A Castle Town Buried for 400 Years

The Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins preserve the remains of a former castle town once ruled by the Asakura clan during Japan’s Warring States period. At its height, the town is believed to have been home to around 10,000 inhabitants and served as a major political and cultural center—so significant that its rediscovery has often been compared to uncovering a “northern Kyoto.” Following the fall of the Asakura clan, Ichijodani was abandoned and gradually forgotten. It remained buried for centuries until archaeological excavations began roughly 50 years ago, revealing a remarkably well-preserved medieval townscape.