Discover Hikone: Castle, Museum, and Crafts

If you’re looking for a hotel in Hikone, you can tailor your stay to your interests: the castle and museum offer historical themes, while Sawayama, crafts, and walks provide other focal points.

Hikone Castle and Museum

Hikone Castle has remained almost unchanged since it was originally built. The permanent exhibition at the Hikone Castle Museum mainly features furnishings passed down through the Ii family. The works are divided into seven thematic sections. The exhibits are generally originals, and the selection is changed every one to two months.

For your planning, this means the permanent exhibition’s thematic framework remains in place, while the selection on display changes at this interval. If you are particularly interested in specific pieces, keep the rotation in mind when setting your expectations. The castle and museum offer different points of emphasis: one features the nearly unchanged castle, while the other presents inherited furnishings in an organized, changing thematic display.

Walking route and summit destination

Hikone Castle is a 15-minute walk from Hikone Station. A hiking trail at the ruins of Sawayama Castle leads to the summit. From there, you can enjoy views of Hikone Castle and Lake Biwa. The walk from the station to the castle and the trail to the summit answer different planning questions: one connects the station and castle with a walking time, while the other leads to a summit with two named viewpoints.

A story at the former site

At the former site of Sawayama Castle, it is said that the castle was originally built by Sasaki, a leader of Ōmi Province. After it passed to Lord Ishida Mitsunari, the castle is said to have acquired an even more imposing five-story keep. The account combines an attributed founding with a later building history that is also reported as such.

Crafts and walks

The tour of Hikone’s Buddhist altar workshops visits workshops along Nanamagari Street. As the tour’s availability may vary, check in advance whether it is offered during your visit.

Another link to local crafts is Kōtō-yaki: Isshiro-gama is a workshop in this tradition and, as a revival workshop, carries on the legacy of the Hikone domain’s former official Kōtō-yaki kiln. While the tour focuses on workshops along Nanamagari Street, Isshiro-gama centers on its connection to the Hikone domain’s former official Kōtō-yaki kiln.

Something Four offers walks through Hikone’s historic castle town wearing hakama. Here, the focus is on the walk, not the workshop tradition. Availability may also change; check in advance whether the experience is taking place during your visit.

Bicycle rental at the station

Hikone Chari is a bicycle rental shop a one-minute walk from Hikone Station. It is on the first floor of Al Plaza Hikone, along the main passageway. This makes the station a convenient landmark when looking for the rental shop. As shop details may change, check the information before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Kusatsu, Takashima, Ōtsu, Kōka, Ritto, Konan, Maibara, Moriyama

For the broader travel overview: Shiga Prefecture.