News On Japan

'Castle in the Sky' Emerges First Time This Season

'Castle in the Sky' Emerges First Time This Season

IWATE, Oct 15, 2024 (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

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Typhoon No. 7, named Mekkhala, formed east of the Philippines at 3 a.m. on June 20 and is expected to strengthen early next week before possibly moving toward the Sakishima Islands, while moist air around the storm could later feed a rainy season front stalled near Honshu and raise the risk of heavy rain across western and eastern Japan. As of 3 p.m. on June 20, the typhoon had a central pressure of 1,000 hectopascals and maximum sustained winds of 20 meters per second near its center. It was moving west-northwest at 20 kilometers per hour. Satellite images showed a large mass of swirling clouds over waters far south of Japan, though the cloud vortex was still not clearly defined, indicating that the storm had not yet developed significantly.

Japan will face Tunisia in its second match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 21 in Monterrey, a northern Mexican city known for its mountains, modern skyline and unexpectedly strong connections with Japan.

Mosquitoes are appearing earlier than usual this year, raising fears of a major summer outbreak as experts warn that warm May weather and repeated light rain have created ideal breeding conditions across residential areas.

Bear attacks and sightings are increasing across Japan, with multiple people injured on June 17 and experts warning that bears are becoming more accustomed to human environments, potentially leading to more dangerous and unpredictable encounters in the years ahead.

JR Central and JR West on June 17 announced pricing and service details for the new private-room seating that will be introduced on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen from October, creating a new top-tier class above the existing Green Car service.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

Shizuoka Prefecture has launched a working group to consider enforceable restrictions on off-season climbing of Mount Fuji, after a series of reckless ascents during the mountain’s closure period led local leaders to demand tighter entry controls and a system requiring climbers to pay rescue costs.

The eruption alert level for Mount Tokachidake in Hokkaido was raised to Level 2 on June 18 for the first time in 12 years, prompting authorities to restrict entry within 1.5 kilometers of the crater and close parts of hiking trails just days before the mountain’s official opening for the summer climbing season.

Bear attacks and sightings are increasing across Japan, with multiple people injured on June 17 and experts warning that bears are becoming more accustomed to human environments, potentially leading to more dangerous and unpredictable encounters in the years ahead.

Kyoto's Myoshin-ji Temple, one of Japan's largest Zen temple complexes, is facing a growing problem that temple officials warn could eventually lead to costly restoration work and even pose safety risks to visitors.

A long-abandoned sightseeing boat that has sat tilted in a canal in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, for nearly eight years is finally being removed by city authorities after officials determined the deteriorating vessel posed a serious safety risk.

JR Central and JR West on June 17 announced pricing and service details for the new private-room seating that will be introduced on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen from October, creating a new top-tier class above the existing Green Car service.

Nara Prefecture has conducted a promotional tour for ambassadors and diplomats from member states of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee to showcase the Asuka and Fujiwara Palace Sites as the property moves toward formal inscription as a World Cultural Heritage site.

Shirahama, one of the Kansai region's leading tourist destinations, has approved the introduction of an accommodation tax, becoming the third municipality in the region after Osaka Prefecture and Kyoto City to adopt such a measure.