Fukui (city)

Fukui Castle

The Asuwa River, Row of Sakura

Ichijōdani Karamon

Fukui (福井市, Fukui-shi) is a city (Special city) located in the Hokuriku region within the Chūbu region of Japan, which is on Honshū island. It is the largest city and capital of Fukui Prefecture.

The city is located to the north of Lake Biwa, on the coast of the Sea of Japan.

As of October 1 2006, the city has an estimated population of 271,417 and the density of 506.21 persons per km². The total area is 536.17 km², although most of the population lives in a small central area; by area the city is mostly agricultural plains and mountainous areas.

The city was incorporated under its present name on April 1, 1889, although it had been an important city in the region for at least 1000 years before that, serving as the capital of Echizen province during the Edo period (1603-1868).

Fukui-shi was devastated by Allied bombing in 1945, and again by a major earthquake in 1948. The city has regained its energy and vitality. Hence, the city's official symbol—the phoenix. The JR (Japan Railways) Hokuriku shinkansen (bullet train) line from Kyoto through Fukui, Kanazawa, Toyama, and Nagano to Tokyo is far along in construction and will be completed in the next few years.

Mergers

February 1, 2006

Two towns and one village were merged with the city of Fukui.

Fukui-shi, Miyama-chō, Shimizu-chō, Koshino-mura ⇒ Fukui-shi

Transportation

Railroads

• The Hub Station of the City: Fukui Station
• Connection to Adjacent Area
  • JR West (West Japan Railway Company)
    • JR Hokuriku Main Line: (Sabae-shi) - Ōdoro Station - Echizen-Hanandō Station - Fukui Station - Morita Station - (Sakai-shi)
    • JR Etsumi-Hoku Line (Kuzuryū Line): Echizen-Hanandō Station - Rokujō Station - Asuwa Station - Echizen-Tōgō Station - Ichijōdani Station - Echizen-Takada Station - Ichinami Station - Kowashōzu Station - Miyama Station - Echizen-Yakushi Station - Echizen-Ōmiya Station - Hakariishi Station - (Ōno-shi)
  • Echizen Railway
    • Katsuyama Eiheiji Line: Fukui Station - Shin-Fukui Station - Fukuiguchi Station - Echizen-Kaihotsu Station - Echizen-Shimbo Station - Oiwakeguchi Station - Higashi-Fujishima Station - Echizen-Shimabashi Station - (Eiheiji-chō)
    • Mikuni Awara Line: Fukuiguchi Station - Nishibetsuin Station - Tawaramachi Station - Fukudaimae-Nishifukui Station - Nittazuka Station - Nakatsuno Station - Washizukaharibara Station - (Sakai-shi)
  • Fukui Railway
    • Fukubu Line: (Sabae-shi) - Sanjūhassha Station - Asōzu Station - Harmony Hall Station - Ebata Station - Berumae Station - Hanandō Station - Fukui-Shin Station - Kida-Yotsutsuji Station - Kōenguchi Station - Shiyakushomae Station - Saibanshomae Station - Tawaramachi Station, Shiyakushomae Station - Fukuiekimae Station

Roads

• Expressway
  • Hokuriku Expressway: Fukui Interchange, Fukui-Kita Interchange

• National Highways
  • Highway 8, Fukui Bypass
  • Highway 158
  • Highway 305 (overlapped with Highway 365)
  • Highway 364
  • Highway 416
  • Highway 476

Visitor attractions

• Fukui Castle
• Kitanosho Castle
• Asuwa River - Row of Sakura
• Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins

Education

Universities & Community Colleges

• University of Fukui
• Fukui University of Technology
• Jin-ai Women's College
• Fukui College for Medicine

Senior High Schools

• Fujishima Senior High School
• Koshi Senior High School
• Fukui Commercial Senior High School
• Usui Senior High School
• Asuwa Senior High School
• Michimori Senior High School
• Kagaku-Gijutsu Senior High School
• Fukui Norin Senior High School
• Hokuriku Senior High School
• Fukui Senior High School attached to Fukui University of Technology
• Jin-ai Girl's Senior High School
• Keishin Senior High School
• Fukui Minami Senior High School

• See also: List of high schools in Fukui Prefecture

Sister Cities

Fukui is twinned with:

• New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States (since May 1982)
• Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (since November 1989)
• Winsen (Luhe), Lower Saxony, Germany
• Fullerton, California, United States (since November 1989)
• Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (since December 2001)

External links

• Official Fukui city website
• Template:Wikitravelpar