Ōno Castle, Hill castle and museum in Ono, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.
Ōno Castle stands prominently on Kameyama Hill approximately 300 meters east to west, featuring stone ramparts made from natural boulders and offering commanding panoramic views over the surrounding plains and historic castle town below.
Originally constructed around 1580 by Kanamori Nagachika under Oda Nobunaga's orders, the castle served as a strategic military stronghold during the Sengoku period and was later occupied by successive daimyo of the Ōno Domain throughout the Edo period.
The castle town below preserves 400-year-old samurai residences, temples, and traditional shops along its historic streets, earning Ono the nickname 'Little Kyoto of Hokuriku' for its authentic representation of Edo period urban planning and architecture.
The castle museum operates from April to September between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., with admission costing ¥200 for adults, and visitors can reach the site via a 20-minute walk from Echizen Ono Station on the Etsumi-Hoku line.
During approximately 12 autumn mornings each year, specific weather conditions create a rare 'castle in the sky' phenomenon where fog envelops the surrounding area, making the castle appear to float above the clouds when viewed from nearby observation points.
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