Ichijodani Saku | Private Kura Inn in Echizen, Fukui

Concept

Touch the real work of artisans.

Echizen washi paper, lacquerware, pottery and matcha bowls, hand-forged knives, and the blue-tinged Shakudani stone. Here, the crafts of Echizen are not displayed — they are lived with. See them, touch them, use them.

Meiji-era timber, modern comfort.

Within a kura built in 1899: modern acoustics, a projector, and a fully equipped kitchen. The calm of massive old beams, the ease of contemporary living — the best of both.

Irori hearth and theater room under old beams

Only the sounds of the valley.

No city noise, nothing artificial. Crickets, frogs, birdsong. The luxury of silence reawakens senses you had forgotten.

Facilities

Bedroom

寝室

Aged timber pillars and partitions of Echizen washi. Soft light falls through the round window as the silence of the valley carries you into deep sleep.

Open-air Bath

露天風呂

A completely private open-air bath enclosed by a bamboo fence. Sink into the round ceramic tub — the ridgeline of the valley before you, a sky full of stars above.

Indoor Bath

室内浴室

A glass-walled bathroom on the ground floor. The white tub, the shower and the bamboo-fenced garden form one open, continuous space.

* A roll-down screen can be lowered for privacy.

Kitchen & Dining

キッチン・ダイニング

A black-plastered kitchen with Echizen pottery and hand-forged knives. The single-slab dining table rests on pillars of Shakudani stone. One continuous space for cooking, gathering and savoring.

Japanese Garden

日本庭園

A Kyoto-style garden of some 860 square meters, unchanged since the house was built, with a large central pond. Oak, pine, maple, azalea, fragrant olive and plum change its colors with every season.

Irori & Theater

囲炉裏・シアタールーム

Gather around the sunken hearth on tatami, with a projector and speakers for films and music. The great beams of the kura become a soundboard — a space like no other.

Tea Room

静謐の茶の間

Tea utensils and coffee tools rest in recessed shelves in the white wall. A small, simple tea room adapted to modern life — a bowl of matcha or a cup of coffee, it all starts here.

Tatami Lounge

庭を望む間 — 2F

A tatami lounge on the second floor overlooking the garden. Through the framed window, the green of Echizen. A place to simply sit and feel time pass.

The main house and pond garden under evening light

Evening Light-up

EVENING LIGHT-UP

As the sun sets, lights come up across the garden and the kura. Trees and white walls reflect on the pond, and a stillness unlike daytime settles in.

Echizen Washi

Used in the lighting and wall finishes. When illuminated, the varying density of the fibres appears in gentle relief.

Lacquer-finished furnishings inside the inn

Echizen Lacquer

Used for the display stand in the garden lounge, in the tatami room and among the furnishings.

Echizen Pottery

Used for tableware and tea bowls. Enjoy using it as part of everyday life during your stay.

Echizen Knives

The kitchen knives are Echizen forged blades. Experience their edge while cooking.

Shakudani Stone

Used in stone details throughout the house. Notice its calm, blue-grey texture.

Access

AddressIchijodani Saku — 6-1 Nishishinmachi, Fukui City, Fukui, Japan
Open in Google Maps

TrainJR Etsumi-Hoku Line to Ichijodani Station (approx. 20 min from Fukui Station)

BusKeifuku Bus No. 62 (Ichijodani–Togo Line) from Fukui Station East Exit (AOSSA), approx. 25 min. Alight at Ichijo Elementary School, then a 6-minute walk.

Pick-upWe will collect you from Ichijodani Station. Please let us know your arrival time in advance. If you would like to be collected from Fukui Station, please ask us.

CarApprox. 10 min from Fukui IC (Hokuriku Expressway). Approx. 20 min from Fukui Station.

ParkingFree · 3 cars

Nearby Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins10 min walk Ichijo Falls5 min drive Eiheiji Temple15 min drive Fukui Dinosaur Museum40 min drive Tojinbo Cliffs50 min drive

Tap a place name to open the route from Saku in Google Maps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many guests can stay?

There are four semi-double beds, so we recommend the house for four guests. For a fifth guest we prepare one thick innerspring mattress laid on the floor without a bed base; the maximum is five. If a good night’s sleep is your priority, we suggest a party of four.

Can we stay with children?

The house holds many delicate fittings and craft pieces — washi paper, lacquerware, pottery and shoji screens. For stays with small children, we kindly ask that you contact us in advance.

Are pets allowed?

We are sorry, but pets are not permitted.

How does check-in work?

Our staff will welcome you in person and show you around the house. Please let us know your arrival time in advance.

Is the bath a hot spring?

No — the water is heated, not from a spring. From the ceramic open-air tub, though, you can enjoy the valley ridgeline and a sky full of stars.

Are meals provided?

Stays are room-only by default. If you would like breakfast, please book a plan that includes it.

Can we cook in the kitchen?

Yes. Cookware and basic seasonings are provided, along with Echizen forged knives and other fine tools.

Is smoking allowed?

The house is entirely non-smoking. A smoking area is available outdoors.

Where can we buy groceries or dine out?

Supermarkets and restaurants are about 15 minutes away by car. We are happy to recommend local restaurants and seasonal ingredients — please feel free to ask.

What is there to do nearby?

The Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins are within walking distance — a Sengoku-era castle town site holding a rare triple designation: Special Historic Site, Special Place of Scenic Beauty, and Important Cultural Property. The valley also offers a waterfall and walking trails.

What payment methods do you accept?

Cash, major credit cards (Visa / Mastercard / JCB / American Express / Diners Club / Discover), QUICPay, iD and UnionPay.

How do I get from the station to the inn?

If you come to Ichijodani Station on the JR Etsumi-Hoku Line, we will collect you from there. Please let us know your arrival time in advance. From Fukui Station, please take the local bus or a taxi. If you would like to be collected from Fukui Station, please ask us.

What is the cancellation policy?

A cancellation fee of 100% applies from 7 days before your stay.

It begins with a single kura.

Concept

Touch the real work of artisans.

Meiji-era timber, modern comfort.

Only the sounds of the valley.

Facilities

Bedroom

Open-air Bath

Indoor Bath

Kitchen & Dining

Japanese Garden

Irori & Theater

Tea Room

Tatami Lounge

Evening Light-up

Echizen Craftsmanship

Gallery

Stay Information

ROOM & TIME

FACILITY & AMENITY

OTHERS

Access

Frequently Asked Questions

One group a day. A quiet night in the kura.