Maruoka Town

Maruoka Town MARUOKA TOWN MAP AND AREA GUIDE
丸岡町

Part of Sakai City, Maruoka Town retains its olden splendor as home to Maruoka Castle and endless rice fields. More than 80% of the local industry is related to making clothing labels and there are various other shops in the vicinity. Maruoka has become nationally known for its Brief Messages from the Heart (Ippitsu Keijo) contest and its children's Kabuki shows are also popular. Other major attractions in Maruoka include:
1. Echizen Bamboo Doll Center
2. Senko No Ie - an Edo era home of a powerful family, and the oldest dwelling in the ken
3. Maruoka Castle – which has the oldest castle tower in Japan
4. The Green Center - botanical gardens, forestry interpretive center, and recreation park

Town Map
Below is a map of useful and interesting places in Maruoka. Click on a marker for more information!

View Maruoka-cho 丸岡町 Map and Area Guide in a larger map

Getting Here and Away
Maruoka is not easily accessible by train. Maruoka Station is actually in Sakai Town, about an hour’s walk, 25 minute bike ride, or 10ish minute car trip from the center of Maruoka. The station has a 100-yen parking lot with no time limit.
Route 8 and the Hokuriku Expressway run through Maruoka. Although buses are available from Hon-Maruoka Bus Station, a car is highly recommended for convenience.

BY BUS
Fukui to Maruoka
From the main bus stop in front of Ekimae Mr. Donuts, the bus (31 or 36) leaves every 20 minutes, takes about 45 minutes, and costs 640 yen. Buses from 6:50am to 9:12pm on weekdays, and from 7:30am to 9:45 on weekends and holidays.

Maruoka to Fukui
Take the bus (31 / 36) from the Hon-Maruoka Bus Terminal, just east of the Town Hall and Fire Station. Buses leave approximately every 20 minutes: from 6:30am to 8:14pm on weekdays, and from 6:30am to 8:34pm on weekends and holidays.
Please be sure to check the schedules.

Buses also go to Fukui University Hospital, Eiheiji and Takeda. The bus to Eiheiji runs once an hour from 7:04am until 7:16pm and costs 750¥. The bus to the hospital also stops at the Green center and Fukui Prefectural Hospital.
The Takeda bus stops at Takekurabe and Ryugahana Dam (a beautiful place to have a BBQ). There is also a Highway Bus direct from Hon-Maruoka to Komatsu Airport.

Groceries

PIAGO
Maruoka's own mini-mall located on Route 8 heading north. This mall has a nice supermarket with tons of prepared foods, a keitai shop, a bakery, a clothing/home store, and some small food shops. There is a ramen and gyoza restaurant named Ohsho in the parking lot. Open until 9pm.

KAJISO
Located just north of the Maruoka Interchange on Route 17. This supermarket has a great selection of prepared foods and vegetables. Open 9am – 9pm.

HONEY ハニー
This supermarket is open until midnight. Going north on Rt. 8, at the light just after the overpass into central Maruoka, take your first left. It's across from the Eneos station.

YOUTH ユース
Located just south of the castle between routes 17 and 10, it’s part of the main shopping center for Maruoka. It has a good selection and a nice bakery section. There is an ATM in the parking lot for Fukushin Bank that usually accepts Fukui Bank cards.

MITSUWA みつわ AND MITTA みった
There are two home and garden shops in Maruoka. Mitta is across the street from Youth. Mitsuwa, with a very large selection, is on Route 8, just south of the overpass going into town from Fukui. They carry basically any supplies for your home, including bikes.

Clothes & Furniture
NAKAMURA FURNITURE STORE 仲村家具
Just north of the castle and Kasumi Police Box on Route 17, this home/furniture store It's a sells higher-end furniture goods. They also have decorative items in a reasonable price range. They also have a full-size wicker motorcycle that is interesting to see.

ROUTE 10 (street)
This street in central Maruoka has all kinds of shops, Fukui Bank, a few bakeries, a kitchenware store, a fabric store, a second fabric/sewing/knitting/crafting store, a bike repair place, some small clothing shops, etc.

SHIMAMURA しまむら
A large, cheap large clothing store. It's on the same road as Kasumi no Sato Onsen, but closer to Route 8.

Banking
FUKUI BANK (福井銀行--Fukui Ginkou)
The Maruoka branch of Fukui Bank is on Route 10 in Maruoka's town center.

Post Office
Maruoka's main post office is located across the road from the west side of Maruoka Junior High School. The post office handles money-related transactions until 4pm. If you miss a package delivery, you can pick it up at the window. There's an office near Maruoka's main temple that deals with post until 5pm, while the main branch stays open until 7pm, Monday to Friday. The main branch is open on Saturday 9am-5pm.

Health Care
There are many clinics and small hospitals to be found in Maruoka Town. You can find them on the Google map. Most clinics and hospitals do not require appointments. If you need an English speaking doctor, go to the Fukui University Hospital.

KIM CLINIC
Dr. Kim has a clinic just off Route 8, close to Honey Supermarket. He is very kind and speaks some English.

