Echizen City, located in the center of Fukui Prefecture, has a population of 86,000 and was formed as a result of the merger of Takefu City and Imadate Town on October 1, 2005. The city has prospered as the gateway for cultural exchange and transportation with China and Korea since ancient times. The techniques and tradition of Washi Japanese paper, forged knives, lacquerware and woodworks/furniture have been the pillars for Echizen which continues to this day. Modern-day Echizen has added other industries including electronics, automobile manufacturing and chemicals and has been growing as one of the major cities in the Hokuriku region.

The capital of Echizen Province was located in Takefu (present-day Echizen City), near the port of Tsuruga which functioned as the gateway to China and Korea. The city was also part of the route to the ancient national capital of Kyoto, and was visited by many important people. Fujiwara-no-Tametoki, a government administrator, was one such person. One theory says that Tametoki was fluent in Chinese and played an important role in negotiating with Chinese traders who came to Tsuruga. Murasaki Shikibu, author of the famous Tale of Genji, was Tametoki's daughter. She spent one year with her father in Takefu and created a poem about her days there thus: "Koko ni Kaku Hino no Sugimura Umu Yuki Oshio no Matsu ni Kyo Yama Gaeru" (As I watch the snow-covered cedar of Mount Hino (in Fukui), I may mistake it for the snow over pine trees on Mount Oshio (in Kyoto).) Murasaki Shikibu Park is now located in Echizen City in memory of the great author. A garden with Tsuridono buildings, artificial ponds and hills are surrounded by the mountains around Takefu Basin. A golden statue of Murasaki Shikibu stands watching Mount Hino and beyond to the ancient capital of Kyoto.