Hikone Castle

Information

Hikone Castle was built in 1622 by Ii Naokatsu (Naotsugu) as the main castle for the Ii family who ruled as Daimyo domain lord over Hikone. It took about 20 years to complete the entire castle. Since much of it is original, Hikone Castle is rightly considered one of the finest remaining castles in Japan. There is a great view across the Lake Biwa-ko from the upper stories of the castle's Tenshu-kaku (dongon) which was completed in 1607. Today, the building is designated as a national treasure. The castle is surrounded by more than 1,000 cherry trees, making it a popular spot for Hanami (cherry blossom watching) activities in the spring.
Next to the castle's main gate is Hikone Castle Museum. Items on display came from the Ii family and include armor, Noh costumes, pottery and calligraphy.
The north side of the castle is Genkyu-en Garden. The beautiful Japanese garden expresses Omi-Hakkei - The best eight scenic views in Omi Province (today's Shiga prefecture). Entry to this garden is included in the admission ticket for the castle.
Hikone Castle is also famous for its mascot character called Hikonyan. The cute cat-based character wearing the Ii family's red helmet was born in 2007 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the castle. Hikonyan is one of the most popular Japanese "Yuru-chara" mascot characters.

Opening Hours

8:30 - 17:00

Closed

No closing days

Price / Entrance Fee

Castle and Garden: 600 yen (General, Adult)
Castle and Garden: 200 yen (Child)
Museum: 500 yen (General, Adult)
Museum: 250 yen (Child)

Access / Public Transport

15 minutes walk from JR Hikone Station

Address / Location

1-1, Konkicho, Hikone-shi, Shiga, 522-0061

Tweets

John D. Bartone @jdbart1 - 2019-01-18: Steps leading up to the castle in Hikone.
#steps #hikone #japan #travel #travelnow #traveladdicted #seetheworld… https://t.co/B84pJaPNfO
InsideJapan Tours @InsideJapan - 2019-01-12: A beautiful snowy day at Hikone Castle for #InsideJapan tour leader Richard ❄
#HikoneCastle #JapaneseCastle https://t.co/UwvTJJbZ6W
それいしょん @sorECht - 2019-01-11: Look at Hikone Castle and Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture

Coffee drinking while looking at the lake quietly is excep… https://t.co/3DsThajl5W
juor2 @juor2ytc - 2019-01-07: Rickshaw
https://t.co/Sxjf7pcwz3
#japan #nikon #d600 #photography #photograph #earthfocus #natgeo #natgeotravel… https://t.co/M6xlbgE1oM
cloudbod @cloudbod - 2019-01-06: @Kishi_bashi Hey I just went to Hikone Castle and finally understand the name 151a!! Big day
Mondo Mascots @mondomascots - 2019-01-04: Hikonyan, the samurai cat mascot of Hikone Castle in Japan, got 12,000 New Year cards this year.… https://t.co/l9aUhe36L1
Yuichiro Ikebata @YuichiroIkebata - 2019-01-02: Quiz
What castle is this?

(A) Hikone Castle
(B) Matsumoto Castle
(C) Matsue Castle
(D) Himeji Castle https://t.co/7cS63GcuaW
fine:der @fine_der - 2018-12-29: Let’s build the Hikone Japanese Castle on your hand!

#彦根城 #Japanese #japanesecastle

https://t.co/iHZuggsQQ1
fine:der @fine_der - 2018-12-29: The Hikone Japanese Castle ring has been completed!

#japanese #castle #Japanesecastle #rings #jewelry https://t.co/ddRN0D4xxY
fine:der @fine_der - 2018-12-29: The Hikone Japanese Castle ring has been completed!

#japanese #castle #Japanesecastle #rings #jewelry https://t.co/hIObqUyWro
fine:der @fine_der - 2018-12-29: This ring is modeled Hikone Castle. How about this?

#彦根城 #Japanese #japanesecastle #castlerings https://t.co/Fsr3pSJM4b
Kanpai! Japan @KanpaiJapan - 2018-12-27: [Today's Kanpai picture]
Hikone - Biwa lake's Castle and its Japanese garden
https://t.co/5mzy4kG0VY https://t.co/PbnFmc8Rsu
leben-kurashi @LKurashi - 2018-12-26: In Hikone, the #Japanese castle town, near Kyoto you can enjoy delicious foods! It is walkable, and you can get the… https://t.co/CQ3M0588Br
擾乱 Jo-Ran @joranbass - 2018-12-25: In this trip I also went to a castle.

