About This Destination
Hikone Castle is one of Japan's most treasured feudal castles and one of only five castles whose main keep is designated a National Treasure. Completed in 1622 after 20 years of construction, it served as the seat of the powerful Ii clan throughout the Edo period. The elegant three-story tower combines multiple architectural styles and offers views of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. The castle grounds include the beautifully landscaped Genkyu-en Garden, which uses Lake Biwa as borrowed scenery, and Hikone Castle Museum which houses the Ii clan's samurai armor and art collection. The castle's mascot Hikonyan appears daily for performances. Open 8:30 to 17:00 year-round.
Location
Prefecture: Shiga
Address: Hikone, Shiga, Japan
Nearest Station: Hikone
Opening hours: Mon–Sun 08:30–17:00
Hours note: Last entry 16:30. The keep and the turrets close at 16:45.
Best time to visit: Spring (early April) for cherry blossoms around one of Japan's twelve surviving original castle keeps
Visitor Information
Credit Cards: Unknown
Food Options: Yume Kyobashi Castle Road nearby with restaurants and cafes; try Omi beef, one of Japan's top wagyu brands
Access
Shiga, Japan
Get DirectionsFrequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Hikone Castle and how long should I plan to spend?
Hikone Castle sits 15 minutes on foot from JR Hikone Station on the JR Biwako/Tokaido Line. **From Kyoto**: ~50 min on the JR Shinkaisoku (Special Rapid, ¥1,170, no transfer, JR Pass covered). **From Osaka**: ~80 min same Shinkaisoku (¥1,520). **From Tokyo**: take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Maibara (~2h15min; Hikari trains stop at Maibara, Nozomi doesn't), then transfer to JR Biwako Line for one stop (~5 min) to Hikone. **From Nagoya**: Shinkansen Hikari to Maibara then 5 min local (total ~50 min). **On foot from station**: head west on the main avenue, you'll see the white keep on its hill in about 10 minutes, then 5 more minutes to the ticket gate. **Time on site**: budget **2.5 to 3 hours**, with 45 min for the keep (small but the stairs to the top floor are steep ladder-like wooden steps), 30 min for Genkyu-en garden, 45 min for the Hikone Castle Museum (Ii clan armor plus Noh stage), plus the climb itself. Combine with a 45-min walk down **Yume Kyobashi Castle Road** for lunch (Omi beef territory) and you have a comfortable half-day from Kyoto.
What are the tickets, hours, and what does each part of the castle cost?
Open **8:30 to 17:00 daily, year-round** (no closed days; final keep entry 16:30, museum closes 17:00). **Tickets** as of 2025: **¥800 standard combo** = keep plus Genkyu-en garden (the headline ticket most visitors buy); **¥1,200 deluxe combo** = keep plus Genkyu-en plus Hikone Castle Museum (the Ii clan armor and Noh stage); **¥200 garden only**; **¥500 museum only**. Children (elementary/junior high) ~half price. **Pay at the bottom gate** (Omotemon-bashi side) and you'll get a single composite ticket for whichever combo. Note that the keep is a National Treasure original (1622), not a reconstruction, so the climb is on authentic 400-year-old wooden steps; a small bag is required, no large luggage (coin lockers ¥300 at JR Hikone Station). **Cash only at the ticket window**; credit cards not accepted. If you only have 90 minutes, skip the museum and do the ¥800 combo, since the keep plus garden are the essentials.
When does Hikonyan appear and when's the best time of year to visit?
**Hikonyan** (the helmet-wearing white cat mascot, Hikone's globally famous yuru-kyara) appears **3 times daily**: **10:30** at Hikone Castle Museum, **13:00** in front of the keep on the inner ward, **15:00** back at the museum. Each appearance is ~20 min of silent waving and posing (he doesn't speak), photos allowed and encouraged. On Wednesdays the second slot is sometimes cancelled, so check `hikone-hikonyan.jp` for the daily calendar before you go. **Best seasons**: **late March to early April** is peak, when about **1,200 cherry trees** ring the castle and Inner Moat, and the moat lined with sakura is one of Kansai's signature hanami views (Lake Biwa region typically peaks ~Apr 1 to 10, about a week behind Kyoto). **Mid-November** for koyo, when Genkyu-en garden's maples reflect in the pond. **Avoid August midday**, since the climb up to the keep is brutal in the heat, with no shade on the path. **Special tip**: at sunset (an hour before close) the keep glows orange against the lake and crowds thin out, the best photo conditions of the day.
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