Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle, the centerpiece of Hikone, is one of Japan’s twelve original castles.

Primarily designed as both a political symbol and a defense structure, the castle is renowned for its distinctive architecture and historic significance. The castle also holds the title as a National Treasure, being one of Japan’s twelve original castles, meaning that it has retained most of its original structure.

Although Hikone City owns the castle today, it was once the home of the Ii family, the feudal lords of the Hikone Domain during the Edo period. Key points of interest include the three-story main keep (tenshu), turrets, a time-keeping bell (jihosho), and the horse stable.

Visitors can go inside the castle, though it requires climbing some steep wooden steps. Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with elevated views of Hikone and Lake Biwa.

For those interested in learning more about Japan’s rich culture and the castle’s history, stop by the Hikone Castle Museum. Inside, you’ll find a variety of historical artifacts, including Noh masks, samurai armor, and an impressive collection of swords and weapons.

Hikonyan

Sometimes, Hikone’s adorable prefectural mascot, Hikonyan, also visits the castle — when he’s not busy with other official duties. For the best chances of seeing him, we recommend keeping an eye on his schedule. Even if you don’t get the chance to see him, you can still buy Hikonyan-themed souvenirs or visit the nearby Hikonyan Museum.

How to buy tickets for Hikone Castle

Admission to Hikone Castle (and Genkyu-en Garden) is ¥1,000 for adults and ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students. You can buy tickets directly from the ticket counter at the base of the castle grounds. Note that only cash is accepted.

To visit the museum, there is an additional ¥700 and elementary and junior high school students ¥300. However, if you know in advance that you want to visit both the museum and castle, we recommend getting a combination ticket which is ¥1,500 and ¥550.

For those who simply want stroll around Genkyu-en, you get an individual ticket for ¥400 (¥150 for students).

How to get there

From Hikone Station, it is about a 10-minute walk to Hikone Castle. You can also take the Hikone Loop Line to City Hall (Hikone City) for ¥100. Note that the actual bus ride is only 2 minutes and you will have to walk the rest to get to the castle.