For visitors hoping to see the castle floating in the sky, weather conditions from October to April are most advantageous, especially from dawn until around 09:00. November is considered the month with the most optimal weather conditions. It is perfect for producing clouds and fog in the morning, which you can view from a hill/mountain behind the castle. The castle is open to explore afterwards for 300 yen but it closes during the winter from December to mid-March. The weather conditions that create the mist only occurs about 10-20 times a season(October to April) so don't get your expectations up too high when coming unless you are planning a long trip to the area.
Around the castle is small castle town that has thrived since the original castle was built in 1576. Today there are a couple reconstructed or moved samurai homes near the castle. Leading up to the castle is a market street that has prospered for over 400 years and also a street lined with 16 temples. Many of the buildings that were reconstructed or built more recently embrace color. There are lanterns hanging over a famous fresh water spring, a wall of windmills inside one of the samurai homes and a hallway full of beautifully died hand tea towels. This entire city is a hidden gem that sits in the middle of other historical sights and beautiful nature.
Fukui City is a great base to discover the Ono! It is a close bus ride with regular direct buses and also a train that stops in town, although it runs only a few times a day. If you are staying in the city and want to explore more of the region, join us for a tour of Fukui City and the famous Zen Buddhist Head Temple of Eiheiji! It is a full day of learning about the history of the area and feeling the spirituality of the Japanese mountains. See below for more information.
EIHEIJI & FUKUI CITY FROM KANAZAWA / all year round
As one of the head temples of the world famous Japanese Zen Buddhist sect, Eiheiji Temple is a place where you can feel the mystery and beauty of traditional architecture hidden in a natural paradise. On this tour you can choose start from either Kanazawa Station or Fukui Station. After grouping up at Fukui Station, we will take a tour of the city in the morning, seeing the castle walls, the "rainbow" shrine, and views of the city from the Atagozaka Slope. We will eat in the city before heading out on a direct bus to Eiheiji Temple. The ride into the mountains is about 30 minutes and we will arrive near the temple grounds. This area has had groupings of temples for over 500 hundred years and at its peak had thousands of monks living in the area. We will walk through the temple and learn about the history as we climb up deeper into the temple. There are many excellent photo spots to discover, too. The are so many interesting angles that catch the intertwining of nature and architecture all over the complex. Try to find the one that touches you the most!
