Fukui

Ono Castle's Historic Hyakken Slope

The steepest, most arduous hiking trail to the castle!

Takako Sakamoto Nov 18, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Endless, steep steps continue to the top of the 250-meter-high Mount Kameyama...</p>

<p>This is the entrance of Hyakken Slope, the steepest hiking trail to get to the castle. Of course I didn't know that!</p>

<p>View of the elementary school located at the foot of the mountain, seen from half way up.</p>

<p>The sign says Hyakken Slope was the only way up to the castle in olden days. The path was deliberately made narrow and steep to protect the castle from enemy attack.</p>

<p>Trees stand on the steep mountain side</p>

<p>The steps changed to a slope, but it was still tough to climb</p>

<p>Finally, I saw this stone marker of Echizen Ono Castle at the mountain peak!</p>

<p>The sun was setting when a small castle loomed against the sky</p>

<p>Echizen Ono Castle at dusk...it looks formidable!</p>

<p>On the way back, I chose another, easier slope to go down. This gate leads you to the 'South Hiking Trail'.</p>

<p>Peeping at a small park located on the way down through trees</p>

<p>These steps look steep, but they were much better than climbing on Hyakken Slope!</p>

<p>Picturesque countryside scenery seen from the hiking trail</p>

<p>The stairs ended here. The rest of the way was walking down a gradual slope.</p>

<p>The trees were changing color. They must be beautiful in mid November!</p>

<p>Yes! the gradual, easy slope is the one for me!</p>

There are four hiking trails to get to Echizen Ono Castle in Ono city, Fukui. Two of them start at Yanagino Yashiro Shrine grounds. Since it was the shortest trail from where I was, I took Hyakken Slope, which was a mistake! I later found out that Hyakken Slope was the steepest, and thus most unpopular trail of the four. The sign said, "This was the only path leading to the castle in olden times, and was made narrow and steep to protect the castle from enemy attack". I can vouch for it! However, this path is historic, so if you'd like to feel the history with your own legs I'd recommend that you take this path. Don't worry, there are at least steps now to help you get to the castle!

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Find out more about Echizen Ono Castle.

Ono Castle

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...