Maruoka Castle is the oldest standing castle in Japan, located in Maruoka, Fukui. Built in 1576 by order of Shibata Katsutoyo, only the central tower (donjon) remains; the grounds are used by the local populace for festivals such as hanami and traditional parades. The castle is also known as Kasumi ga Jo (Mist Castle) due to the legend that whenever an enemy approaches the castle, a thick mist appears and hides it.
