Hikone Castle

National Treasure Keep

Hikone Castle's keep, completed around 1622 as a three-story structure, is one of Japan's four National Treasure castles (Matsumoto, Inuyama, Himeji, Hikone). The most elaborately decorated surviving keep, with impressive complex roofs including karahafu and irimoya styles.

Ii Clan and the Late Edo Period

The Ii clan, lords of Hikone domain with 350,000 koku, produced great elders (tairo) of the Edo shogunate. Ii Naosuke in particular left his name in history for concluding the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the US.

Genkyu-en Garden

Genkyu-en Garden adjacent to the castle's north side is a feudal lord garden built in the early Edo period. This strolling pond garden showing seasonal beauty incorporates Hikone Castle keep as a borrowed scenery.

Hikonyan

Hikone Castle's mascot character "Hikonyan" is a nationally famous yuru-chara (cute character). Daily appearances inside the castle for photo opportunities with Hikonyan are very popular with tourists.