# Echizen Ōno Castle

- **Country:** Japan
- **Location Text:** Ōno, Fukui

Echizen Ōno Castle is a historic Japanese fortress located in the city of Ōno within Fukui Prefecture, situated on the ridgeline of Kameyama Hill. Originally constructed in 1580 by the general Kanamori Nagachika, the castle was built using contemporary Sengoku period designs featuring an inner bailey reinforced with stone ramparts made of natural boulders and secondary enclosures protected by water moats. Strategically positioned on the main highway connecting Echizen and Mino provinces, the site served as a critical military stronghold before evolving into the administrative center for the successive daimyō of Ōno Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.

The castle possesses a rich history of changing ownership, transitioning from the Asakura clan to various rulers appointed by Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi before becoming a Matsudaira fief in 1624. Later, a cadet branch of the Doi clan governed the domain for eight generations until the Meiji Restoration. Notably, despite suffering severe financial difficulties throughout the Edo period, the domain became renowned during the Bakumatsu era for adopting western technology and maintaining a modernized army under leader Doi Toshitada. The main structure burned down in 1775 but was largely reconstructed by 1795, only to be demolished in 1871 following the imperial restoration.

Today, the castle grounds are open to the public and feature a reconstructed donjon that stands as a testament to its architectural heritage. While the original buildings were mostly lost after the Meiji Restoration, the site remains a significant cultural landmark in the Hokuriku region. Visitors can explore the layout of the former fortifications, including the historic stone walls and hilltop positioning that once defined its defensive capabilities. The location serves as both a memorial to the complex feudal history of the area and a scenic spot offering views of the surrounding landscape.

![Photo of Echizen Ōno Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/EchizenOnoCastle-01.JPG)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echizen_Ōno_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)