14 Castles in Fukui worth your time

Explore a well-preserved 16th-century castle town and gardens, once a cultural hub.

What it is

• Sengoku period ruin in Fukui Prefecture.
• Base of the Asakura clan from the Nanboku-cho period.
• Town flourished as a cultural center, Kita no Kyo.
• Burned down by Oda Nobunaga's forces in 1573.

What to see

• Ichijodani Castle and a castle town.
• Four Japanese gardens, National Special Places of Scenic Beauty.
• Samurai residences, temples, and merchant houses.
• Well-preserved structures revealed by excavation.

Official site

www3.fctv.ne.jp

Read more about Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins

Explore a Sengoku period mountain castle ruin, a strategic defense against the Asakura clan.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle built in 1556.
• Built by Awata Katsuhisa during the Sengoku period.
• Defended against attacks from the Asakura clan.
• Selected as one of the Continued 100 Fine Castles of Japan.

What to see

• Remains of a residence and mountain castle.
• Castle structures: kuruwa, stone walls, and dorui.
• Located on Mount Otake's northwest ridge.
• Wakasa Kuniyoshijo Historical Museum opened in 2009.

Read more about Kuniyoshi Castle

Explore the ruins of a 16th-century mountain castle, a designated historic site.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle built in 1574.
• Constructed by the Ikko-ikki forces of the Nanayama family.
• Designated a Katsuyama City Historic Site in 2019.
• Existed until 1580, also known as Murokoyama.

What to see

• Castle ruins on Mt. Otate, 301 meters high.
• Main enclosure over 30 by 40 meters.
• Layout of a renkaku-shiki mountain castle.
• Remains of watchtowers, moats, and earthworks.

Read more about Murokoyama Castle

Explore Komaru Castle ruins, a historic flatland castle built in 1575, for a glimpse into Japan's samurai past.

What it is

• A Japanese castle, now a prefectural historic site.
• Construction began in 1575 by Sassa Narimasa.
• It was abandoned after only six years.
• Sassa Narimasa was its only confirmed lord.

What to see

• Remains of the Honmaru, earthworks, and moats.
• Gate ruins and corner turret ruins.
• Part of the Nonomiya廃寺跡 was incorporated.
• A tile fragment was excavated in 1932.

Read more about Komaru Castle

Explore Somayama Castle, a mountain fortress with significant historical ruins and natural defenses.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle, designated a National Historic Site.
• Built on Mt. Somayama's summit in the early Heian period.
• Served as a Southern Court base during the Nanboku-cho period.
• Rebuilt by the Uryu clan.

What to see

• Remains of stone walls (ishigaki).
• Remains of trenches (horikiri).
• Remains of earthworks (dorui).
• Steep cliffs used as natural defenses.

Read more about Somayama Castle

Explore extensive ruins of a 16th-century mountain castle, once the largest in Wakasa.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle in Obama City, Fukui Prefecture.
• Built in 1522 by Takeda Motomitsu.
• Served as the base for the Wakasa Takeda clan.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.

What to see

• Stone walls and dry moats remain.
• Ruins of a large guardian's residence at the northern foot.

Getting there

• About 40 minutes from Atago Shrine.

Read more about Nochiseyama Castle

Explore Fukui Castle's historic stone walls and moat, a significant site for samurai history.

What it is

• A flatland castle, originally built in 1575.
• Renamed 'Fukui' in 1624.
• Residence of the Echizen Matsudaira family.
• Selected as a 'Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles' in 2017.

What to see

• Stone walls and moat of the main keep remain.
• The 'Fuku no I' well is a remaining feature.
• Main keep site houses the Prefectural Office and Assembly.

Read more about Fukui Castle

Maruoka Castle is a rare original castle tower, rebuilt with original materials, offering a glimpse into Edo Japan.

What it is

• One of Japan's 12 original castle towers.
• Administrative center of the Maruoka Domain.
• Built during the Kan'ei era (1624-1644).
• Only existing castle tower in the Hokuriku region.

What to see

• The castle tower, rebuilt with original materials.
• Nationally Important Cultural Property.
• Stone walls of the castle still exist.

Official site

maruoka-castle.jp

Read more about Maruoka Castle

Mikuniminato Castle was a medieval Japanese castle, now ruins with a monument and sign.

What it is

• A Japanese castle, also called Minato-no-jo and Senjuji Castle.
• Used by Hata Tokiyoshi as his castle.
• Senjuji Temple was used as a castle during the Nanboku-cho period.

What to see

• Castle ruins are believed to be at Myokaiji northwest cemetery.
• A stone monument marks the site.
• An explanatory sign provides information.

Read more about Mikuniminato Castle

Explore Kitanosho Castle ruins, a historic plain castle with a rich past, once home to powerful samurai.

What it is

• A hirajiro, a castle built on a plain.
• Construction began in 1575 by Shibata Katsuie.
• Also known as Fukui Castle.
• Selected as one of the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles in 2017.

What to see

• Stone walls and a moat remain from the castle.
• The Fukui Prefectural Government Office stands on the former main enclosure.

Read more about Kitanosho Castle

Explore the historic site of Echizen-Fuchū Castle, once a strategic stronghold with a double moat.

What it is

• A castle built in 1575 by Maeda Toshiie.
• Also known as Etsufu Castle or Fujigaki Castle.
• Used the Hino River as an outer moat.
• The main gate is a city tangible cultural property.

What to see

• The site of a castle with a double moat.
• Remains of two-story keeps.
• The castle's main gate.
• Adjacent Kokufu ruins.

Read more about Echizen-Fuchū Castle

Obama Castle: a historic castle site in Fukui Prefecture, now home to Obama Shrine.

What it is

• A Japanese castle in Wakasa Province.
• Also known as Unpinjo Castle.
• Designated a Fukui Prefecture historic site.
• Built by the Kyogoku family starting in 1601.

What to see

• The site of a main keep, once 29 meters high.
• Obama Shrine, built on the main keep site in 1875.

Read more about Obama Castle

Explore the ruins of Katsuyama Castle, a historic site with a rich past.

What it is

• A castle built in 1580 during the Sengoku period.
• Built by Shibata Katsuaki.
• Served as the Katsuyama Domain's domain office.
• Abandoned in 1644, rebuilt in 1826 after a fire.

What to see

• The castle ruins are at the current Katsuyama City Hall area.

Read more about Katsuyama Castle

Explore Kanegasaki Castle ruins, a national historic site with a rich samurai history.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle, also called Tsuruga Castle.
• Designated as a national historic site.
• Built by Taira no Michimori.
• Fell to Ashikaga forces in 1337.

What to see

• Ruins of the moon-viewing palace.
• Remains of the castle gate.

Read more about Kanegasaki Castle