Mikuni Minato

Info

Address:

4-6-55 Kitahonmachi, Mikuni-chō, Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture

SAKAI CITY TOURISM GUIDE

Phone Number:

0776-82-8552 (Inside Mikuni Minato Machiya Museum)

Spot Category

Historic Buildings, Ruins・Heritage Sites・Castle Remains

Activities・Tours ｜ Strolling ｜ History & Culture ｜ Temples and Shrines ｜ Tojinbo・Oshima・Mikuni Port Area

A retro-modern town that preserves the charm of its prosperous Edo-period past.

Mikuni Minato flourished through Kitamaebune (northern-bound ship) trade from the Edo period to the early Meiji era. Even today, you can sense its history and former prosperity in the old-town atmosphere—lined with traditional townhouses featuring lattice doors and merchant homes that reflect the legacy of wealthy traders.

"Machinokura"
A small museum themed around maritime trade and literature in Mikuni Minato. Inside, you can view historical and cultural exhibits related to Mikuni Minato, as well as a guidance video introducing the town.

“Former Kishina Residence”
This townhouse, once home to generations of the Kishina family—timber merchants—is now open to the public. It features a unique architectural style specific to Mikuni called Kagura-date, characterized by a gabled roof with an attached lean-to on the front facade.
You can see features such as the stone-paved passage once used by merchant clerks and large handcarts (daihachiguruma).

“Former Morita Bank Head Office”
The Morita family, wealthy merchants who made their fortune through maritime trade and the Kitamaebune shipping route, later transitioned into banking after sensing the shift in logistics around the mid-Meiji period. This building, constructed in 1920 (Taisho 9) as the head office of the Morita Bank founded by the family, features a Western-style classical exterior and a lavish interior decorated with ornate plasterwork and marquetry. It reflects the prosperity of the era. It is the oldest reinforced concrete building in Fukui Prefecture and is designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.

“Volunteer Tour Guide Group ‘Kitamae Mikuni’”
They offer easy-to-follow guided tours around Mikuni Minato and the Tojinbo area, incorporating stories of history, nature, and culture. Various walking courses are available, and the routes can be customized upon request.

There are also French restaurants and cafés in the area—why not enjoy them along with the town’s charming, historic atmosphere?

This information is current as of March 2024. It is based on details provided by shops and facilities, and may be subject to change. For the latest information, please contact the shops or facilities directly.

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