Echizen (越前市, Echizen-shi) is a city located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan.As of August 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 86,562 and a population density of 375 persons per km². The total area is 230.75 km².The modern city of Echizen was established on October 1, 2005, from the merger of the city of Takefu, and the town of Imadate (from Imadate District); although the Echizen Basin has been an important regional center for over 1,500 years.