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

CHYJ @crystarlia - 2019-11-16: Hikone Castle 🏯

#chyjtravels #japan2019withsis https://t.co/bIJvPFKM7W
CHYJ @crystarlia - 2019-11-16: On the way to Hikone Castle.

#chyjtravels #japan2019withsis https://t.co/BRwc1g8Gu3
CHYJ @crystarlia - 2019-11-16: Walking towards Hikone Castle..., I do not like inclining pathways up... 😭

#chyjtravels #japan2019withsis https://t.co/eATFmOX6bF
Kanpai! Japan @KanpaiJapan - 2019-11-16: [Today's Kanpai picture]
Hikone - Lake Biwa's Castle and its Japanese garden
https://t.co/sDxXnGvdXE https://t.co/68p9LlZTvA
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸💐💐💐💐🤗🤗😀 @fzoom2401 - 2019-11-14: Autum Leaves in Hikone Castle❤️❤️❤️💐💐 https://t.co/jMLUX7SgPp
All Japan Tours @AllJapanTours - 2019-11-13: https://t.co/P8LdoM34v2

There are hundreds of #castles in #Japan, but only 12 are original structures. Hikone Cast… https://t.co/Ieo2rLnZJd
musiige gordon @musgord - 2019-11-11: They established a malaria research institute for developing and implementing plans. The widespread spraying of ins… https://t.co/jJ94Ls7xpL
Hidden Places Japan @HPJ_Japan - 2019-10-29: Maybe it's hard to believe, but we think Hikone Castle is a hidden place. Hikone Castle at (least for now) doesn't… https://t.co/TA37588zxZ
Art Moktar @MoktarArt - 2019-10-26: Hikone Castle https://t.co/5JSAKj6vaZ
Japan Rail Pass @jrailpass - 2019-10-25: #Hikone #castle and city #TravelGuide https://t.co/42AmNnGEKs Fantastic #destinations in #Kyoto provided by the… https://t.co/kc6FMnJ9ia
Rich! @Animetion_Rich - 2019-10-25: Hikone, I am here to see your castle and torrential god damned rain is not going to stop me. https://t.co/niRBSRShgW
Teppo @Isperia_ - 2019-10-24: #YamiKami status update: spent the last 3 days travelling towards my second 'real' target, Mt. Ishizuchi. Had to sa… https://t.co/ACYWYOXVtI
AirAngel @AirAngel_tv - 2019-10-21: Two years ago today, I married my best friend 💕 Excited to see the world and wonder through this crazy existence wi… https://t.co/bhZq4t3eAt
Run @donwurun - 2019-10-17: I just liked ““Let’s Gather in Hikone!” Promotional Video for the 410th Anniversary of Hikone Castle, a Nat… https://t.co/WVCt71wzfE
Vicki Beyer @JigsawVLBeyer - 2019-10-14: Hikone Castle: a recycled original https://t.co/Qd51nM9XYB https://t.co/6tappL5bLF
Robert Day Travel @robertdaytravel - 2019-10-13: This is Jocelyn. She is 86 and climbed around 250 rough stone steps to see Hikone Castle. That’s a vertical climb o… https://t.co/yoQqVyvzSK
ItsJ0el … @ItsJ0el - 2019-10-10: Hikone castle visit was nice https://t.co/xHsoALGmdS
Associated Kyoto Program @AKPStudyAbroad - 2019-10-09: Last week, AKPers hopped on a train to the neighboring Shiga Prefecture, where they had the chance to visit both Hi… https://t.co/ZxduHR0ECk
🎌 Donny Kimball 🎌 @donnyjkimball - 2019-10-08: What's your favorite fortress in Japan? For me, it will forever be Hikone castle. https://t.co/DcbbximZZM
conbini junk food connoisseur @gethenians - 2019-10-03: thinking about......him (the guy i saw running full speed up the steep incline to hikone castle yelling '無理無理無理' in a moment of pure agony)
hashiyama @hashiyama3 - 2019-10-01: Hikone-castle https://t.co/pXkgRaZzQ9
Hum_Con @Hum_Con - 2019-09-28: I'm not in Uncle Nick's league, but I built this from scratch a few years ago and I'm quite proud of it. It's Hikon… https://t.co/A7sDkcjbUk
Sengoku Daimyo @SengokuPodcast - 2019-09-27: An excavation of Ishida Mitsunari's Sawayama Castle's town ruins in Hikone City. Masonry and waterways from the to… https://t.co/0jlmPFfKrW
The Catalogue of Japan @japanesecatalog - 2019-09-25: A lovely #mausoleum.
#Hikonyan is the most famous mascot (Yuru-chara) in #Japan.
Created in 2007 and plays importan… https://t.co/91Juy2jLot
youth in revolt @cru__nch - 2019-09-22: he looks over the hikone castle in hikone, shiga what an honorable cat
雷太 @lighter235 - 2019-09-22: Next, I have moved to Hikone city to enjoy its castle facing Biwa lake https://t.co/OSFcFJfkYf
雷太 @lighter235 - 2019-09-22: Views from Hikone castle and its garden https://t.co/LloLYpQMoh
Dragonfly Tours Japan @DragonflyJapan - 2019-09-20: Hikone Castle, Shiga. On the other side of Lake Biwa from the Dragonfly office @ Hikone, Shiga https://t.co/R9ZG52dAkL
ninja-fai @Nightninjya - 2019-09-19: @vitaming11600 So beautiful!
Hikone castle is so cool!!!!!!🏰
びたみん@けつあご @vitaming11600 - 2019-09-19: @Nightninjya Lake Biwa as seen from Hikone Castle https://t.co/aVhT3dzUct