2025 Hikone Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

#AprilGoodDestinations2025 Hikone Castle is located in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Hikone Castle is one of the only five remaining wooden castles in Japan. Also known as the Golden Turtle Castle, it is a designated national treasure and national monument in Japan. Hikone Castle was built in 1604 and has a history of more than 400 years. It was the residence of the Ii family, who held high positions in the Tokugawa shogunate for generations. After arriving at Kansai Airport at noon, we immediately went to the airport car rental company to pick up and inspect the vehicle, then rushed to Hikone Castle. After more than two hours of driving, we finally arrived, but there was only less than half an hour left before the closing time of 17:00, so we decided to buy a ticket to visit. It was just that time was too rushed, so I just picked up my phone to take some photos. I left Hikone Castle on time at 17:00 and prepared to go back to the hotel to rest.

#100 Ways to Travel Lake Biwa is located in Shiga and has a vast area. Mount Hira is a great place to enjoy the view of Lake Biwa. Take a bus from Kyoto to Shiga Station, then take a bus to take the cable car to the top of the mountain, which is over a thousand meters high. The mountain cable car only takes 5 minutes! As soon as you arrive, you will be greeted by beautiful views of grass and blue sky! There are several restaurants on the mountain that overlook Lake Biwa. The venue is also very spacious. You can take the free small cable car shown in the picture. It is very stable and even children can ride it. There are also many recreational facilities, such as grass sliding, swings, and recreational games. Both children and adults have a lot of fun! The scenery is really beautiful, but it was very windy that day and the temperature on the mountain was only about 15 degrees. I had to bring a coat because it was too windy. I only stayed for more than an hour. Tips: 1. Check the weather. The Lake Biwa Cable Car has an official website where you can view the mountain weather map in real time. A cloudy day should be really gray... 2. The round trip cable car is 3,500 yen. I heard it’s cheaper if you pre-order online. 3. After buying tickets online, you have to redeem them on site. I didn’t redeem them first and had to queue up for the cable car team again, but it didn’t take too long. 4. Bring a coat, and for girls, tie your hair in a way that won’t get messy, or it will blow so hard that you can’t take photos. 5. The scenery at Shiga Station is beautiful! After getting off the train, you'll see an unforgettable view on the platform! Hayao Miyazaki style! 🤣 #JapanTravel #BiwaLake

Lake Biwa is a favorite cherry blossom spot for seasoned travelers to Japan. Compared to Kyoto, there are fewer people here, and there are many attractions around the lake that are perfect for in-depth travel. To get to Lake Biwa, you usually go to Otsu first, which is the capital of Shiga Prefecture and very close to Kyoto. From Kyoto Station, take the JR Biwako Line to Otsu Station, which takes about 10 minutes. Otsu has the third most historical sites and Buddha statues in Japan, after Nara and Kyoto. Here, the World Heritage Site "Enryaku-ji Temple" on Mount Hiei, the "Ishiyama-dera Temple" that inspired "The Tale of Genji," and the Sanno Shrine Hiyoshi Taisha are all must-see attractions. If you've been to the Rurikoin Temple in Kyoto but were put off by the crowds, you should definitely visit the Old Chikurin-in Temple next to the Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Otsu, which is just as beautiful. In addition, there are three islands in Lake Biwa, and Chikubu Island is the most worth visiting. In Takashima, there are two must-see places: the Torii Gate in the lake at Shirahige Shrine and the Metasequoia Avenue. About 500 metasequoia trees are planted along the Metasequoia Avenue, which is beautiful in all seasons and perfect for taking photos. Omihachiman is an ancient city on the shores of Lake Biwa, where you can feel the full Edo period Japanese style. Of course, food is also an important part of travel. When you come here, you must not miss Omi beef, one of the three major Wagyu beef in Japan. In addition to sightseeing and food, the Lake Biwa cruise is also worth a try. There are three Lake Biwa cruise itineraries: the Michigan cruise, the Chikubu Island cruise, and the Lake Biwa Island cruise. In addition to lake sightseeing, the Michigan cruise also offers live concerts and onboard dining, which is perfect for those who like lively activities. In addition, taking the cable car to the top of Mount Horai is also very special, and you can take stunning videos.

