What other travelers are saying about Hikone Castle
Visiting Hikone Castle 彦根城 was an amazing experience, full of history, beauty, and impressive scenery. The walk up to the castle gives a nice feeling of stepping into the past, with stone walls, old gates, and peaceful surroundings that create a very authentic atmosphere.
The main keep is beautifully preserved, and standing inside an original Japanese castle feels special. The wooden interior, narrow stairways, and traditional design show how much history the castle has carried through the centuries. From the top, the view over Lake Biwa and the surrounding town is truly stunning—wide, clear, and very memorable.
The castle grounds are also lovely to explore. The gardens, moats, and open areas make the visit relaxing, and you can enjoy the scenery from many angles. Whether it’s the calm water around the castle or the greenery that surrounds the paths, everything feels peaceful and well kept.
Overall, Hikone Castle offers a wonderful combination of history, architecture, and natural beauty. It’s a fantastic place to experience, and it leaves a strong and lasting impression. 🌿🏯✨
Hikone Castle is open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM with admission costing 800 yen for adults and 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students. The castle grounds are accessible year-round, making it a popular destination for tourists visiting Shiga Prefecture.
From Tokyo, take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen to Maibara Station, then transfer to the JR Tokaido Main Line to Hikone Station (total 3 hours). From Kyoto, take the JR Tokaido Main Line directly to Hikone Station (1 hour). Hikone Castle is a 10-minute walk from Hikone Station.
Hikone Castle is one of only 12 original wooden castles remaining in Japan and a National Treasure. Built in 1622, it features authentic architecture, beautiful gardens, and stunning views of Lake Biwa. The castle is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring and the mascot character Hikonyan.
The best time for cherry blossoms at Hikone Castle is early to mid-April when over 1,200 sakura trees bloom. For autumn foliage, visit from mid to late November when the castle grounds display vibrant red and gold colors. Both seasons offer spectacular photography opportunities and seasonal festivals.
Yes, visitors can climb the steep wooden stairs inside Hikone Castle's original keep to reach the top floor. From the castle's highest point, you'll enjoy panoramic views of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake, the surrounding Hikone city, and the beautiful Japanese garden below.
I’m thrilled to visit Hikone Castle, regarded as the most significant historical site in Shiga. The experience is truly special. Once you remove your shoes, your journey through the castle begins with its steep stairs—be cautious while climbing! Reaching the top of the castle rewards you with a breathtaking view of Lake Biwa. As an added treat, visiting in autumn offers the stunning sight of vibrant red leaves, making this national treasure even more remarkable.
The castle is about 15 minutes away from the station. You will need to walk a bit uphill to reach the entrance. The castle itself is very beautiful, located on top the hill. You can enter the castle, just need to remove your shoes. Inside, there will be wooden ladders that you can climb up to get to the upper floors of the castle. There are 3 floors (so three flights of stairs/ladders). It is very steep, and the steps are very narrow so hold on to the handrail. If you’re afraid of heights, might not be the best ideas as it almost look vertical on the way down. However, they don’t display any items or monuments inside, so it’s just the castle interior.
Once you exit the castle and make your way down, you will reach the gardens. They are very beautiful, and you can catch the glimpse of the castle on top the hill. Very scenic and lush.
A visit to Hikone Castle should be high on your list of priorities when you visit Japan. It is one example of an original and well preserved castle (the other eleven being Himeji, Matsumoto, Matsue, Inuyama, Maruoka, Marugame, Kochi, Matsuyama, Uwajima, Bitchu-Matsuyama, and Hirosaki).
Hikone Castle is one of five castles that are designated as National Treasures of Japan (the other four being Himeji, Matsumoto, Matsue and Inuyama).
Hikone Castle is on the smaller side, and it sits on top of a rather large hill. Since the hill can be steep at times, the castle keep might not be accessible to everyone, so please take this into consideration. The garden, museum and the rest of the castle grounds however, are accessible to wheelchairs etc.
After visiting Hikone Castle, make sure you spend some time exploring the Yume Kyobashi Castle Road shopping area. The area has small shops and a lot of Hikonyan (Hikone castle macsot) themed goods
Hikone Castle is a quiet and enjoyable visit, especially if you want to see an original Japanese castle with less commercial activity and fewer crowds
The castle is one of the few remaining original wooden keeps in Japan, and the atmosphere is calm compared to more crowded tourist spots. The walk up to the main keep is pleasant, and the view from the top is worth the climb.
Some useful information for first-time visitors:
• It’s about 15 minutes on foot from Hikone Station, and the route is easy to follow.
• The stairs inside the main keep are very steep and narrow, so be prepared to move slowly.
• The combined ticket for Hikone Castle and Genkyuen Garden is ¥1,000, and adding the museum makes it ¥1,500. The garden is especially nice for taking photos with the castle reflected in the pond.
• Crowds are lighter in the early morning and start to increase after 10:30.
• The nearby Yume Kyobashi shopping street is a good stop for small snacks and souvenirs.
