Nestled in the heart of old Japan – between Kyoto, Osaka and Nara power stations – Hikone (Shiga Prefecture) was a strategically vital area to hold, which means that its castle was of particular importance. Hikone is today a pleasant fortified town with lively historical districts.
Castle of Hikone
After twenty years of construction, Hikone Castle (Hikonejō) was completed in 1622. The castle at the top of a hill served as a seat for the Ii daimyo (feudal teachers) until the end of feudal age in 1868.
The castle of Hikone is an original castle, i.e. it survived the post-feudal era without undergoing destruction or reconstruction. In addition to the main dungeon of the castle, most of the interior moat, walls, guard houses and doors also remain intact.
The three-storey dungeon of Hikone Castle is relatively small but has a unique design that combines several different architectural styles. This is one of the reasons why the dungeon of the castle was designated national treasure, the highest designation for cultural property in Japan, held by only four other castle dungeons: Himejijo, Matsumotojo, Inuyamajo and Matsuejo. By climbing the steep stairs inside the castle up to the top floor, visitors can enjoy a view of the castle park and the city. The dungeon includes a spiral ramp on a wooden bridge that can be easily destroyed in case of attack. There are also several turrets that can be visited as well as a large bell that still rings several times a day to give the hour. A large warehouse and stable stand near the main door of the castle.
At the foot of the castle hill stands the museum of the castle of Hikone whose main attraction is a partial reconstruction of the old buildings of the palace. The buildings, which included multiple tatami rooms, corridors and gardens, served as government offices for lords and were rebuilt in the 1980s. Exhibition rooms feature family treasures of the clan, including weapons and armor, kimonos, musical instruments and documents.
Castle road
The road to Yume Kyobashi Castle is a road outside the moat of Hikone Castle, which has been redesigned in a style combining the appearance and atmosphere of an ancient fortified town with a pleasant and modern shopping street.
To obtain the appearance of the castle city, the buildings along the road were designed as town houses of the Edo era with white walls and blackened roofs. Various restaurants, cafes and shops border the street, making it a pleasant walk after a visit to the castle
Genkyuen
The Genkyuen Garden is a Japanese landscaped garden with a central pond and circular hiking trail. It was built on the grounds of Hikone Castle in 1677 by the local lord for the entertainment of his guests and family. It is designed after a Chinese palace garden of the Tang dynasty.
There are four small islands scattered across the pond, connected by bridges. The main dungeon of the castle of Hikone stands on the hill behind the garden. A group of wooden buildings stands next to the pond. In the past, they were used to entertain the Lord’s guests. Today, they can be used by contemporary tourists to taste a cup of tea (500 yen).
Next to the garden stands the Rakurakuen Palace, which served as a residence for the Lord’s family. The large wooden complex is being renovated. The renovation works are expected to continue until 2025, but they do not prevent a visit to the garden.
Hikone Don
“Hikone Don” is a delicious bowl of Omi rice and local ingredients, born in 2011 as part of a project commemorating the 75th anniversary of the municipal organization of Hikone.
The “Hikone Don Executive Committee” was organized with the aim of creating a local gourmet cuisine that is easily eaten and that is popular with tourists, and efforts have been made with the cooperation of many people. It is currently served in some restaurants in the city,
Hikonyan
Visible in most streets and shops, Hikonyan is a mascot created by the city of Hikone. It was created in 2007 to mark the 400th anniversary of the foundation of the castle of Hikone.
The character’s conception is derived from a legend about Ii Naotaka, the third lord of Hikone. The daimyō is invited by a white cat to shelter himself from a storm in a temple, and thus saved from a lightning strike. In Japanese, “nyan” is an onomatopoeia for the mialment of a cat. The Hikonyan samurai helmet is based on a Ii family helmet currently at the Hikone Castle Museum.
Hikone is a small town that can visit/traverse in a small day. Its framework based on it makes it one of the stages on the turn of theLake Biwa.
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