Hikone Castle
Hikone Castle
4
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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4.0
1,120 reviews
Excellent
447
Very good
526
Average
130
Poor
10
Terrible
7
Zimminaroundtheworld
Okinawa Prefecture, Japan1,968 contributions
June 2022
Hikone Castle is one of the 12 original castles of Japan. Like the rest, this castle is beautiful and unique. The grounds were bigger then expected. The keep itself was worth visiting. Visitors have to pay an entrance fee to visit the castle, it's well worth it! I spent probably an hour here visiting the grounds and the museum. Everything was marked. Some of the stairs inside the castle were steep. If you are in Hikone, then the castle is a must!
Written 19 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicky Silve
Abbadia Lariana, Italy674 contributions
Oct 2020
The visit to Hikone Castle can be a nice day trip from Nara. You can visit the castle as well as having a walk close to the lake. Fun fact: Hikone Castle’s mascotte is a cat with a samurai helm on his head.
Written 5 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YTCHENG
Hong Kong, China15,393 contributions
Nov 2019
Hikone Castle had been built since 1603. Initially it was a Buddhist Temple dated back to 1080 as a pilgrimage site in worshiping Kannon. This significant structure of Edo period was one of the five national treasure site in Shinga. The castle site was very large and did not miss the Genkyu-en Garden next to the Castle.
Written 13 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SeasonedJourneyman
Kyoto Prefecture, Japan18 contributions
July 2014 • Solo
I'd been in Kyoto for almost a month and decided to take a day trip up to HIkone on the western side of Lake Biwa, I'd been to Otsu a couple of times and Hikone lays off in the haze almost out of view.
You can either get there via the JR Line direct to Hikone from Kyoto Station ( about a 1100 Yen) or you can take the longer route via the Keihan Line to Hamaotsu, but there is about a 1 km walk to the JR Station to change and catch the train to Hikone on that route. If you decide to do it that way you can still make the full circle and catch the sub-express directly back to Kyoto.
When you arrive at the JR Hikone station as soon as you walk out the exit you can see Hikone Castle towering over you in the distance, well signposted (not that you need it) and the route is flat until you reach the entrance to the Castle, then it gets a bit more energetic.
Hikone Castle is one of the few remaining purely 'martial' style castles surrounding Kyoto, it was built for one purpose and this one is a master piece of defensive design. The route to the summit is not for the faint of heart, you need to have at least average fitness and mobility to do this one I'd say, but its worth the effort for the view if nothing else. Only the more agile of you should try to reach the summit of the interior of the castle, each level was designed as level of last defence that were accessible only by rope ladders. The ropes have been replaced with a staircase but its almost vertical and once again not for the less agile amongst us. There is an excellent Museum at the base of the Castle to keep those that can't tackle the summit well satisfied too, the Castle and Museum can be had for less that 1000 Yen per adult.
Hikone has other attractions, notably the quaint traditional village on the outskirts of the castle, its lined with restaurants and the food, as always in Japan, is excellent. There is a Baseball station and Hikone also lies on the shore of Lake Biwa, its also a cyclist paradise, Japan as a whole is very bike friendly.
Do it, it will be one of those memorable moments that stay with you.
You can either get there via the JR Line direct to Hikone from Kyoto Station ( about a 1100 Yen) or you can take the longer route via the Keihan Line to Hamaotsu, but there is about a 1 km walk to the JR Station to change and catch the train to Hikone on that route. If you decide to do it that way you can still make the full circle and catch the sub-express directly back to Kyoto.
When you arrive at the JR Hikone station as soon as you walk out the exit you can see Hikone Castle towering over you in the distance, well signposted (not that you need it) and the route is flat until you reach the entrance to the Castle, then it gets a bit more energetic.
Hikone Castle is one of the few remaining purely 'martial' style castles surrounding Kyoto, it was built for one purpose and this one is a master piece of defensive design. The route to the summit is not for the faint of heart, you need to have at least average fitness and mobility to do this one I'd say, but its worth the effort for the view if nothing else. Only the more agile of you should try to reach the summit of the interior of the castle, each level was designed as level of last defence that were accessible only by rope ladders. The ropes have been replaced with a staircase but its almost vertical and once again not for the less agile amongst us. There is an excellent Museum at the base of the Castle to keep those that can't tackle the summit well satisfied too, the Castle and Museum can be had for less that 1000 Yen per adult.
