Hikone Castle
One of only five Japanese castles rated National Treasure — its three-storey keep is the original 1622 structure, never reconstructed. The castle sits on a hill above Lake Biwa with one of Japan's finest castle garden (Genkyuen) below, where the reflection of the keep on the pond creates a classical painting. 1,100 cherry trees surround the moats.
1.5–2 hours
¥800
8:30–17:00 year-round (last entry 16:30)
March–April (cherry blossoms), Year-round
10 min walk from Hikone Station (JR Biwako Line)
Location
Why Visit
- 1
One of only five National Treasure castles in Japan — original 1622 keep, never reconstructed
- 2
Genkyuen garden reflects the castle keep on the pond — a composition unchanged for 300 years
- 3
1,100 cherry trees around the moats — illuminated at night in April
Local Tips
One of only five original (non-reconstructed) castle keeps in Japan — the weathered wood and stone feel genuinely 17th-century. The interior stairs are very steep; wear shoes you can remove easily. The Genkyuen Garden adjacent to the castle (included in ticket) is a formal daimyo garden worth 30 minutes extra.
Add to your AI itinerary
Let AI build a multi-day trip around this spot.
Advertisement
More in Shiga
Azuchi Castle Ruins
The ruins of Oda Nobunaga's revolutionary castle (1576–1582) — the first Japanese castle built with a seven-storey keep as a symbol of political power rather than pure defence. Destroyed after Nobunaga's assassination, only the stone foundations survive, climbing 198 metres above Lake Biwa. The panoramic views explain exactly why Nobunaga built here.
Chikubushima Island
A sacred island in Lake Biwa accessible only by boat — one of Japan's three major powerspot islands. The Hogonji temple and Tsukubusuma shrine share the tiny forested island, and throwing earthenware rings (kawa-rake) through the torii gate from a clifftop is a famous ritual for wish-granting. Cormorant fishing operates from the island in summer.
Hiyoshi Taisha
The head shrine of over 3,800 Hiyoshi and Sanno shrines across Japan, nestled at the base of Mt Hiei. Founded before recorded history and rebuilt by Enryakuji's monks to guard Kyoto's northeastern demon gate. The unique "Hiyoshi torii" (a two-legged gate with a triangular third leg) is found only here.