Echizen Ono Castle Town

As if it’s covered, and floating atop the cloud, the Echizen Ono Castle was dubbed the “Sky Castle”. The castle town, was created 400 years ago, when Nobunaga Oda’s subordinate, the warlord Nagachika Kanamori entered Ono and pioneered a community. Going west from the eastern Teramachi Street (Shrine street), there are 5 different streets. Due to its unique aesthetic and townscape, it is dubbed the “Little Kyoto of the North”.

On Teramachi Street are 20 shrines from different branches of Buddhism. There is also the Buke-Yashiki Former Uchiyama Residence, which is a replica of a house of the same name that contributed to the prosperity of the Ono clan during the end of the Edo period. There are other historic remnants as well. The morning market on Shichiken Street is a must see, as it performs traditions of the old days. It opens on the vernal equinox day up until New Year’s Eve, and visitors can purchase local goodies, meals and other food items. Make sure to talk to the locals about how to cook some traditional food!

There are also cafes, restaurants, and shops that reuse old houses. There are hotels as well.