We Are Tomodachi Spring 2017

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5Echizen Ono Castle is in Fukui Prefecture, which faces the Sea of Japan; it is located in the city of Ono, approximately three hours from Osaka by train. The castle, designed to be both a residence and a fortress for the lord who ruled the area, features a four-story keep and an adjoining small two-story tower, and is reinforced with moats, stone walls, and thick gates. Originally constructed in the late sixteenth century, it stands on a hilltop with an elevation of 249 meters (817 feet). During the period from October through April, when temperature and humidity conditions are right, a sea of clouds covers the surrounding area, completely hiding the modern city below and presenting an ethereal scene of a castle out of time. This fantastic scene of what is called the “castle in the sky” transports viewers several centuries into the past.Echizen Ono Castle: Fukui PrefectureEchizen Ono CastleFukui Pref.Kansai International AirportOsaka City