Hikone Castle (彦根城 Hikone-jō). Hikone Castle is an original castle dating back to 1604, instead of the usual 60s-era concrete reconstruction. The castle tower is an official National Treasure and a number of the turrets have been classified as Important Cultural Properties. Even the sound of the bell every three hours is preserved as a nationally important soundscape. Admission �500, including entry to Genkyu-en.
Genkyu-en Garden (玄宮園). Hikone's number two attraction is the garden at the foot of the castle. The park contains a sprawling villa built in the Chinese Tang Dynasty style in 1677 for Naooki Ii, the fourth lord of Hikone. The best thing to do here is to pause at the teahouse for a cup of matcha (ceremonial green tea), a Japanese sweet and some quiet contemplation for �500.
Hikone Castle Museum (彦根城博物館 ''Hikone-jō Hakubutsukan''), 1-1 Konki-cho, ☎ 074-922-6100, . Open 9AM to 5PM. An excellent museum of samurai artifacts and artwork.¥500. �
Sawayama Castle. �
Ryotan-ji, ☎ 074-922-2617. 9 AM to 4:30 PM. A zen temple with a variety of gardens, each designed by temple priests as a form of worship and meditation. The temple itself houses some interesting artwork.¥400. �
Saifuku-ji (済福寺), ☎ 074-922-3974. �
Chiyo Shrine (千代神社). �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Hikone
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Hikone - updated Apr 2024
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Hikone Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