#100 Travel Style The illuminated cherry blossoms at Hikone Castle were so beautiful★Hikone Castle Sakura Festival 2023 is currently being held. Smartphone photos are taken at the end. Location: Shiga. Title: Hikone Castle Sakura Illumination 2023 Spot name: Hikone Castle Address: 1-1 Kanagicho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture Opening hours: 18:30-20:45 (illuminated) Tips for taking photos: Anyone can easily take the first photo with a smartphone Note: The first composition is prohibited from tripods and sitting down There was a photo spot at the outer moat I was walking around the inner moat (((((*==) but there was nothing! I thought I should go home, but then I found a photo spot The smartphone photo is in the 6th photo, so please use it as a reference (tsu) The photo was taken on 3/30, so please hurry (=__)9 #HikoneCastle #SakuraSpot #ShigaToco #ShigaTouristSightseeing #ShigaTourism #Sakura #ShigaPrefecture #ShigaSakura

#Shiga #ShigaTourism #LakeBiwa #FuriTabi Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture. It is the oldest lake in Japan with a long history of about 4 million years, and is one of about 20 ancient lakes in the world. It has a valuable natural environment with over 60 endemic species, and is a national asset that is indispensable to the lives and industrial development of 14.5 million people in the Kinki region. The area of ​​Lake Biwa is about 670 km2. The length of the shoreline of Lake Biwa is about 235 km. However, if you go along the road, it is about 200 km, and you can cycle around it in about one night and two days. In addition, lake sports such as yachting and canoeing are actively held, and about 700,000 people visit the bathing beach and marina every year. There are many flat roads along the lake shore, and you can experience the size of Lake Biwa by cycling or walking around the lake, known as "Biwaichi." I enjoyed driving around Lake Biwa, but there were many people cycling around, camping, and having barbecues. The water was very clear, and it felt like a calm ocean, so it was very relaxing.

Shiga Prefecture - Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival The Lake Biwa Grand Fireworks Festival is a summer tradition in Shiga Prefecture! The fireworks display at Japan's largest lake is grand and breathtaking.👏 ☑️ This fireworks festival features 10,000 fireworks✨ ☑️ The launch site is right in front of the Lake Biwa Hotel! ☑️ A powerful fireworks festival! ☑️ Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, offers stunning reflections of the fireworks on its surface. ☑️ The venue, Otsu City, and Kusatsu City, where the fireworks can be seen, are easily accessible from Osaka and Kyoto, even though they are in Shiga Prefecture! 📍 Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival

⁡ I went to Oku-no-shima (Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture), a small island that became connected to the mainland due to the drop in the water level of Lake Biwa! ⁡ Oku-no-shima is a bird habitat and floats about 200 meters offshore. Since the beginning of December last year, the water has receded, and a road has appeared. Since there is a single road from the shore to the island, it has been in the news as if it were the French monastery "Mont Saint-Michel" 😌 ⁡ The road was in the water, but when you walk on it, it feels solid and feels like you are on a sandy beach 😳 There were many birds swimming in the lake, and it was beautiful ✨🦢 ⁡ In Oku-no-shima, my shoes got stuck in the mud and sank, but I was able to take a beautiful picture while rinsing them in the lake (6th photo) 👟😂 7th to 9th photos are photos I took in Oku-no-shima 📷 ⁡ ⁡ 📍Oku-no-shima Location: Kohoku-cho, Nagahama-shi, Shiga Parking: Free ⁡ ⁡ ⁡ #Lake Biwa #Shiga Prefecture Tourism #Island #Wild Birds #Oku-no-shima #Scenic Spot #Tourist Spot ⁡

I went to see the sunrise at Lake Biwa in Shiga ✨ It seems like the sunrise is at 4:44 at this time of year 🌅 The sunset always falls on the opposite side of Lake Biwa, so Lake Biwa seems like a good place to see the sunrise 🌊🌿 All of the sky is unprocessed ✨ It was really nice to be along Lake Biwa in the morning when there was no one around 🎵 When it comes to beach mornings, coffee and hot sandwiches are the best ✨ We prepared our own and enjoyed it ☕️ I recommend early morning Lake Biwa mornings 🌿 The sun sets on most of the seas in Kansai, so I think Lake Biwa is a hidden gem for the sunrise ❤️ I was moved by the moment the sunrise came out 🌅🌟 I want to do it again when I can get up early ☕️✨ #ShigaTourism #LakeBiwa #BeachMorning

