Hikone Castle, completed in 1622 by the Ii clan — hereditary retainers of the Tokugawa — is one of just twelve castles in Japan to keep its original keep and one of only five designated National Treasures. The elegant three-storey tower, built partly from materials salvaged from defeated rivals' castles, crowns a hill of spiralling ramparts, plunging stone walls and trick gates above the eastern shore of Lake Biwa, and its foot holds the strolling garden of Genkyuen, whose ponds and teahouse borrow the keep itself as scenery. The city’s beloved samurai-helmeted cat mascot, Hikonyan, appears in the grounds daily.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Hikone, Shiga |
| Hours | 8:30–17:00 |
| Admission | ¥800 castle; +¥200 with Genkyuen |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
| Best time | Early April for cherry blossoms; year-round |
What to See
- The National Treasure keep of 1622, one of five in Japan.
- Spiralling ramparts, plunging walls and defensive trick gates.
- Genkyuen garden, borrowing the keep as its backdrop.
- Daily appearances by the samurai-cat mascot Hikonyan.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Hikone’s cherry blossoms in season.
- Pair with Nagahama , 10 minutes up the line.
- Read our Shiga overview .
Getting There
- By train: JR Biwako Line to Hikone Station (~50 min from Kyoto), then a 15-minute walk.
- By car: parking below the castle hill.
Tips
Check the Hikonyan appearance schedule posted at the entrance if the mascot matters to your party — times are fixed and the queues are cheerful chaos. The keep’s interior stairs are ladder-steep like all original castles, and the quiet moat-side walk plus Genkyuen at closing light are the photographer’s picks; combine with Genkyuen using the joint ticket, which costs barely more.
