Echizen

This is the main Shrine in Echizen city. Gods from shrines all over Echizen are worshipped together here. The citizens call it "Osanja-san." Many believers visit this shrine during spring, summer, and fall events.

In 1367 Ryusenji Temple was built by Tsugen-jakurei. It’s part of the Sotoshu sect of Zen Buddhism. The temple was favored by the Honda family who were wealthy landowners here at the time. The temple has protected and maintained the graves of the Honda family since its foundation.

This hall was built in 1929. It was repaired to keep its former appearance, and was reopened as a museum in 1995. Now, various projects take place here, such as compiling historical materials of the area, introducing the town’s history, concerts, and cultural seminars.

This historical street in downtown Takefu is famous for its stony paths and old-looking buildings.

This Temple has stood in the simple architecture of Zen temples for a long time. It opened in 1299 and afterward was changed into a fort. The fort became a local base of politics and military affairs. Oda Nobunaga, who was in control of the army, set up his camp here to prepare for the war against Asakura Yoshikage and the Buddhist revolts. Now you can see the ruins of the moat and fort inside the temple’s ground.

Kongoin is in the Sōtō sect of Zen Buddhism, and looks like an old temple in the mountains. It was built in 1433 and moved to its present location near Takefu Station by Tomimasa Honda in 1610. Mitama Festival is held here on July 15 every year. In the festival, the silent precinct of this temple is lit up with 6,000 candles and a group of priests walk around while reading sutras.

This is the house where Chihiro Iwasaki, a well-known artist, was born in 1918. The people that lived in the house restored it so that you can see and learn about the culture and lifestyle of that era. Chihiro died, but her pictures are still here for everyone to appreciate.

Ajimano has a deep connection with the Manyo-shu (a Nara Era poem collaboration book). It includes 63 tragic love poems written by Nakatomino Yakamori, who was exiled to this area, and Sanono Otogamino Otome, who had to live in Nara apart from Yakamori. These poems are featured in the Manyo-shu. In this park, there is a stone monument on which 15 famous waka poems were carved.

"Manyo-shu" is a royal collection of wakas, traditional Japanese poems, from the Nara era (about 1200 years ago). Some of the "Manyo-shu" wakas are said to have been written in a part of Echizen City, in Ajimano. These poems are displayed here.

This is the Chrysanthemums Exhibition Hall. You can see life-size dolls covered with chrysanthemums, which are exhibited during the Kikuningyō Festival in Takefu Central Park. The flowers are displayed here and continue growing throughout the year. You can view the traditional way of growing mums. Some unique flowers are "nanahon-date" – a flower that branches off into seven directions, "kengai" – a flower whose petals spread out like a carpet of flowers, and "senrin-giku" – a sort of clumped up bunch of flowers. There are many other varieties to see when you visit.

Komaru Castle was built by Oda Nobunaga’s follower, Sassa Narimasa, from 1575 to 1581. Here you can still see the foundations, part of the gate, and some roof tiles on which stories about the Buddhist revolts against Oda’s repression were written.

Shiba Yoshitoshi built this temple during the Muromachi Era (1336-1573). There is a rare, 8 meter tall, black lacquered wooden statue of a standing Buddha.

This shrine worships Emperor Keitai. Kuratani Tsugutoshi, the grandson of General Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, moved into this place in the Muromachi Era (1336-1573). Inside the shrine is a part of the small wall which used to surround Kuratani’s fort.

This is a workshop where handmade cutlery is made by local artisans. You can see how to make cutlery in the traditional fashion of Echizen. You can even join a class that teaches how to make a letter opener, kitchen knife, or how to polish and sharpen knives.

Gōshō-ji Temple is one of the headquarters of Shinshū sect in Buddhism. It is a very sober experience to walk under the valuable, decorated gate which is made of zelkova wood. The temple was built in Kyoto by Shinran in 1223. It was moved to Echizen City in 1615. The spacious temple contains Shinran Hall, Amida Hall, a warehouse of sutras, and a bell tower. Inspired after visiting the temple in 1933 the poets Tekkan Yosano and Akiko Yosano wrote 14 tankas expressing how beautifully Goshoji Temple was wreathed with the fallen leaves, and how much we are blessed by Buddha.

Jōfuku-ji Temple’s garden is designated one of the must-see spots in Japan, owing to its beautiful Japanese style garden with rocks, sand, and moss. The temple was made by Tairano Yorimori whose elder brother was Tairano Kiyomori, a samurai leader of the Kamakura Era. From here you can see the beautiful Mt. Hino. A big holly tree on a mound looks like a mountain. And the moss around it appears as a wave in the sea. The garden has many seasonal flowers: camellias in the spring, azaleas in the early summer, maple leaves in the fall, and the white flowers of holly in the winter.

This is where we can remember Emperor Keitai’s life in Echizen. This park has a thousand cherry blossom trees. The view of them blooming is beautiful. In fall, colored leaves are extremely beautiful. You can enjoy the four seasons here.

There are many old cherry trees on Mt. Sanri. One of them is called "Usuzumi Cherry Tree," and is about six hundred years old. A long time ago, Ohto-no-oh had to part with his girlfriend to be appointed emperor -- Emperor Keitai -- in Kyoto. There after, the tree's blossom's color became lighter, so the story goes, because of her sadness. So the cherry tree is called "Usuzumi," which means almost colorless pink.

This pond was once used as a baby’s bath for Emperor Keitai’s sons, who became Emperor Ankan and Emperor Senge. Its water is very clean, like a fountain. Now, it is shaped like a hexagon.

This plaza is about 230 meters long. Paper shops and coffee houses are lined along it. There is a music bench, a fountain with koi in it, and many kinds of trees. It’s a great place to relax or go for a walk.

This building holds information and a workshop about the art of traditional Echizen paper. Visitors can make their own piece of Echizen paper in 20 minutes.

This museum exhibits information and history about Echizen paper and other traditional Japanese papers. Exhibits include milling techniques and the origin of Echizen paper.

This building is a reconstruction of the original paper mill from the Edo period. While here you can view the traditional paper milling process. Ichibei Iwano, the current owner, is following in the footsteps of his father, a famous paper maker. He is the 9th generation of traditional paper makers in Imadate. He and his father have been given the honor of "Living National Treasure" by the Japanese Minister of Culture.

These shrines stand side by side on the top of Mt. Gongen, and a combined shrine, which was rebuilt through the advanced skills in constructing shrines in the latter half of Edo Era, lies at the foot of the mountain. The goddess of paper, -- the only one in Japan -- "Mistress Kawakami," is enshrined here. Legend says she taught people how to make paper 1,500 years ago. In 1985 these shrines were designated a National Important Cultural Property.

A statue of Kojiro Sasaki watches over this park. Kojiro was a famous fencer from Fukui city. Many stones stand silently here. In the garden next to Kojiro park, various flowering cherry trees are planted. This garden allows us to enjoy the cherry trees as they change during each season.

The village of Yanagi is famous for its falls, small and big. They are as wonderful as Ichijo Fall in Fukui City, where the fencer, Kojiro Sasaki, is said to have devised the invincible way of killing a flying swallow called "Tsubame-gaeshi." In particular, Nuno Fall has a beautiful flow like a thin, white cloth. Many visitors enjoy hiking around the falls.