TOMOKAGE HOSPITAL
To see a gynecologist, head just past Dr. Kim's to the maternity hospital on the right. An appointment is not necessary and the staff doesn’t speak English.

FUKUI UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
This hospital is about 15 minutes by car from central Maruoka, but has excellent facilities and doctors who speak some English. No appointment is necessary. Head south toward Fukui City on Route 8 and turn left at the Blue River Hotel. Follow the river until the traffic lights and turn right. Follow the signs until the next set of traffic lights, opposite Matsuoka University and turn left under the bridge. Continue for about 1 kilometer and you’ll see it on your left.

Onsen
KASUMI NO SATO
Very spacious with a rohtenburo (outside bath). The resting rooms are equipped with nice TVs.

TAKEKURABE
Located in Takeda, in the mountains to the northeast of town, it's a great escape from the concrete jungle of Fukui City.

Coin Laundry
There are two coin laundries in Maruoka. One is on the road to the Maruoka Interchange (the road Maruoka Junior High School is on). Go west towards Rt. 8, it’s on the left just past the little cake shop by the overpass. The other coin laundry is next to Youth between a karaoke-snack bar and a tonkatsu restaurant.

Recreation
USV VIDEO RENTAL
It's off of the road between the fire department and the town hall. It has an excellent range of new and old movies, friendly staff and no join-up fee. Tuesday nights are cheap nights. Videos and DVD's can be rented for one day (new releases) or one week.

MARUOKA FITNESS CENTRE & B&G SWIMMING POOL: known as “sentaa”
This gym is located on the western side of Route 8. The staff is very friendly and helpful and the equipment is great. You must be a member to visit. The initial membership fee is 8000 yen for as long as you want to be a member. In addition, there is a monthly member fee of 5000 yen (for gym and pool) or 3000 yen (pool only). The monthly fee includes classes (aerobics, yoga, abs training, etc). If you don’t frequent the gym, an alternative is paying 600 yen to use the gym and pool, or 300 for pool only, for a single visit. Paying for one visit doesn’t include classes. Maruoka Sports Ground is next to B&G and has soccer pitches and a general recreation area. It’s good for jogging.

Community Center
A good place to learn a bit of Japanese culture. Classes range from Japanese fan dancing to cooking to sign language. It's a good way to meet people from the town. It's next to a big elementary school on the road to Takeda from the high school.

MARUOKA PUBLIC LIBRARY
This small, local library is located just east of the community gym across the street to the north of Maruoka Castle.

Attractions
MARUOKA CASTLE
Completed in 1576 as an outpost under the command of Katsutoyo Shibata (nephew and son-in-law of Katsuie Shibata, a famous Echizen Lord). Today, only the main circle and the donjon (tower) remain. Maruoka is the oldest remaining donjon in Japan and is currently designated as an Important National Cultural Property. The castle roof is unique to castle architecture in that each tile is carved from natural stone. Despite being home to so many feudal lords, no battles were ever fought at the castle. According to legend, whenever enemy forces came near, a thick mist enveloped the castle. This is why the castle is also called KASUMI GA JO (Mist Castle). Unlike many castles, visitors can see all of Maruoka-jo. Admission is 300¥ and includes the neighboring museum.

The castle is on the “Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Sites in Japan” list. During hanami, the annual Sakura Matsuri is held on the castle grounds. The brilliant autumnal reds and yellows of the maple leaves (Maruoka's tree) are also quite beautiful. In the fall, the Kojo Matsuri and parade are held. During these festivals and at New Year's, admission to the castle is free. English pamphlets are available most of the time. Bilingual pamphlets of the town with a brief blurb on the castle are available at the Town Office.

TAKEDA
Just over 100 years ago, six villages were ordered to become the town of Maruoka. Takeda, while officially a section of town, is still much like a small mountain village. If you want to see what life in a small village setting is like, then this is the place to visit.

SENKO NO IE
This Edo-era home is the oldest dwelling in Fukui prefecture and an Important National Cultural Property. The building is still taken care of by descendants of the Tsubokawa samurai family that originally lived there. There is also a home-made soba shop in the shadow of the thatched roof of Senko No Ie. The woman who cares for the house by day is very friendly and will share a lot of interesting information. Admission is 500 yen. Open 9am to 5pm except Weds. Tel: (0776) 62-2111
Take the Keifuku Bus for Hon-Maruoka from Fukui Station to Hon-Maruoka, then the Maruoka Bus bound for Takeda to Takeda.
Free parking is available for 10 cars.

TAKEKURABE
A spacious park-like site with a camp ground and barbeque site. A great place for fishing in the Takeda river or hiking up Mount Takekurabe. The onsen of the same name is a nice getaway. Baths are open until 8pm. Tel: (0776) 67 2333

RYUGAHARA DAM
Most beautiful in the fall, when the reds and yellows highlight the waterfalls and rivers, it’s a nice place for a hike or a picnic.

A home-made tofu shop, a bright yellow building, is on the road between the onsen and Senko no Ie; it specializes in deep-fried tofu called Aburaage. Take-out is also available. Closed Weds and the 4th Sunday of the month.

