Echizen is a city located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2018, the city had an estimated population of 83,078 in 20.341 households and the population density of 360 persons per km². The total area of the city was 230.70 square kilometres (89.07 sq mi). The modern city of Echizen was established on October 1, 2005, from the merger of the city of Takefu and the town of Imadate ; although the Echizen Basin has been an important regional center for over 1,500 years. The city is home to the largest number of cultural assets in Fukui Prefecture and has many former castle sites and prehistoric archeological sites.