Club Harie Hikone Mihorinoya in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, sells Club Harie's Baumkuchen, a popular Shiga souvenir, and has a cafe on the second floor. It's located near Hikone Castle, so you can easily stop by while sightseeing. In the same building, you'll also find Taneya, a Japanese confectionery store that sells Club Harie, making it a popular spot to buy both Western and Japanese confectionery that represent Shiga. 📌Club Harie Hikone Mihorinoya 📌 1-2-33 Honmachi, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture 522-0064 📌It's located next to Hikone Castle, so it's recommended to visit it in conjunction with sightseeing at the castle🏯. 📌 Popularity ★★★☆☆ #Domestic travel #Shiga prefecture #Shiga #Club Harie #Taneya #Hikone Castle #Hikone City #Hikone #Cafe #Western sweets #Japanese sweets

#Japan Attractions Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture is near Nagoya and Kyoto, but its lack of bright and dazzling fame gives Hikone Castle a more peaceful and beautiful atmosphere. If you don't like hustle and bustle or want to find a small town suitable for meditation, Hikone Castle is worth staying in for a while. The castle tower is one of only five remaining in Japan and has profound historical value. When you come to this town and enjoy the leisurely atmosphere around you, remember to go up to the top floor of the castle to overlook Lake Biwa and the entire city and feel the aura of the town! #castle #meditation #town #yoga #yoga retreat #vertebral arch fracture #isthmus fracture #sadhguru #historical value #classical beauty

#Japan Attractions If many people travel to Kansai, they usually go to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, or Kobe. There is no denying that the tourism development in these cities is relatively complete, and the tourist information, transportation information, and various food, drink, and entertainment information are relatively complete. After visiting Kansai several times, I began to want to slowly explore the small towns in the suburbs near Osaka. This time, I chose Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture! Hikone Castle has a first-class river and the beautiful Lake Biwa. From Kyoto Station, you can reach Minami-Hikone Castle Station in just one hour by JR train! Walking leisurely from Minami-Hikone Station towards Lake Biwa, leisurely walking through the main streets of the town, enjoying the simplicity of the small town, and smiling at the locals are really the most beautiful memories of the trip! IG: meditation_me_time #town #tranquility #lake biwa #yoga #yoga retreat #meditation #meditation #yoga #ヨガ　 #vertebral arch fracture treatment

#Japan Attractions Hikone Castle Tower is the landmark of Hikone Castle. It is very convenient to take the JR railway line from Kyoto Station to Hikone Station, so you can depart at any time. The opening hours of Hikone Castle Tower are from 8:30am to 5pm, which is the opening time of the moat gate under the castle. There are three ticket entrances to the castle: Otemon Bridge, Omotemon Bridge, and Kuromon Bridge. It is worth noting that no matter which ticket entrance you go through, it is a long way to get to the castle tower. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from the castle tower on the top of the mountain to the main entrance ticket office. The last admission to the castle on the top of the mountain is 4:30pm, so it is recommended to enter before 2pm. The bird's eye view of Hikone Castle from the castle tower is really beautiful, it's worth it no matter how tiring it is! #Hikone Castle #castle #meditation #yoga #yoga retreat #vertebral arch fracture #isthmic arch fracture #sadhguru #castle tower #Hikone station #moat

#Japan Attractions Wandering around downtown Hikone is a great way to explore. The town hall and specialty shops on the main street are so attractive that you can't help but stop and take a look. The town hall is a building with a nice design. We passed by a plus-size clothing store which also looked nice to shop at and buy some oversized coats as spring wear. It was getting dark when we reached Hikomoto Town. Watching the afterglow of the sunset shining on the roofs and wooden walls of the quaint Japanese white wooden buildings, against the backdrop of the incomparable beauty of spring, Hikone Castle is an ancient town that can calm people and calm their minds. IG: meditation_me_time #AncientTown #HikoneCastle #Honmachi #Yoga #YogaRetreat #Sadhguru #Spring #SlowLife

