Things to do in Hikone

As the morning light pierces the mist over Lake Biwa, you'll understand why the Japanese consider it the "Lake of Life." As Japan's largest freshwater lake, its waters serve not only as a backup for Kyoto Prefecture but also as a living reservoir of cultural genealogy. Hikone Castle, reflected in the mirror-like waters of the early morning, its 400-year-old castle tower blending with the shimmering waters to create a breathtaking spectacle. Take a pontoon boat to Takebushima Island, where the bronze torii gates gleam in the sunlight. The Tang-style architecture of Hogon-ji Temple speaks of its cultural ties to China's Tang Dynasty. The lakeside bike path is the perfect way to explore. The 70-kilometer route connects reed marshes, vineyards, and century-old shops. Passing through the white-walled earthenware buildings of Omi Hachiman Water Village, it's like stepping into an Edo-era ukiyo-e painting. The gustatory memories are equally unforgettable. Omi beef sushi melts in your mouth, while sushi made with biwa catfish has a refreshing sweetness. The local wines from Lake Country Winery are even more mellow when savored against the setting sun. The most unforgettable moment was meeting a local elder on the lake's west beach. Pointing across the water, he said, "When I was a child, my father took me to those floating islands to pick mulberries. The water is still this clear." The magic of Lake Biwa lies not only in its scenery but also in its living ecological epic. From the migratory birds of spring and autumn to the snowflakes of winter, the cycle of seasons showcases the wisdom of the symbiotic relationship between humanity and nature. When the last rays of sunlight cast a golden path across the lake, you will understand why these waters have nurtured the essence of Japanese traditions such as the tea ceremony and haiku—they teach us how to find eternal beauty in the balance between movement and stillness. With their vastness and tranquility, these waters invite every visitor to find inner peace. Perhaps this is Lake Biwa's most moving travel gift.

Hikone Castle in Kinki-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, on the shore of Lake Biwa, Japan, was built by Naotsugu Ii in 1622. It is listed as one of the five national treasure castles along with Himeji Castle (Hyogo), Matsumoto Castle (Nagano), Inuyama Castle (Aichi), and Matsue Castle (Shimane). Hikone Castle, a linked-style flat mountain castle, was built using the Japanese castle construction techniques. The castle tower’s Nishinomaru and Yamazaki-Kurawa had a triple-turret structure. Unfortunately, the Yamazaki-Kurawa triple-turret was destroyed and disappeared in the early Meiji era. The castle still preserves a rare horse house in Japan, which is also an important national cultural relic. =Caifu Visiting Hikone Castle You have to climb the stairs step by step It takes quite a bit of effort Tenbino Oar A historical heritage registered as an important cultural property When you climb the castle You pass by a famous old bell This bell chimes every 3 hours (3, 6, 9, 12 o'clock) It is one of the "100 Best Sound Sceneries in Japan" by the Environment Agency After the 1900s Hikone Castle Because a local councillor planted 1,000 cherry trees The descendants of the Ii family sent donations to restore the palace Selected as one of the "100 Famous Castles in Japan" Listed in Japan's application for World Heritage～

Sean's World was so cute❣️❣️ I also got to make bread, and it was so much fun!

The glass museum was really nice and the food was delicious.

If you are a fan of the anime 'K-ON!!', you absolutely must come. They used this school as the backdrop for the K-ON!! anime, and it looks exactly the same. It feels like I’ve stepped into the world of the anime. Seriously, you have to come. However, it is hard to get here. It takes 5 to 6 hours round trip by train from Osaka. You can get it done in 3 hours by Shinkansen, but money is the problem. If you can drive, I highly recommend renting a car. You can make the round trip in 3 hours by car, and I think it is also great to set aside a whole day to travel around the roads near Lake Biwa, visiting places like Hikone Castle in addition to this place. I also intentionally took the national roads instead of the highway on my way to the school, and the romance of a national road trip is off the charts. I just walked along, went into a restaurant that looked delicious, and had a meal. Then, I opened a warm can of coffee at a convenience store on the national highway with a huge parking lot to beat the cold weather. It was dark and quiet, and gazing out at Lake Biwa, illuminated by the moonlight, really made my heart swell. The conversation suddenly drifted a bit while talking about Toyosato Elementary School, but anyway, this place is seriously great. However, if you haven't watched K-ON! or aren't familiar with it, is it really worth it? If you insist on coming, it's just to look around and see what a Japanese school looks like? Nothing more, nothing less. Still, if you have watched K-ON!, you really must visit at least once in your life. Please, please. Opening Hours: Closed every Monday (If Monday is a public holiday, closed on Tuesdays as well) 10:00 ~ 17:00 Address: 518 Ishibatake, Toyosato, Inukami District, Shiga 529-1169 Japan

In the happiest place in the world (unfortunately, I got caught in the rain). The advantage of rainy days is that many outdoor attractions have no queues. I even bought a travel insurance policy specifically for entering the Mario area, but it was useless because of the rain. The disadvantage of rainy days is that I got soaked the whole time (screaming loudly!). My pants were completely wet sitting on the chairs of the outdoor attractions, and I bought an expensive raincoat (though it was pretty good quality). Some attractions even stopped operating temporarily when the rain was heavy. Next time, I'll choose a sunny day and definitely see the sunset at Mario.

On the way to Hikone Castle, you can visit Xuangu Garden, which was built by a daimyo in the Warring States Period in imitation of the Chinese gardens of the Tang and Song Dynasties. It has the style of a Jiangnan courtyard, with small bridges, flowing water, pavilions and pavilions, which are very artistic. It is said that it was inspired by the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang in China.

[Scenery] A local park, not a particularly famous attraction, but an ordinary park, a good choice for local residents to take their kids out for a walk [Fun] A place with a good environment and complete infrastructure [Value for money] Convenient transportation nearby