Saying farewell to Fukui, we took a local train to
Ono. While we are used to students taking the
trains to get to school, this particular train served
mostly as a ‘catch up on your sleep’ journey.
In Ono we wandered around the morning market—
not a lot of vendors but the one’s we spoke to were
quite friendly and animated. Then we strolled to
Echizen Ono Castle-considered to be the oldest
castle in Japan with a history dating to the year 660
when the hilltop near the political centre of Daizaifu
was fortified. The castle itself was built in 1580,
destroyed by fire in 1775 and rebuilt 320 years later,
and then demolished by the Meiji government in the
late 19th Century. It was partially rebuilt in 1968.
Top: L: Vendor selling Akebi Fruit
Bottom: Nambu Sake Brewery sign
C: Echizen Ono Castle R: Making Chile Pepper Chains in the morning market
C: Old Invoices and bottles for Sake
R: Manatsuru Sake Brewery
R: Protecting the area—the view from the tower of Ono Castle.
L: Explanation of the parts of Samurai armour