The Hakusan Heisenji Historical Museum "Mahoroba" serves as the gateway to understanding one of Japan's most significant religious archaeological sites in Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture. The museum sits within the former precincts of Hakusan Heisenji, a National Historic Site with approximately 1,300 years of history. The name "Mahoroba" derives from an ancient Japanese word meaning "great location" or "livable place," reflecting the site's historical importance as a sacred center.
Hakusan Heisenji was founded in 717 by the monk Taicho as the main worship grounds for Mount Hakusan. During its peak in the Sengoku period, the complex contained 48 palaces, 36 pavilions, and 8,000 Buddhist temples with thousands of warrior monks. In 1574, a rebellion in Echizen burned the entire mountain down, and though rebuilt in 1583, it was restored to only a fraction of its original size. Large-scale excavations beginning in 1989 uncovered extensive ruins and artifacts, representing Japan's largest excavation of its kind. The site covers 200 hectares and has been a designated Historical Site since 1935.
The museum features touch panel displays, high-definition video presentations, and exhibits of excavated relics that illustrate the scale of the medieval religious city. Visitors can view a full-scale panel showing the complete drawing of the precincts of Chugu Hakusan Heisenji Shrine. The facility provides essential context about the excavation process, historical highlights, and recommended routes for exploring the surrounding shrine grounds with their famous moss-covered paths and 1.2-kilometer stone roads lined with ancient cedar trees.
Admission to the museum is free. The facility is located at 66-2-12 Heisenji, Heisenji-cho, Katsuyama, near the Heisenji Municipal Car Park. From Fukui Station, take the Echizen Railway to Katsuyama Station (50 minutes, 770 yen), then transfer to a bus to Hakusan Heisenji (30 minutes, 200 yen). The museum is 10-15 minutes by bus or taxi from Echizen Railway Katsuyama Station. By car, the journey takes approximately 45 minutes from central Fukui City or 15 minutes from the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum.
