A pilgrimage course that will take you to sacred places with spiritual energy.
Fukui City is home to many of Japan's leading sacred places, including the three nationally famous shrines of Asuwa.
Fukui Station
Asuwa Shrine
9:45

The Asuwa Shrine has a history of more than 1500 years and is known to be a sacred place for those who want to be blessed with children.The god enshrined here has many divine powers, but the shrine is especially famous for ensuring pregnancy and easy childbirth but also for safety during construction and warding off evil. In addition, on the grounds of the shrine, there are living monuments such as weeping cherry trees and Japanese maple trees.
See moreFujishima Shrine
10:15

Fujishima Shrine, one of the fifteen shrines of the Kenmu Restoration, enshrines the military commander Nitta Yoshisada. Yoshisada’s samurai helmet, an important cultural property of the country, is on display in the shrine.
See moreKeyakurotatsu Shrine
10:40

The Keyakurotatsu Shrine was built to house the guardian deity of the Kuzuyu River and act as protector of the peace and harmony of the nation and its people. The shrine is home to one of the four great “myojin” gods in Japan, and was a place for the Echizen Matsudaira family to pray. After Fukui had survived the bombings of World War II and then the terrible earthquake of 1948, the people are said to have appealed for the protection of the gods in the shrine, the only shrine to have survived these disasters, for the power and wisdom to ward off evil and restore their lives and hearts to peace and health.
See moreTangando
11:10

"The garden and the thatched hut still retain the atmosphere of the end of the Edo period, away from the hustle and bustle. It is now used as a ryotei (Japanese-style restaurant). The remains of a scepter stone quarry can still be seen on the site, and scepter stones are also used for paving stones and bridges."
See moreFukui-Ken Gokoku Shrine
11:50

Out of the many people enshrined at the Fukui-Ken Gokoku Shrine, is one Sanai Hashimoto, a brilliant doctor who lived during the closing years of the Edo Period. His quotes are written on paper and put inside a “daijyobu” charm that people can carry to protect themselves from illness. The “I’m okay” charm is only available at this temple and is popular with people who say that they desire an unshakeable faith. On the shrine grounds there is a sturdy pillar called the “Kyuryu Chutei Pillar,” which symbolizes this unshakable faith. And nearby is another, called the “Senobi Stone,” which allows you to compare your height with that of Dr. Hashimoto. Many people come to pray for success or victory, especially students, who come in large numbers to pray during examination season, between November and March.
See moreIchijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins
12:40

Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruin is the ruins of a castle town of the Asakura clan, who ruled Echizen for five generations (1471-1574). At that time, the castle town was in no way inferior to Kyoto. The town has been restored, and now the mansions, temples and roads are just like they used to be. The ruins are still being excavated, and artifacts, such as tea sets, stationery and other objects of value to research have been discovered. This is a rich archaeological site that has been designated as a site of special historic significance and scenic beauty as well as an important cultural property. There are only a few such archaeological sites in Japan.
See moreEiheiji Temple
14:00

Eiheiji Temple is a priesthood meditation complex founded by Dōgen Zenji in 1244. Located beside a babbling brook in a secluded alpine valley on the side of Mt. Daibutsuji (lit. Mt. Great Buddha Temple), the complex consists of over 70 buildings of various sizes clustered around the main hall, bell tower, pagoda, and other essential temple structures. Over 200 monks-in-training practice Buddhism here night and day. The grounds of the temple complex are about 100,000 tsubo (330,000 square meters) and surrounded by a thick forest of old-growth cedar trees, said to be over 700 years old. This quiet environment is perfectly suited to a sacred place of meditation for those entering the Buddhist priesthood
See moreOtaki Shrine
15:40

Otaki Shrine is the only shrine in Japan that enshrines the God of Paper. In the late Edo Period, the roofs of the main shrine and front shrine were joined to create a structure with a complex geometry and a sculpted, decorative appearance. The whole building looks like a single sculpture. It blends into the forest background in a fantastical way that charms the worshipers.
See moreTsurugi Shrine
17:00

The ancestors of Oda Nobunaga have a history of serving as priests. The shrine owns many cultural properties such as national treasures (exhibited at the Oda Cultural History Museum), and you can feel the sacredness of the shrine. It is also known as a place with spiritual energy.
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