Castle & Palace · Hikone

Hikone Castle 彦根城

One of Japan's five National Treasure castle keeps, completed in 1622 for the Ii clan and overlooking Lake Biwa.

Hours8:30-17:00 (last entry 16:30; keep 16:45)

PriceAdult (castle and Genkyuen): ¥1,000
Castle, Genkyuen and museum: ¥1,500
Elementary/junior high (castle): ¥200

Getting thereJR Hikone Station, 15 min walk

Time needed2-3 hours

Best timeEarly April (cherry blossoms); November

Address1-1 Konkicho, Hikone, Shiga

Websitehikonecastle.com

About

Hikone Castle is an original Edo-period castle whose compact three-storied keep combines several gable styles. Moats, stone walls, turrets and gates largely survive, and the ticket includes Genkyuen, a strolling garden below the castle. The castle mascot Hikonyan appears at set times.

Highlights

Original keep (National Treasure)
Tenbin-yagura turret and Taikomon gate
Genkyuen Garden with the keep as backdrop
Cherry blossoms along the moats

Tips

Steep stairs inside the keep; remove shoes
Combined ticket adds the Hikone Castle Museum
15 min walk from JR Hikone Station

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-11

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Hikone Castle 彦根城

About

Highlights

Tips

Nearby