Exploring Ono City, the 'Little Kyoto' of Fukui~!

After three attempts, I finally managed to visit Ono Castle, one of Japan's three famous 'castles in the sky.' During my previous trip to the Hokuriku region, I had planned to visit while staying in Fukui and Kaga Onsen, but had to give up due to oversleeping and bad weather. This time, rain was forecasted again, but fortunately, it only started in the afternoon, allowing me to visit the castle in the morning without any issues. The castle is about an hour away from Fukui Station by local train. I visited a week ago, and now, due to heavy rain, all train services in the area have been suspended, making it temporarily inaccessible. I guess I was lucky to visit when I did. Hoping for a speedy recovery of the area. From Echizen-Ono Station (commonly referred to as Ono Station), it takes about 40 minutes on foot to reach Ono Castle. However, there is a 100-yen community bus that runs from the station to the castle entrance, saving about 15 minutes of walking time. True to its reputation as a 'castle in the sky,' the castle is located atop a mountain, requiring a 2-kilometer hike. There are two routes: a staircase path and a flat trail. The staircase path gets you to the main keep about 7 minutes faster. Similar to Takeda Castle in Hyogo Prefecture and Bitchu Matsuyama Castle in Okayama Prefecture, Ono Castle transforms into the 'Machu Picchu of the East' during specific mornings when viewed from a spot on the opposite mountain. If you're not traveling by rental car, staying overnight in Ono City might be a good option, as there are activities centered around viewing the 'castle in the sky.' I was content with taking photos of the displayed pictures taken by others at the main keep. On the day of my visit, a group of kindergarteners was on a field trip, exploring the castle with curious eyes, snapping photos with iPads, and having a great time. On my way down, I retraced my steps since it was my first time visiting. I had memorized the route of the 100-yen bus, but decided to walk back to the station instead. The city is well-structured with a charming castle town and several ryokans. Google Maps also marks the 'castle in the sky' viewing spots, allowing you to enjoy the scenery. I arrived at Ono Station just in time for my train. On my way back, I noticed a bicycle rental shop offering rentals for 300 yen for two hours, which I had missed earlier. It was a delightful exploration of Ono City. Thank you for reading!