#日本景点 Shiga Prefecture in Japan has sufficient natural conditions to become an agricultural prefecture. Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture is the largest freshwater lake in Japan. With such abundant water and nutrients, the soil and farms here receive the best nutrients. Take a stroll along the Inukami River, a first-class river, and look at the endless fields, waiting for the arrival of spring, sowing seeds all over the ground, and then waiting for the harvest. At the same time, you can also go to the nearby Huangshenshan Park to overlook the nearby rural scenery. It is a good place for tourists who like slow living to relax. IG: meditation_me_time #Hikone Castle #Lake Biwa #Farmland #Garden #First-class River #Yoga #Yoga Retreat #sadhguru #Inner Engineering #Detachment #metime

#Japan Attractions Hikone Castle's Genguen Garden and castle tower are famous local cultural heritages. When you come to Hikone Castle, it is recommended to take at least a whole day and afternoon to feel the aura of this ancient monument and the temperament of the park. There are multiple entrances to the historic site, and we chose to enter the park from the Black Gate entrance of Jingui Park. The entrance fee is 800 yen. There are different trails in the park where you can walk slowly in the woods, listen to the birds singing, and feel the phytoncides of spring. When I walked into the castle tower, I was shocked by the internal architectural structure! The staircase is designed vertically! As soon as I entered, I saw several elderly people walking down the vertical stairs without fear, and I was immediately filled with awe. It was truly admirable! IG: meditation_me_time #Hikone #castle #innerengineering #reverence #sadhguru #yoga #meditation #yogaretreat

#Japan Attractions Hikone City, an ancient town that sounds both familiar and unfamiliar. Hikone Castle is about 85 kilometers away from Kyoto Prefecture, and it takes about an hour to reach the ancient town of Hikone by JR railway. There is a landmark in the town, which is also an ancient castle - the castle tower. The castle tower's moat, the nearby Lake Biwa, and the elegant atmosphere of the ancient town complement each other. In modern times, the castle tower has become a national heritage site, and the surrounding area has also been regulated and developed. Kinki Park is one of the leisure areas next to the castle. After enjoying the cherry blossoms or feeling the tranquil atmosphere near the castle, you can slowly move to the Kuromon entrance of Kinki Park Castle Tower to buy a ticket and explore the castle tower on the mountain! IG: meditation_me _time #Hikone Castle #Castle Tower #Yoga Retreat #Sakura #Yoga #Sadhguru #World Heritage

Hikone Castle in spring has a blue sky and is very refreshing! This time we plan to stay in Hikone Castle for a week. On a sunny day, I decided to go out and explore this ancient town. There must be many shrines in the ancient town. Kasumori Inari Shrine, a small shrine next to the commercial district. With its dazzling orange torii gate, it’s hard to miss this small shrine. Tanshou means to protect the believers from getting sores; and Tanshou Inari means to hope that the crops will not fail. Sit on a bench at the peaceful Kasumori Inari Shrine, meditate quietly and feel the spiritual energy around you. Everyone, when you come to Hikone Castle, remember to check in! #Shrine #Torii #Orange

Leave Kanazawa City and drive 2.5 hours to Yangen City. The parking fee at Yanken Castle is 1000 yen Tenshu + Garden Tickets are 800 yen, if you have to walk around the museum add 400 The antique wooden castle in Japan is well preserved, although not as magnificent as Himeji Castle. But on the castle tower you can overlook the scenery of Lake Biwa, which is worth recommending! #YanganCity

Yumekyobashi Castle Road is a spot near Hikone Castle where you can enjoy Shiga gourmet food 🥩 Along this street, you can eat delicious Omi beef at Omiya ✨ The Omi beef tataki bowl set is characterized by the egg roll with Hikonyan on top! It was a cute-looking bowl that looked great in photos 🐱 Of course, the Omi beef was also delicious! Access: 1-6-25 Honmachi, Hikone, Shiga Prefecture #Shiga #ShigaTourism #Hikonyan #OmiBeef

Hikone Castle, built by Ii Naotsugu and Naotaka, is a castle designated as a special national historic site 🏯 It's a small castle, but once inside, there are a series of steep stairs, so it was a bit difficult to get to the top floor 🤣 This castle is famous for being able to meet Hikonyan, the king of mascot characters 💕 A show by Hikonyan is held every day, so I recommend you check it out! It was a cute and relaxing show ✨ 📍1-1 Kanagicho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture (15 minutes walk from Hikone Station) #Shiga #ShigaTourism #HikoneCastle #Hikonyan

