'Castle in the Sky' Emerges First Time This Season

IWATE, Oct 15 (News On Japan) - As thick morning fog lifted, sunlight streamed through the distant mountain ranges, revealing Echizen Ono Castle perched above a sea of clouds, built over 400 years ago by a close aide to Oda Nobunaga.

The elusive "Castle in the Sky" typically appears when there has been rain the previous day, the humidity is high, and the temperature difference between the previous day and the following morning is significant. The phenomenon occurs between October and April, and this is the first sighting of the season. With autumn deepening in November, the castle is expected to appear more frequently.

Despite many places experiencing summer-like temperatures of over 25°C during the long weekend, where short sleeves were still comfortable, autumn is certainly making its presence known.

Mount Kurikoma, a famous peak spanning the three prefectures of Miyagi, Iwate, and Akita, is dressed in its full autumn colors. The maple and rowan trees dotting the mountainside have turned vibrant shades of yellow and red, signaling the arrival of fall.

Visitors savored the season, leisurely hiking and taking in the views from the mountain summit.

Source: ANN

Japan's Population Declines for 16th Straight Year

Japan’s population of Japanese nationals has decreased for the 16th consecutive year, according to demographic data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. As of January 1st, 2025, the Japanese population stood at 120.65 million, a drop of roughly 910,000 from the previous year—marking the largest annual decline on record.

Dangerous Heat Leaves Cows Exhausted and Summer Crops Failing

A severe and prolonged heatwave is taking a widespread toll across Japan, affecting everything from traditional summer events to vegetable harvests and dairy farms.

Officials Investigate Fireworks Fiasco

Authorities have launched a full investigation into the fire that broke out during the Minato Mirai fireworks festival in Yokohama, where five workers had to be rescue from an exploding barge.

Japan's Rice Strategy Fails

Japan’s government plan to flood the market with stockpiled rice to lower prices is facing setbacks, as demand slumps and cancellations from retailers increase. Initially popular, the rice is now piling up on shelves, prompting calls to extend the end-of-August sales deadline. Even discounted imported rice is struggling to sell. Meanwhile, rice prices have unexpectedly risen for the first time in 10 weeks.

Australia to Jointly Develop New Warships with Japan

Australia has selected Japan’s proposal for the joint development of next-generation naval vessels, marking a significant milestone in bilateral defense cooperation.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Kansai Airport Crowded Ahead of Peak Obon Travel Season

Ahead of the Obon holiday period beginning on August 9th, Kansai International Airport is already seeing a wave of travelers heading overseas. The international departures lobby was crowded from the morning, with families and other travelers carrying large suitcases.

A Traveler’s Guide to Exploring Tokyo Hands-Free: Best Tips for Luggage Storage in the City

Tokyo, which is a world within a whirl of activity, presents a unique mix of old and new. The city has here the serene shrines that have stood for centuries and the modern skyscrapers that shoot up to the sky; also, it has traditional culture and high-tech trends.

Japan Sets All-Time High Temperature

In a historic heatwave, the city of Isesaki in Gunma Prefecture recorded a scorching 41.8 degrees Celsius on August 5th, setting a new all-time high for the highest temperature ever observed in Japan.

60,000 Swallows Roost at Nara’s Heijo Palace

A summer spectacle is reaching its peak at the Heijo Palace Ruins, a World Heritage site in Nara, as tens of thousands of swallows gather in the night sky.

Volcanic Alert Raised to Level 2 in Gunma

The Japan Meteorological Agency has raised the volcanic alert level for the area around Mt. Shirane and the Yugama crater on the Gunma side of Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane to Level 2, restricting access near the crater due to an increase in volcanic earthquakes.