Hikone has other attractions, notably the quaint traditional village on the outskirts of the castle, its lined with restaurants and the food, as always in Japan, is excellent. There is a Baseball station and Hikone also lies on the shore of Lake Biwa, its also a cyclist paradise, Japan as a whole is very bike friendly.
Do it, it will be one of those memorable moments that stay with you.
Written 5 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew S
Worcester, UK848 contributions
The castle looks very nice from the outside and it is one of four national treasures. The castle is at the top of some slippery steps, if you have trouble walking it is not very accessible. After a few minutes you reach the keep. Obligatory removal of shoes is required before you take very steep stairs up to the top.
There is very little information about the castle and its features. A handout is given with a brief summary, which gives you some insight. Views of the surrounding area are non-existant as chicken wire covers the slit holes. Inside the castle there are a couple of exhibits but nothing much. As a designated national treasure I as expecting a lot more information.
Below the keep there is a nice garden to wander around.
The castle is a 15 minute walk from train station. If you are in the area then you can easily walk to the castle and see it within 90 minutes. It makes a nice stop-off between Kyoto and places further northwest (Nagoya, Tokyo, etc) as Hikone is 6 minutes by local train from the Shinkansen station of Maribara.
I don't believe it is as impressive as the other 3 castles listed as national treasures though.
There is very little information about the castle and its features. A handout is given with a brief summary, which gives you some insight. Views of the surrounding area are non-existant as chicken wire covers the slit holes. Inside the castle there are a couple of exhibits but nothing much. As a designated national treasure I as expecting a lot more information.
Below the keep there is a nice garden to wander around.
The castle is a 15 minute walk from train station. If you are in the area then you can easily walk to the castle and see it within 90 minutes. It makes a nice stop-off between Kyoto and places further northwest (Nagoya, Tokyo, etc) as Hikone is 6 minutes by local train from the Shinkansen station of Maribara.
I don't believe it is as impressive as the other 3 castles listed as national treasures though.
Written 17 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eggotrip
Gruibingen, Germany112 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
One of the original castles (not a reconstruction like Osaka). Much smaller than e.g. Osaka or Nagoya castle, but in a very nice surrounding on a hill above a park, with beautiful view over Lake Biwa
Written 3 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indiananimal
Grand Rapids, MI137 contributions
July 2012 • Family
Much to see over the complete grounds and accompanying museum. The castle itself is elevated and is a nice hike up the stone steps to get to the first tier. I would not say it is friendly for handicap accessibility. The castle itself has some step stairs (more like ladders) to ascend to the top level but it is worth the effort to see the structure and surronding sea and countryside views. I think the full pass for the castle and museum was 600 yen per adult. The museum has a collection of painted screens, household items and swords from the shogunate inhabitants. The grounds are 10 minute walk from the train station so easy to get to. They have english supplements at the entrance to get the history of the site including details on construction and defense.
Written 2 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
manisfeld
Northbrook, IL301 contributions
July 2019
Visited a factory near Kikone, and local staff recommended this hotel. Rooms are small (typical in Japan), great breakfast, but best of all is in the evening after a hard days work viewing the Castle (lit up) from the Hotel Onsen (hot bath) - what a pleasure.
Written 10 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
abdij0gja
Ibaraki, Japan57 contributions
Apr 2019 • Solo
You must fit to climb up the stair. There also interesting spot: the hole for hide in the past. And if you come at right time, you can see sakura blooms there
Written 15 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gary Y
Singapore, Singapore290 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
We drove for nearly 3 hours to reach the castle and was not disappointed. One of the few remaining castles with its original keep in Japan and still very well maintained. We think Hikone is special because it really is much smaller (but not less interesting) than the other famous castles in Japan and scenery wise, it located on top of a hill.
We visited in the early afternoon on a Thursday and it was relatively quiet. We were able to park very near the entrance and reached the castle after a 10-15 walk walk up the hill.
The stairs within the castle were really steep and staff were around to assist when necessary. Photography wise, I think the scenery would be more attractive during autumn or spring.
We visited in the early afternoon on a Thursday and it was relatively quiet. We were able to park very near the entrance and reached the castle after a 10-15 walk walk up the hill.
The stairs within the castle were really steep and staff were around to assist when necessary. Photography wise, I think the scenery would be more attractive during autumn or spring.
Written 24 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dd D
Singapore, Singapore
Hi, going 13 to 16 dec. Will there be snow at hikone? Thankyou
Written 14 May 2019
Difficult to tell, suggest you google „weather Hikone“, diagrams will appear and you can see how the weather had been over the last years in December
Written 14 May 2019
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