Chubu Wide-area Tourism Portal Site -- Travel to Ten Thrilling Scenic Sites This showcases sightseeing destinations in Japan's Chubu region (the prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, and Shiga).

Fukui Prefecture Fukui Sakai Area

This castle has the longest history in Japan. It has 400 cherry trees, and the site was chosen as one of the 100 most beautiful scenic spots in Japan. The castle is surrounded by cherry trees, which make it appear as if surrounded by a mist. This explains why the castle is also known as Kasumiga castle, or the castle of mist. There is a monument near the stone wall of the castle tower. The letters engraved in the monument starts with Ippitsukeijo..., which says "I pen thee a line, be careful of the fire, don't make Osen cry, keep the horses fat." The name Osen refers to Narushige Honda, who was a legitimate heir of a Honda Saemon-Shigetsugu and became the 6th castle lord.