Hikone is a town on the northeastern shore of Lake Biwa that has flourished for centuries as a strategic point along the trading routes, blessed with rich natural environment and heritage, continuing to develop as a core city to this day. Hikone is home to the National Treasure “Hikone Castle”, also a World Heritage Site along with Himeji Castle of Hyogo Prefecture, is acknowledged as a symbol of the city. “Hikonyan”, a “Maneki-neko” [beckoning cat] wearing a kabuto helmet on the head, is the highly popular mascot of Hikone City.

by Train

-From Tokyo and Nagoya:
Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen [Bullet Train] and disembark at Maibara Station, transfer to the JR Biwako Line and disembark at JR Hikone Station.

-From Kyoto and Osaka:
Take the JR Tokaido Line and disembark at JR Hikone Station.

by Bus

Kokoku Bus is recommended for transportation within the Hikone City.

Points of Interest

Hikone City is home to numerous tourist attractions, including the National Treasure "Hikone Castle", Yume Kyobashi Castle Road by the castle with a nostalgic townscape feeling transported back in time to castle town of the Edo Era when dining and shopping at restaurants and souvenir stores along the street. Yonbancho Square is a quaint shopping street reminiscent of the streets of the Taisho Era (1912-1926).

Hikone Castle / 彦根城 (Shiga)

• Hikone
• Shiga
• Gardens
• Castles
• Historical Sites

Hikone Castle was the residence of the Ii family, feudal lords who held important positions in the Edo shogunate and supported the reign of the Tokugawa family. In 1604, by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, c...

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