CastleHilltop castle (hirayamajiro)Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 53
What makes this castle distinctive
A castle of reuse: its National Treasure keep is said to have come from Otsu Castle, and other buildings and even wall stones from other castles.
Why?
Hikone Castle was built in a hurry from 1604 for the Ii family after the Battle of Sekigahara, with the shogunate's full backing. To speed up the work, the keep is said to have been moved from Otsu Castle, and other buildings and wall stones are said to have been reused from nearby castles. The keep built this way has stood since the Edo period without ever being lost, and it is now a National Treasure.[3][1]
The National Treasure keep, standing since the Edo period
Where
The honmaru (main enclosure), at the top of about 140 stone steps and roughly 50 m of climb from the Omote-mon or Ote-mon gates.
What to look at
The many gables (hafu) of different shapes on the roofs and the bell-shaped katomado windows on the upper floors. Inside, note the stairs, steeper than 60 degrees.
Why it's interesting
Completed around 1606-1607, the keep was named a National Treasure in 1952. At 20.5 m including its 5 m stone base it is not large, but the varied roof shapes give it a different look from every side. Inside, the stairs rise at 62 degrees from the first to second floor and 60 degrees to the third, so you feel how old keeps were built.[1][2][3]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideYour castle ticket includes the keep interior (the keep closes at 16:45). Entry may be limited when crowded.
Tenbin-yagura, the balance-shaped turret, and its bridge
Where
Between the Kane-no-maru and the main enclosure, on the way up from the Omote-mon gate.
What to look at
The Roka-bashi bridge over the horikiri (a trench cut through the ridge), the two-story turrets on both sides of the gate, and the stone walls seen from below.
Why it's interesting
Its name comes from the way the matching turrets on either side look like a balance scale. Tradition says it was moved from Nagahama Castle. The bridge could be dropped to cut off the route to the main enclosure in an attack. It is an Important Cultural Property.[2][7]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideIncluded in the castle ticket; you pass through it and can go inside (closes 16:45).
Genkyu-en, northeast of the castle outside the inner moat.
What to look at
The keep seen small on the hill beyond the pond and artificial hills.
Why it's interesting
Genkyu-en is a daimyo garden built inside the castle grounds in 1677-1679. Unlike looking up at the keep from inside the castle, here you see it as part of a garden landscape. Entry is included in the castle ticket.[2][3]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideIncluded in the castle ticket (last entry 16:30).
At a glance for visitors
Nearest station
15 min walk from JR Hikone Station
Climb
Steep climb
Time neededEditors' estimate
About 2 hours for the keep, Tenbin-yagura and Genkyu-en; around 3 hours with the museum.
Admission
Adults 1,000 yen, elementary and junior high students 300 yen (since October 1, 2024). 20% off for groups of 30+.
Hours
8:30-17:00 (last entry 16:30; the keep, Tenbin-yagura, Taikomon-yagura, Nishi-no-maru turret and stable close at 16:45)
Access
Open to visitors
Entry to the grounds is paid (the ticket includes Genkyu-en). You can go inside the keep, Tenbin-yagura, Taikomon-yagura, the Nishi-no-maru turret and the stable. The Kaikoku Kinenkan history museum and the stable are free. The grounds are a wildlife protection zone.
Hikone lies on a narrow plain between Lake Biwa and the mountains, where the Nakasendo and Hokuriku roads join. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Ii Naomasa, one of Tokugawa Ieyasu's leading generals, was given this area and took over Sawayama Castle, the former seat of Ishida Mitsunari.[3][7]
02
Historical record
Begun by Ii Naotsugu, finished by Naotaka
Naomasa died in 1602, and from July 1604 his eldest son Naotsugu began building a new castle on Mt. Hikone (about 136 m), about 1 km from Sawayama. The shogunate fully backed the work and nearby daimyo helped. Construction paused during the Sieges of Osaka, and Naotsugu's brother Naotaka took over and finished the castle and its town in 1622.[1][3]
03
Scholarly interpretation
Seat of 14 Ii lords for about 260 years
Throughout the Edo period Hikone was the seat of the Ii family. Its 14 lords included Ii Naosuke, who as the shogunate's chief minister (tairo) handled the opening of Japan and was assassinated in Edo. Hikone City says the castle preserves, better than anywhere, the Edo-period system in which a daimyo and his senior retainers lived inside the castle and governed together.[3][5]
04
Historical record
1878: saved from demolition
After the domains were abolished, in 1878 the decision was made to tear down the keep and other buildings. But Okuma Shigenobu, who visited Hikone with Emperor Meiji, saw the work and proposed preserving the castle, and it was saved. Hikone City's World Heritage site notes that the wishes of local people for its preservation were also fulfilled.[3]
05
Historical record
Keep, turrets, moats and walls all survive
The keep with its attached turret and tamon-yagura are National Treasures, and Tenbin-yagura, Taikomon-yagura, the Nishi-no-maru three-story turret, the Sawaguchi tamon-yagura and the stable (umaya) are Important Cultural Properties. The castle was once ringed by three moats, and inside the middle moat the stone-walled layout survives exceptionally well.[1][7]
06
Historical record
Special Historic Site, aiming for World Heritage
The Ii family donated the castle to Hikone City in 1944; it became a Historic Site in 1951 and a Special Historic Site in 1956. Listed on Japan's World Heritage tentative list in 1992, it was provisionally selected on September 3, 2026, by the national Council for Cultural Affairs to be Japan's nomination for World Cultural Heritage. The city aims for inscription in 2028.[1][3][5]
Provisionally selected as Japan's World Heritage nomination[5]
Buildings and remains
The keep today
Original keep
An original keep with three roofs and three floors. National Treasure since 1952. Said to have been moved from Otsu Castle.
