Sadly destroyed by air raids during World War II, Yokodan Garden and the Fukui Matsudaira Villa were thoughtfully restored in 1982 and are now regularly cited as one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens. These gardens were considered the second home of the daimyo throughout the Edo period and was the place where the fourth daimyo’s mistress gave birth in 1656. Located near the City Museum, it is a short walk from the station with the castle on way the way. This garden is a must see if you are lover of Japanese gardens. Enjoy the reconstructed second home as the daimyo himself may have enjoyed it!

As a former residence of the ruling-Matsudaira clan, the villa and gardens hosted guests of high status and tea ceremonies. It was located at the edge of the outer moat of the castle and frequented by the daimyos, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries. The gardens as they are represented today was the work of the 7th lord of Fukui. The gardens feature a large pond that surrounds the villa, giving the impression that is it floating in water. There are also stones used on some of the paths that were from the residence of the Asakura family in the 1400s.

The garden is particularly beautiful in autumn, as leave change color and turn the surrounding landscape red, gold, orange and brown. The colors of the trees against the lake and “mountain” across from the house create a picturesque view. Inside the house itself are reproductions of different pieces that the daimyo. One of the most interesting is the bath of the daimyo. This is an area that is rarely seen in other palaces and homes for daimyos around Japan. The shape of the the room is interesting as it is on a slope. Just outside of the building there is a stone bridge which is the largest in Japan.

As you look around the garden and the building there are so many points of interest that will bring you in deeper and deeper into the history of the Matsudaira family.

And if you are interested in visiting some of the other sights in Fukui city, such as the castle and the Atagozaka Slope, join us for one of of tours! It doesn’t just stay in Fukui as well. You will have the opportunity to see Eiheiji, one of the Head Temples for Zen Buddhism. It is a full day of learning about the history of the area and feeling the spirituality of the Japanese mountains. See below for more information.

EIHEIJI & FUKUI CITY FROM KANAZAWA / all year round

1 Day Tour

1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Eiheiji Temple and Fukui City Castle Town
Period	All Year Round
Time	08:30 – 18:00
Meeting Place	Kanazawa Station Fukui Station
Adult Rate	¥25,300 / 17,800
Child Rate	¥14,500 / 11,000

As one of the head temples of the world famous Japanese Zen Buddhist sect, Eiheiji Temple is a place where you can feel the mystery and beauty of traditional architecture hidden in a natural paradise. On this tour you can choose start from either Kanazawa Station or Fukui Station. After grouping up at Fukui Station, we will take a tour of the city in the morning, seeing the castle walls, the “rainbow” shrine, and views of the city from the Atagozaka Slope. We will eat in the city before heading out on a direct bus to Eiheiji Temple. The ride into the mountains is about 30 minutes and we will arrive near the temple grounds. This area has had groupings of temples for over 500 hundred years and at its peak had thousands of monks living in the area. We will walk through the temple and learn about the history as we climb up deeper into the temple. There are many excellent photo spots to discover, too. The are so many interesting angles that catch the intertwining of nature and architecture all over the complex. Try to find the one that touches you the most!