Fukui Castle, Japanese flatland castle in Fukui, Japan
Fukui Castle is a flatland castle whose honmaru now holds the Fukui Prefectural Government offices, assembly hall and police headquarters. The honmaru stone walls and moats survive, while the ninomaru and sannomaru have largely become city streets. The tenshu foundation is about 37 meters high, and the castle site was listed among the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles in 2017.
Shibata Katsuie built Kitanoshō Castle here in 1575, and it was destroyed in 1583 after his defeat by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Tokugawa Ieyasu's second son, Yūki Hideyasu, began a new castle in 1601, completed after six years with contributions from daimyō across Japan. Renamed Fukui in 1624, it stayed the Matsudaira seat until 1871.
The Fuku-no-i well on the grounds gave Fukui city its name and shows how water sources shaped local identity. Visitors can still see this spot and understand its connection to the city's roots.
The ruins stand within five minutes' walk from Fukui Station, making them convenient to reach for train travelers. The grounds are open to the public and can be visited at any time of day without restrictions.
The tenshu was a four-story, five-level tower about 37 meters high including its stone base, with white plaster walls and a railing on the top level. After it burned in 1669, the three-story Tatsumi Yagura took over its role.
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