Home to a castle designated as a National Treasure, Hikone is a city that has preserved much of Japan’s rich samurai and castle history from the Edo period.
Located in Shiga prefecture which neighbors Kyoto, Hikone is a great place to visit for those looking to explore outside of crowded tourist spots and engage with historical aspects of Japan’s past. (Hikone is only a 50-minute train ride from Kyoto Station making it easy to access for a day trip or longer stay.)
During my visit to Hikone, I explored the hilltop castle with a private tour guide, met the cutest city mascot, Hikonyan, and strolled through streets lined with structures modeled after the 1600’s-1800’s. I also savored the region’s specialty wagyu beef, omi-gyu!
If this sounds like a trip for you, continue reading to learn what to do in Hikone and other parts of Shiga!
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Table of Contents
- Hikone Castle Walking Tour – Vlog
- How to Get to Hikone
- What to Do in Hikone
- Where to Stay in Hikone
- Other Things to Do in Shiga Prefecture
- Final Thoughts
Hikone Castle Walking Tour – Vlog
Come with me as I explore Hikone, another lesser-known area of Japan! As I walk around this beautiful space, we’ll learn about the area’s history and samurai culture from travel guide, Miyuki Seguchi!
How to Get to Hikone
Hikone is located on the eastern side of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake. The closest train station is Hikone Station.
- From Kyoto Station, you can get to Hikone Station in just under 50 minutes by local train.
- From Osaka Station, the train ride to Hikone Station is around 1 hour 45 minutes.
- From Hikone Station, it’s about a 10-minute drive or 25-minute walk to Hikone Castle. Taxis are available outside of the station.
What to Do in Hikone
So you’ve made it to Hikone, what should you do during your stay? See below for ideas of what to add to your itinerary when you visit.
Climb to the Top of Hikone Castle Keep
One must-visit place is, of course, Hikone Castle! Make your way up the steps to the Castle entrance, taking in the castle’s unique fortifications along the way such as the uneven steps and collapsible bridge.
To head to the top of the keep, remove your shoes and carefully climb up the flights of tall, narrow stairs. From the top, you can see Lake Biwa, mountains in the distance, Hikone City, and the nearby Genkyuen Japanese Garden.
Caution: the stairs inside the castle are very steep and slippery! Take care when ascending/descending.
Entrance fee: 1,000 yen for Hikone Castle (including Genkyu-en Garden) or 1,500 yen for additional admission to the Hikone Castle Museum.
Website: Find hours and holidays on the official site here.
Stroll in Genkyuen Garden
A ticket to Hikone Castle also includes access to Genkyuen Garden, a Japanese garden constructed by the 4th lord of Hikone in 1677. On the grounds, there is a small pond with bridges that connect the different sections. From one side of the garden, there is a great view of Hikone Castle perched high above.
When I visited, there was a special boat ride experience!
Peruse the Hikone Castle Museum
If you want to learn more about Hikone City, Hikone Castle, and the area’s samurai history, you’ll want to make a stop at the Hikone Castle Museum (彦根城博物館). This is an expansive museum whose collection contains over 45,000 items handed down from the former ruling Ii family.
On permanent display are samurai suits of armor, weaponry, and items of traditional culture including Noh play masks and tea ware. There are also many rare documents and historical materials.
There is also a Noh theater that shows recordings of past Noh performances. In a different section of the museum, you can walk through the reconstructed Omote Goten, one of the major buildings of Hikone Castle. This was where government offices and the living quarters of the daimyo used to be.
While I’m not the biggest history buff, I enjoyed walking around the different parts of the museum as doing so gave me a better idea of what life was like in Hikone during the Edo period. Miyuki also pointed out so many interesting artifacts – it was such a learning experience for me!
Entrance fee: 700 yen for the Hikone Castle Museum or 1,500 yen for additional admission to Hikone Castle (including Genkyu-en Garden).
Website: Find hours and holidays on the official site here.
Visit the Hikone City National Museum
Much smaller than the above-mentioned Hikone Castle Museum is the Hikone City National Museum (彦根市開国記念館). What I enjoyed about this museum was the LEGO replica of Hikone Castle and the miniature dioramas that depicted what the area looked like during the Edo period.
Entrance fee: Free
Stroll in Edo-Period Shopping Streets
Yume Kyōbashi Castle Road is located just across the Hikone Castle moat and features shops and restaurants built in a style representative of the Edo time period (1603- 1868). This street and the neighboring back streets are good places to find a bite to eat or shop for souvenirs to take home.
See Hikonyan – in the Fur!
The mascot of Hikone is Hikonyan, a cute white cat sporting a red samurai helmet. (“nyan” is the word for “meow” in Japanese, so Hikone + nyan = Hikonyan!)
Hikonyan makes almost daily appearances at the castle, so you might be able to see them during your visit.
If you fall in love with the adorable character like I did and want to purchase some Hikonyan souvenirs to take home, head to the Hikonyan Museum for a wide variety of samurai kitty products.
Eat Omi Wagyu Beef
Meat lovers will want to try Omi wagyu beef during their visit. Omi beef is a type of Japanese cow that is prized for its tender and smooth taste. Some say it is one of Japan’s top three Wagyu brands alongside Kobe beef and Matsuzaka beef.
