🗺️ Echizen Ōno Castle

Echizen Ōno Castle is located in Ōno City, Fukui Prefecture, sitting atop Kameyama at an elevation of 249 meters. This castle was originally built around 1580 and was destroyed by a great fire in 1775. What we see today is a reconstruction completed in 1968. In the early morning, the cold air from the surrounding mountains mixes with the warm air of the Ōno Basin, creating a morning mist that resembles white clouds. The castle, partially obscured by the swirling fog, appears to float above the clouds. As a result, Echizen Ōno Castle has earned the beautiful title of "Castle in the Sky." This dreamlike sight is not something that can be seen every day; it requires a combination of various climatic conditions to occur. The sea of clouds phenomenon at Echizen Ōno Castle mostly happens between October and April, with November being the month when the "Castle in the Sky" is most likely to be seen. The appearance of the "Castle in the Sky" typically occurs from just before dawn until around 9 AM. Additionally, the chances of seeing it are higher on days following rain when humidity is elevated or on days with little wind. Because it is difficult to predict whether one will witness the beauty of the "Castle in the Sky," the emotions felt when fortunate enough to experience this breathtaking view are greatly intensified.

The castle built on the summit of Mount Kameyama in Ono City, Fukui Prefecture. The Echizen Ōno Castle that we see today was rebuilt in 1968. It is renowned alongside Takeda Castle (Hyogo Prefecture) and Bitchū Matsuyama Castle (Okayama Prefecture) as a "Castle in the Sky," appearing to float above the sea of clouds. It is possible to see the "Castle in the Sky" only by climbing to Inuyama, about 1 kilometer away from Echizen Ōno Castle (a 20-minute walk), and under suitable weather conditions.