Meet your guide and begin your journey through Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s finest surviving castles and a National Treasure. Rising above Lake Biwa, Hikone Castle was constructed after the fall of Sawayama Castle, which had belonged to Ishida Mitsunari before his defeat at Sekigahara. Its creation symbolized the Tokugawa shogunate’s new order, and its tenshu, or main keep, is believed to have been relocated from Otsu Castle, linking it to other key sites in Shiga. Entrusted to the Ii family, who ruled Hikone for over 250 years, the castle became both a military bulwark and a political hub. The Ii were more than guardians; they supplied the Tokugawa with capable administrators, rising to high office and shaping national policy.

As you explore with your guide, encounter massive moats, the Tenbin Yagura, and the Taiko-mon Gate, each showing military ingenuity and refined design. Inside the tenshu, learn how the castle was built, what role it played in peace, and why its structure symbolized Tokugawa authority. From the top floor, sweeping views of Lake Biwa and the Ōmi landscape connect the story of regional power struggles to the present.

Depending on the option chosen, the shorter tour highlights the main keep and core defenses, while the extended course includes additional turrets, the Ninomaru area, and Genkyuen Garden. This strolling daimyo garden, designed in the 17th century, reflects the beauty of the Eight Views of Ōmi. Surrounded by ponds, teahouses, and landscapes, you can enjoy a peaceful cup of matcha, experiencing the Ii family’s refined cultural life.

After the castle, the tour shifts from history to taste along Yumekyobashi Castle Road, a street of Edo-style buildings evoking Hikone’s castle-town heritage. Here you will savor Omi beef, one of Japan’s three most renowned wagyu brands alongside Kobe and Matsusaka. With over 400 years of history in Shiga, Omi beef is celebrated for its fine marbling, tenderness, and rich flavor. At a local restaurant, enjoy it as sukiyaki, steak, or shabu-shabu, paired with local vegetables and sake brewed from Lake Biwa’s waters.

This meal is more than lunch; it continues Hikone’s story, showing how the fertile land of Ōmi nurtured both warriors and culinary traditions. By combining the heritage of Hikone Castle with the refined taste of Omi beef, this tour offers an unforgettable encounter with the history and flavors that define Shiga’s identity.