DISCOVER FUKUI

Mr. Kiyoshi Kishida, Asakura Ruins Preservation Association

What are your main activities?

　We strive to maintain and preserve the restored Sengoku-period townscape, castle ruins, and garden sites. We also provide scheduled guided tours to convey the value and appeal of the ruins to visiting tourists.
　We also plan and operate events held at the Asakura Clan Ruins, such as the Itozakura Festival (April), the Echizen Asakura Kyokusui no Utage (May), and the Echizen Asakura Sengoku Festival / Echizen Asakura Mantouya (August).

Number of Members: Approximately 25
Location: Ichijōdani Asakura Clan Ruins (Fukui City)
Activity Period: Year-round

・Currently collaborating with Echizen-Ōno Castle (Ōno City), Maruoka Castle (Sakai City), Kanegasaki Castle (Tsuruga City), and Kuniyoshi Castle (Mihama Town) to offer a castle tour program where participants can collect the official seals ("gosho-in") of these five castles.
・To help local children learn about the wonders of the Asakura Clan Ruins and become confident speakers in public, we have established a program within local elementary schools' integrated studies curriculum. Students learn about the ruins and then serve as tour guides, sharing information with visitors. This activity fosters personal growth through the Asakura Clan Ruins.

What do you keep in mind during these activities?

　We always greet visitors with a smile and tailor our explanations based on the guests. For example, on rainy days, instead of saying "Unfortunately, it's raining...", we tell them, "It's raining, but in recent years, more and more visitors have said they prefer Asakura in the rain." Additionally, when foreign tourists visit, while explaining the ruins is essential, we also consider how to make them happier—such as greeting them in armor or battle robes and allowing extra time for photos.
　Furthermore, when receiving event requests from travel agencies, we don't just accept them passively. We proactively propose ideas to the agencies that will make the event enjoyable for everyone involved: the customers, the local community, and the travel agency itself. These ideas include providing customers with gift certificates, serving local rice balls, or offering wild boar hot pot.

What prompted you to start these activities?

　When I was in my twenties, excavation and restoration work on the Asakura Clan Ruins began in earnest in my hometown of Kido-uchi Village. This sparked my interest in the remarkable history right here in my community, leading me to join the preservation association.
The Asakura Clan Ruins Preservation Association celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.
2021 marked a significant milestone: the 50th anniversary of its designation as a Special Historic Site and the 30th anniversary of its designation as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.

What makes it rewarding?

　It's seeing visitors appreciate the magnificence of the Asakura Clan Ruins, the largest and only surviving medieval site of its kind.
While events are extremely demanding work, succeeding with the cooperation of local residents brings joy to visitors. By providing maximum support to travel agencies, we secure event requests for the following year. Contributing even a little to revitalizing the region is deeply rewarding.

Please share your enthusiasm for the upcoming Shinkansen opening.

　I want not only visitors from outside the prefecture but also local residents to appreciate the magnificence of the Asakura Clan Ruins.
We're preparing for the opening of the "Ichijōdani Asakura Clan Ruins Museum (tentative name)" with various initiatives, including reviving the Sengoku period costume dressing experience. I want to make it Japan's premier ruins site – one that draws people seeking the romance of the Sengoku period, making them want to visit again and again.

A word to all tourists visiting Fukui Prefecture!

　Please come and fully savor the timeless romance that can only be seen and experienced at the Asakura Clan Ruins.
A short visit won't allow you to truly appreciate the ruins' magnificence, so we hope you'll come on a leisurely trip.