#2023travelwish This is the Hikone castle situated in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture. It takes approximately an hour train ride from Kyoto station. Hikone is a small and quiet town, an off-beaten path. The castle can be reached within 15 minutes in foot. I really love the castle as the mascot is so cute and it does small performances too! The castle is three-storey tall and there is also a garden to explore~ There is also a mountain view to enjoy. I love it so much that I’ve visited twice! 😂 I wish that I can visit more castles in the future ~

Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture is one of the five national treasures, and its existing castle tower is also known as Kinki Castle. It was built over a period of 20 years by Naotsugu and Naotaka, sons of Ii Naomasa. Currently, Hikonyan, a white cat modeled after Naotaka, is very popular, and you can see Hikonyan at Hikone Castle every day. In autumn, the garden is lit up, and you can enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves and the shining white castle. 📌Visited on November 25th #AutumnTrip #HikoneCastle #Shiga #AutumnFoliageSpot #AutumnFoliageViewing #LightUp #CastleTour

#greentrip #greentravel #japan With the recent news of Japan set to open up soon by October, there will soon be a lot who will be looking forward to visiting Japan soon. On our last Japan trip, we had mostly used the train, which is considered as one of the sustainable & eco-friendly ways of traveling around. Do you know that electric trains emit a lot less CO2 as compared to road & air travel? Traveling by train can be around 10 times less CO2 emissions as compared to traveling by air. Traveling by train is also more efficient as a lot more people can board a train than other public transportation such as buses & cars. In addition to these, it's also more enjoyable as you can admire the scenery while the train brings you to the different cities. We had bought the JR West Pass & used the trains to go to Kyoto, Nara and Hikone, where we then walked quite a fair bit around the different attractions, temples, parks and Hikone Castle. With the cool spring weather, walking while taking in the beautiful scenery is recommended, and of course a much more eco-friendly way of travel too. Just make sure that you travel light and have a water bottle/reusable bottle.

This is Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture. I drove to Hikone Castle, and there was a parking lot nearby, which was convenient. There was also a cute mascot character, Hikonyan. As for the castle itself, it was interesting to see all sorts of intricate details. There are also plenty of restaurants, so it's a recommended tourist spot.

Besides the super popular Cherry Blossom 🌸 that most will travel to Japan around end March/early April, there's also the beautiful Plum/Ume Blossom in Japan which bloom around February/March period. Hikone Castle too has a plum grove in the castle area which usually blooms around mid to end March. We were there around early mid March, & the 400 over pink/white plum blossoms in the Plum Grove were almost near full bloom. It was so amazing and beautiful. Walking through the Plum Grove was simply a lovely and pretty sight, and definitely a must-visit. The weather was still cold as it rained before that and also it's only the beginning of spring. #createwithtrip #naturewonder #japan

It takes a lot of stamina to cover Mt. Hiei and Hikone Castle in one day... #ShigaTrip #FromMt.Hiei to #Hikonyan #HikoneCastle #OmiBeef #Omihachiman I enjoyed Shiga Prefecture!! Arrived in Osaka on an overnight bus from Tokyo Station. I'll tell you how to travel solo around #Wakayama #Shiga #Mie. I also post on Instagram under the account [Recommendations for Solo Travel]! Check it out at @hitoritabi_travel! #SoloTrip #SoloTravelDiary #TravelBook #GirlsTrip #ShigaPrefecture #ShigaTourism #RetroTownScenery

Genkyuen Garden is located next to Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture. It is a beautifully maintained Japanese garden with a wonderful view of Hikone Castle. There is also a combined ticket for Hikone Castle admission, so be sure to visit both the garden and Hikone Castle. Genkyuen Garden 9-3 Konki-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture #Autumn leaves #Maple

Yonban Square This commercial facility is located at 1-7-34 Honmachi, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, and is modeled after the streets of the Taisho period. It has shops selling Hikone local products and Hikonyan goods, as well as restaurants. 25 minutes walk from Hikone Station. When I went there, there was an event for the local character Hikonyan in the square. Hikonyan appears at the kneading area once a day between 13:00-13:30. You can get a manhole card at the character world. #Shiga #Hikone #Local character #Local card #Summer trip