Discover Hikone: Castle, Crafts and Culture

Explore Hikone through a variety of specific experiences: the castle has remained almost unchanged since it was originally built, a museum showcases furnishings passed down by the Ii family, and a hiking trail near the ruins of Sawayama Castle leads to the summit. There are also craft workshops and walks through the historic castle town. You can choose different focuses for your trip rather than reducing Hikone to a single experience.

The Castle and Changing Museum Exhibition

The permanent exhibition at the Hikone Castle Museum mainly presents furnishings passed down by the Ii family, a daimyō household. The exhibits are arranged into seven thematic sections, allowing the collection to explore various aspects of these inherited furnishings. In principle, the exhibits are originals. The selection changes every one to two months, so the permanent exhibition does not display the same arrangement all the time.

This rotation is an interesting distinction to bear in mind when planning your visit: the collection of the Ii family remains the thematic focus, but the individual items on display may change as the selection rotates. The castle itself offers another historical point of reference. It has remained almost unchanged since it was originally built. If you are interested in architecture and history, you can see the castle and museum as different ways to explore Hikone’s past, without treating the two experiences as the same.

Hikone Castle is a 15-minute walk from Hikone Station. Hikone Chari is also near the station: the bicycle rental is a one-minute walk away, on the first floor of Al Plaza Hikone along the main passageway. If you are planning to get around on foot or by bicycle, these are useful landmarks to keep in mind when you arrive and choose your activities for the day.

Hiking Trail and Views from Sawayama Summit

A hiking trail near the ruins of Sawayama Castle leads to the summit. From there, you can enjoy views of Hikone Castle and Lake Biwa. This makes hiking another distinct option for your stay alongside the castle and museum. The view brings together two prominent features of the surrounding area: Hikone Castle and the lake. If you enjoy walking, you can plan this trail as a separate excursion; for a more culture-focused stay, the exhibitions and crafts can take centre stage.

The history of the former castle site at Sawayama is also linked to a story passed down through the generations. It is said that the castle was originally built there by Sasaki, a leader of Ōmi Province. After it passed to Lord Ishida Mitsunari, it is said to have gained an even grander, five-storey castle keep.

Crafts and Historic City Walks

A tour of Hikone’s Buddhist altar workshops takes you to craft workshops along Nanamagari Street. It offers a different focus from visits to the castle and museum, centring on workshops and traditional crafts. Another specific craft connection is Isshiro-gama, a Kōtō-yaki pottery workshop. Its tradition dates back to the former official kiln of the Hikone domain. This gives the pottery workshop a connection to the domain’s history, distinct from the exhibition about the Ii family and the castle ruins.

Something Four offers walks through Hikone’s historic castle town in hakama attire. This adds a walk centred on the historic town itself to the workshops and exhibitions. When choosing a holiday rental, you can first consider which of these interests you want to shape your trip: the castle and museum, the hiking trail near Sawayama, or crafts and walks. Information about the station, castle and bicycle rental also offers practical guidance for planning your days, without requiring you to combine all the experiences into one single route.

Discover More Destinations

If you’d like to include more places in your travel plans beyond Hikone, explore: Kōka, Higashiōmi, Maibara, Ritto, Konan, Nagahama, Ōtsu and Takashima.

For the main travel overview: Shiga Prefecture.