While Omi beef can be enjoyed grilled, one of the popular ways to enjoy this decadent cut of meat is sukiyaki style. Sukiyaki is a dish that is prepared in a hot pot. Thin slices of meat are slowly simmered in a sweet and savory sauce along with veggies and other ingredients. The meat is then dipped into a bowl of beaten raw egg which gives it a silky, creamy finish.
I had a fantastic sukiyaki experience at Sennari Tei Kyara. The meal started with a small appetizer and meat sashimi. Then the hot pot came out which was set on a bed of hot coals and the sukiykai was prepared. The cooked omi beef was so soft and I loved the texture it got once coated with the egg. In addition to the meat, there were konjac, onions, carrots, and noodles. The meal was so filling that I left stuffed!
Another place I tried Omi beef was at Oumiya. This restaurant is known for its beef bowls and is open later in the evening than most other places. The experience wasn’t fancy like at Sennari Tei Kyara, but here I still enjoyed Omi beef served on a hot skillet. On the menu it was called a “steak”, but the portion was much smaller and the meat much richer than one with Western standards might expect. Since the meat was so well marbled, a knife wasn’t necessary – once I sank my teeth into it, it just pulled away.
Rest and Coffee at WHILE
I found this nice coffee shop outside the castle moat. WHILE is open until 5 pm and has a few seats for stopping to take a break. It’s also a bike-friendly shop that has a bike pump and bike stands. You’ll find coffee, beer, and Biwacola on the menu.
Enjoy Cherry Blossoms by the Water
Many cherry blossoms line the castle moat, so if you are lucky to visit in the spring, you’ll be in for a beautiful treat! Some special twice-blooming cherry blossoms bloom around November as well.
Where to Stay in Hikone
While you can visit Hikone on a day trip, if you want to enjoy your time more leisurely, I recommend spending the night!
I had a great stay at Honmachi Juku, a traditional Japanese guesthouse. There are private rooms of varying sizes and shared showers, restrooms, and a lounge. Since it’s a traditional style building, the walls are a bit thin. I didn’t have any issues during my stay, but if other guests are loud, it could be bothersome. I would recommend this kind of stay for solo travelers or couples looking to experience a more traditional Japanese stay.
The building closes during the daytime, so it’s best to plan to be out during the day if you stay here. Honmachi Juku is about a 25-minute walk from Hikone Station or a 7-minute taxi drive. (About 800 yen).
Check out Honmachi Juku here.
If you are looking for a more standard yet high-class hotel experience closer to Hikone Station and Hikone Castle, you can consider Hikone Castle Resort & Spa.
Other Things to Do in Shiga Prefecture
In this article, I shared some things to do in Hikone, but outside of this town, there are many other places to explore in Shiga Prefecture! I am still doing a lot of exploring myself, but here are some highlights so far.
Bike Lake Biwa – BIWAICHI National Cycle Route
The national cycle route, BIWAICHI goes around Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake! Hop on a bike and ride around all or part of the lake for an exciting and active time. Check out my trip on the BIWAICHI route (blog, video.)
Quaint and Historic Omihachiman
Located on the Eastern side of Lake Biwa south of Hikone is Omihachiman, a historic merchant town with small canals.
Take a leisurely boat ride in the water, walk to Himure Hachimangu Shrine, or take the cable car up to the Hachimanyama Castle Ruins
Enryaku-ji Temple and Mt. Hei-zan
Enryaku-ji Temple is located on Mt. Heizan and in the winter, the landscape is incredible! You can access the temple via cable car or car.
Soak and Relax at Ogoto Onsen
Ogoto Onsen is a hot spring area that is said to have been established by Saicho, the founder of Enryaku temple (mentioned above). There are several Japanese inns (ryokan) in the area that provide luxurious stays, access to onsens, rooms with open-air baths, and views of Lake Biwa.
I had a nice stay at Biwako Hanakaido Ryokan. My room had a view out onto the Lake, came with dinner and breakfast, and there were several baths to enjoy.
If you are looking for a more casual time, you can head to the Spa Resort Ogoto Agaryanse. This is a public bath that has gender-divided, indoor and outdoor baths, saunas, optional hot stone rooms, lounging spaces, and restaurants.
There are some great views from different parts of the resort complex.
You can reach the Spa Resort by taxi or bus from Ogoto Onsen Station. Ogoto Onsen is just 20 minutes from Kyoto Station, so it makes for a perfect place to visit if you are looking for a nice hot spring trip outside of Kyoto City.
Wake Up to The Sunrise – Biwako Hotel
You can enjoy a beautiful sunset from many of the hotels around Lake Biwa. I enjoyed an especially incredible sunrise from the Biwako Hotel. Look at how beautiful the sunrise was over the lake water!
Avenue of Metasequoia Trees
When I visited here in the fall, the 2.4 km stretch of Metasequoia trees had turned the road into a place of golden greatness. The scenery changes dynamically with the seasons and is said to be beautiful at other times of the year too!
From Makino Station, you can reach this area by taxi or bus (7 minutes).
Final Thoughts
Well, I hope you enjoyed learning about some of the things to do in Hikone and Shiga! I loved exploring this prefecture and know that there is still so much more to discover. Until next time!
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