However, it was widely known in the Edo period as a famous bridge or a bridge with an unusual shape in the Edo period.
7 minutes by car
This is a hermitage Zuian Yamamoto, an in-house doctor of Fukui domain, built at the pit site of Shakudani stone at the foot of Mt. Asuwa. Shakudani stone is used abundantly for paving stones, a bridge, etc. in the passage of a beautiful garden inside the hermitage.It was used as a place for secret meetings for Shungaku Matsudaira, the domain lord, Sanai Hashimoto and other patriotic retainers at the end of the Edo period.
17 minutes by car
This temple was founded by Mitsumichi Matsudaira, The 4th domain lord of Fukui domain. Approximately 1360 pieces of Shakudani stone plates are used for Senjojiki, a mousoleum where successive domain lords are enshrined, located in the mountain close to the temple precincts. Shakudani stone is also used for gravestones, fences, and gates, creating noble and majestic space.