GREEN CENTRE
Closer to Matsuoka, the botanical gardens and park area are relaxing. The playground is great for kids. There is also a forestry interpretive center. The distinctive shape of the main building makes it hard to miss. It’s near the University Hospital on the way to Eiheiji and the bamboo doll factory. Entry is free.

ECHIZEN TAKE NINGYO NO SATO (Bamboo Doll Center)
Home to bamboo crafts. There is a display hall of dolls next to the workshop, where visitors can see craftsmen at work, admire beautiful dolls, and learn a few things from the chattier craftsmen. Visitors can even try their own hand at making dolls. Admission to the factory and display hall is 300¥. The attached shop is great for beautiful omiyage and local foods. (0776)-66-5666

Eiheiji
It is a short bus ride from Maruoka terminal, or a short car ride (12 km) up the mountain. From Fukui, take the Echizen Honsen Line from Fukui station towards Katsuyama. Some trains are direct, but you may have to change at Higashi Furuichi. Established by Dogen Zenji, it is one of the two head temples of the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism. Surrounded by trees and mountain air, it is a serene and beautiful temple. The name means Temple of Eternal Peace. Admission is 500 yen and English pamphlets are provided. Visitors can also arrange in advance to have an overnight Zen experience. Tel: (0776) 63-3102

Festivals and Events
Beginning of April: Sakura Matsuri: Cherry Blossom Festival held at the Castle. The town marathon also is held here in May.

2nd Sunday in August: Green Road Race: A cycling race that draws international competitors.

14 September: Hyouko no Kome: A festival to celebrate the rice harvest. It's held at Fukurou Shrine in the Kitayokoji district of the town (south-west of the town center)

22-24 September: Koshi Mahoroba Monogatari: Annual rite and festival marking the death of an ancient ruler. Held at night at the burial mound on the mountain road.

16 October: Maruoka Kojo Matsuri: The town’s biggest festival of the year with performances, a parade of floats, people in traditional dress, and a dancing procession with participants from local groups and school PTAs. It’s a great spectacle to watch and fun to participate in.

Bars and Restaurants
DOTCOM
This is the best local izakaya (Japanese-style pub). There are branch stores in other cities around Fukui, but this one has an authentic mom and pop feel to it. The drink prices are average and there’s an amazing selection of savory food. It's perfect for group parties of 4-10 and especially fun to drink in one of the rooms beside Japanese groups. It's located west of the town office and the fire station, across from SoftBank, just off of Route 8.

KADOSO
This is another local izakaya. They have a huge selection of food as well, but the atmosphere isn't quite as good as Dotcom. However, they can accommodate much larger groups. The sauce katsudon is great. Located on south-bound Route 8 just south of Dotcom.

IPPO
This izakaya, run by a husband and wife, is located next to USV Video Rental. It's small in size and selection but the husband is pretty funny and knows some English words.

NAGAI RAMEN
This is a tiny ramen shop across the street to the west of the Kunigami shrine (the big one just south of the castle). They have a unique base for their ramen, and are well known for the whole red shrimp they add. It has an authentic, cramped atmosphere.

LINO
Located one block south of Maruoka Castle on a small road, this Italian restaurant offers a variety of dishes.

KAGAYA
This Japanese home cooking shop is just right for a decent, filling, and cheap meal. Everything is written in Japanese, but the staff is very nice. It’s by the Kabos book store near Maruoka IC. There's a Family Mart across the street.

OOMIYAHTEI
Just north of Kagaya. It has delicious, handmade soba, as well as Fukui specialties like sauce katsudon and Takeda aburaage tofu. The atmosphere is nice.

RAMEN UEDA
Just north of Oomiyatei. The ramen here is characterized by its sizable cuts of meat and a choice of broth. It can also cater to vegetarians / vegans. Closed Mondays

SUMIBIKAN
This is an excellent yakiniku place. To get there, head north of Route 17 and make a left at the light after Kajiso. Sumibikan is a large white building on your left.

NAKANOYA
This Japanese Restaurant is next to the Shinsenkan grocery store. It's another Japanese home-style cooking place, with huge portions. The quality is excellent. Closed Mondays

YAMABIKO
Going south from the Kabos / Family Mart intersection,turn left at the next light. Continue under the highway until you see it on your right in the rice paddies. Yamabiko specializes in steak dishes.

MILK HOUSE
A good place to satisfy cravings for home-town ice cream and have some coffee. Traveling west on the road with Kabos and Family Mart, it's on the left about a block before Route 8. Mi-ru-ku is written on it in katakana and the fake cows make it hard to miss.

Located on Route 8
Atom Boy – conveyor belt sushi
8-ban Ramen – chain store ramen / gyoza restaurant
McDonald’s – is an explanation necessary?
Sukiya – chain store with beef-bowls
Yakiniku – next to Kujira-kan video store

HARMONIE
A good Italian place on Route 8. The staff is friendly, the prices reasonable, and they are able to accommodate vegetarians. Going south on Route 8, it's on the left just past the intersection with Route 108 to Sakai.