A History and Cultural Heritage of Over 400 Years
With the National Treasure of Hikone Castle at its center, Hikone is the iconic Japanese castle town on the eastern shore of the huge and beautiful Lake Biwa. Through ancient temples and shrines, a castle built from the greatest samurai battle of all, and its location at the center of old highway routes, history speaks in this town.
During the Edo Period (1603-1868), the most important trade route connecting Edo (present day Tokyo) with Kyoto was the Nakasendo, which passed through Hikone. Two of the post-station towns patronized by the travelers who came across the mountain pass at that time still remain in Hikone. The depth of the town’s history speaks in these stations, Toriimoto-juku and Takamiya-juku, in which vestiges of this Edo period past remain to this day.
Make your own unique piece of traditional koto-yaki pottery, tour the town with a rickshaw guide, or in the elegance of a yakata-bune pleasure boat in the moat of Hikone Castle, like the castle lords of old. In Hikone, there are many chances to touch upon local Japanese traditions and arts. The grounds of Hikone Castle turn into a popular cherry blossom spot in spring. Hikone's cherry trees reach full bloom usually about a week later than in nearby Kyoto around early to mid-April.
During the Edo Period (1603-1868), the most important trade route connecting Edo (present day Tokyo) with Kyoto was the Nakasendo, which passed through Hikone. Two of the post-station towns patronized by the travelers who came across the mountain pass at that time still remain in Hikone. The depth of the town’s history speaks in these stations, Toriimoto-juku and Takamiya-juku, in which vestiges of this Edo period past remain to this day.
Make your own unique piece of traditional koto-yaki pottery, tour the town with a rickshaw guide, or in the elegance of a yakata-bune pleasure boat in the moat of Hikone Castle, like the castle lords of old. In Hikone, there are many chances to touch upon local Japanese traditions and arts. The grounds of Hikone Castle turn into a popular cherry blossom spot in spring. Hikone's cherry trees reach full bloom usually about a week later than in nearby Kyoto around early to mid-April.