The site today
The area inside the middle moat (about 500,000 m2) survives as a Special Historic Site with the keep, turrets, moats, walls and garden open to visitors. The Hikone Castle Museum stands on the site of the lord's main palace. The grounds are a special wildlife protection zone.
Survives at the Sawaguchi entrance on the middle moat.[7]
Lost
Omote Goten (main palace)
The Hikone Castle Museum now stands on its site.[3]
Key facts
Type
Castle
Setting
Hilltop castle (hirayamajiro)built on a low hill rising from the plainEditorial article
Period
Early modern (1570s–1871)Editorial article
Keep (tenshu)
Original keepthe keep (tenshu) itself survives from before 1868Editorial article
Built by
Ii NaotsuguJapan Castle Foundation
Built
1604Japan Castle Foundation
Main lords
Ii clanJapan Castle Foundation
Abandoned
1874Wikipedia (ja)
Remains to see
Turrets or turret bases, Gates, Stone walls, Earthen ramparts, Moats, Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa), Keep base (tenshudai)Editorial article
Designation
National Treasure (keep, attached turret and tamon-yagura) (1952); Special Historic Site (Hikone Castle ruins) (1956); Important Cultural Properties (Tenbin-yagura and 4 others) (1951)Editorial article
Selection
Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 53Japan Castle Foundation
Visiting
Access
Open to visitors
Entry to the grounds is paid (the ticket includes Genkyu-en). You can go inside the keep, Tenbin-yagura, Taikomon-yagura, the Nishi-no-maru turret and the stable. The Kaikoku Kinenkan history museum and the stable are free. The grounds are a wildlife protection zone.
About 2 hours for the keep, Tenbin-yagura and Genkyu-en; around 3 hours with the museum.
Steps, slopes and footing
About 140 stone steps and 50 m of climb to the main enclosure. Inside the keep the stairs are steeper than 60 degrees.[1]
Wheelchairs and strollers
Not confirmed (the way up is stone steps, and the keep has steep stairs).Checked: 2026-10-03
Toilets and rest
Not confirmed
English signs / audio guide
The official admission page is in Japanese and English. English signage on site was not confirmed.[2]
Seasons
Cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves at Genkyu-en. In 2026 the Autumn Night Viewing runs every Saturday from September 19 to December 5 plus selected days (18:00-20:00, last entry 19:30, cancelled in bad weather).[6]
Photography
Not confirmed
Works, closures and restrictions
The keep interior gets very crowded on holidays and entry may be limited. Night viewing is also held on selected days such as October 11 and November 22.[9][6]Checked: 2026-10-03
A museum on the site of the lord's main palace, showing treasures handed down in the Ii family.[2][3]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Editors' guide
An editorial guide based on sources and confirmed information — not a first-hand visit report.
Who will enjoy it
For anyone who wants to climb a genuine Edo-period keep, enjoys spotting defensive features, or likes gardens. It is walkable from the station, so it suits first-time castle visitors too.
What makes it interesting
Beyond the keep, Hikone lets you see one Edo-period building after another: Tenbin-yagura and its bridge, Taikomon-yagura and the Nishi-no-maru turret. Look up at Tenbin-yagura from the bottom of the trench to see how well the route to the main enclosure was guarded.
Before you go
Stone steps lead up to the main enclosure, and the keep's stairs are steeper than 60 degrees, so travel light and wear good shoes. Admission rose to 1,000 yen for adults in October 2024.
Ways to enjoy it
After the keep, walk down to Genkyu-en and look back up at the keep across the pond. On autumn night-viewing evenings you can see it lit up.
Photos
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Open questions
That the keep came from Otsu Castle and Tenbin-yagura from Nagahama Castle are traditions.
The official site's top page still shows the old 800-yen fee; this article uses the admission page's fees effective October 1, 2024 (1,000 yen).
As of September 2026 Hikone has only been provisionally selected for nomination; it is not yet a World Heritage Site.
Among the Important Cultural Properties, the stable was designated in 1963 (supplementary source). Accessibility, toilets and photo rules could not be confirmed.
663highlandCC BY 2.5Wikimedia Commons
