Fukui Castle

Fukui Castle has a great complex of moats and stone walls to rival some of the largest castles in Japan. Unfortunately, no original buildings remain, but the city has put significant effort into rebuilding the bridge and gate complex you see in the photos below, even to the point of using crowdfundi

History

Yuki Hideyasu, the second son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, was awarded the area of Kitanosho for his efforts in the Battle of Sekigahara. Hideyasu built his castle just to the North of Shibata's Kitanosho Castle. In 1624 Matsudaira Tadamasa became lord of Kitanosho and renamed it Fukui. The 4 level 5 story main keep burned down in a great fire in 1669 but the castle itself existed until the Meiji Restoration.

Field Notes

Fukui Castle has a great complex of moats and stone walls to rival some of the largest castles in Japan. Unfortunately, no original buildings remain, but the city has put significant effort into rebuilding the bridge and gate complex you see in the photos below, even to the point of using crowdfunding to gather donations to get the job done. Next, there is also a somewhat controversial plan to rebuild the three level Hitsujisaru Yagura. The controversy comes in that they cannot build it the original height due to modern building codes. The proposal keeps the outward appearance but is scaled down to three interior levels (instead of the original 5) and is intended to be "barrier free". Further there is a lack of shakudani-ishi for the roof tiles so modern fired clay roof tiles typically used at castles have been proposed. Shakudani-ishi roof tiles would be amazing, if they could do it. They turn a lavish blue/green color when wet that was prized by people of the time. I would love to see such a building again!

A short walk away (~15mins) from the castle main compound you can also find the reconstructed Toneri Gate next to the Fukui City History Museum. Excavations that were conducted before building the museum found the gate ruins, waterways earthen embankments, stone walls and the remains of samurai residences.

Also be sure to check out the kokuin album. As one of the tenkabushin castles, you can find many unique kokuin (quarry marks) hidden in the walls.

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Gallery

Rokabashi, covered bridge
Yamazato Entrance Gate
Toneri Gate

More Galleries and Feature Pages

Kokuin

(37 photos)

Castle Profile
English Name	Fukui Castle
Japanese Name	福井城
Founder	Yuki Hideyasu
Year Founded	1601
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Next 100 Castles
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	gates, bridges, samurai homes, water moats, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Fukui Sta. (Hokuriku Line), 5 minute walk
Hours	City Park, open any time
Time Required	75 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture
Coordinates	36.06495, 136.22184
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2006
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2006, 2023
Admin Visits	June 13, 2006; May 1, 2023
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