Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle is a famous castle designated as a National Treasure, along with Himeji Castle and Inuyama Castle. The sight of Hikone Castle floating in moonlight is also one of the Eight Views of Lake Biwa. It’s about a 15-minute walk from JR Hikone Station. Construction of Hikone Castle began by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu and took 20 years to complete. At the Hikone Castle Museum, located on the site of the former main palace (Omote-Goten), you can see materials related to the Ii clan, who served as lords of the Hikone Domain, as well as valuable exhibits about the castle town’s history and culture—helpful for understanding Hikone Castle more deeply. Hikone Castle marked its 400th anniversary in 2007, and among early modern Japanese castles, only 12 castles—including Hikone—still retain their original keeps. The stairs inside the keep are also known for their steep 62-degree incline. Another highlight is Genkyu-en, a daimyo garden to the northeast of the castle. Every September, an event called “Kangetsu no Yube” (Moon-Viewing Evening) is held. Hikone Castle’s mascot “Hikonyan” appears three times daily in the free area of the grounds to welcome visitors.