National treasure Himeji Castle
National treasure Matsue Castle
National tre… https://t.co/2GoCRO0Zjc
823@図書館戦争💍🥂研究者(自称) @tsbtzkstshkr - 2018-12-23: @MissStarTrek Disasters are typhoon,heavy rain,earth quake.But Hikone castle don’t damage. It have a reason. In und… https://t.co/ik6aBimo5Y
823@図書館戦争💍🥂研究者(自称) @tsbtzkstshkr - 2018-12-23: @MissStarTrek Disasters are typhoon,heavy rain,earth quake.But Hikone castle don’t damage. It have a reason. In und… https://t.co/ik6aBimo5Y
823@図書館戦争💍🥂研究者(自称) @tsbtzkstshkr - 2018-12-23: @MissStarTrek This is Hikone castle. This is my favorite castle.Almost Japanese castles are look like for people wh… https://t.co/POD27xcyvV
823@図書館戦争💍🥂研究者(自称) @tsbtzkstshkr - 2018-12-23: @MissStarTrek This is Hikone castle. This is my favorite castle.Almost Japanese castles are look like for people wh… https://t.co/POD27xcyvV
823@図書館戦争💍🥂研究者(自称) @tsbtzkstshkr - 2018-12-23: @MissStarTrek umm……Because it’s is cute.other castle is so cool but l don’t see this is so. In addition Hikone cast… https://t.co/WwGkVVlbN5
823@図書館戦争💍🥂研究者(自称) @tsbtzkstshkr - 2018-12-23: @MissStarTrek umm……Because it’s is cute.other castle is so cool but l don’t see this is so. In addition Hikone cast… https://t.co/WwGkVVlbN5
Japan Rail Pass @jrailpass - 2018-12-22: #HikoneCastle and city #travelguide https://t.co/42AmNnGEKs Did you know that this castle is one of the five Japane… https://t.co/jOMEPM1SB2
Kristen Abroad @kristenabroad - 2018-12-21: Hikone Castle has taken over as my second place choice of the 12 original Japanese Castles. Which will be your favo… https://t.co/Pio4IMYIup
tokyovisionaryroom @tvr_stockphoto - 2018-12-20: Floating old fashioned boat around the castle🏯 at Hikone.
It seems like Edo era🇯🇵 Photo by @tvr_stockphoto .
.… https://t.co/6kAInsU4td
Matias Baker Masucci @mmeveryLA - 2018-12-15: I took this one in Japan 🇯🇵 at Hikone Castle with my iPhone 📱 in 2015. #iphonephotography #japan #hikonecastle @ Hi… https://t.co/eU0Vcwymms
cubetoys @cubetoys - 2018-12-12: Custom Build: HGUC 1/144 Psycho Gundam Hikone Castle ver. https://t.co/hYKPM6unBZ https://t.co/58HjZT2U71
そどむ(宏子) @sodomman - 2018-12-12: A: That’s right. So I’m thinking of going to Hikone Castle and the famous garden near the castle. What’s the garden… https://t.co/j5i1GRYKgL
そどむ(宏子) @sodomman - 2018-12-12: A: That’s right. So I’m thinking of going to Hikone Castle and the famous garden near the castle. What’s the garden… https://t.co/j5i1GRYKgL
そどむ(宏子) @sodomman - 2018-12-12: A: That’s right. So I’m thinking of going to Hikone Castle and the famous garden near the castle. What’s the garden… https://t.co/j5i1GRYKgL
そどむ(宏子) @sodomman - 2018-12-12: A: That’s right. So I’m thinking of going to Hikone Castle and the famous garden near the castle. What’s the garden… https://t.co/j5i1GRYKgL
真棹 (まさお) @thosedays84 - 2018-12-11: @sodomman A : My parents will come from Canada next week.

B : I see. How long will they stay here?

A : Due to my… https://t.co/TFs6JGNNWW
Sandra Zhang @zhanghuangxiao - 2018-12-08: There're only 12 castles with original castle towers in Japan. We've been to 5 of them. Apart from Himeji Castle, t… https://t.co/p8N04BN8QD