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滋賀県
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Hikone Castle
滋賀県
National Treasure keep of Ii Naosuke's domain — one of Japan's 12 surviving original Edo-period castle towers
Founded
1622
Type
Castle
Visited
Want to go
Access
About 15 min walk from JR Hikone Station
1-1 Konkicho, Hikone, Shiga
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Info
Castle
Founded 1622
404 years
Overview
Hikone Castle is a National Treasure with one of the 12 surviving original keeps in Japan. Built by Ii Naotsugu from 1601 over 20 years on the shore of Lake Biwa, its three-story keep exemplifies early Edo castle architecture. It was the seat of Ii Naosuke, the Bakumatsu-era tairo, and is also famous for its mascot Hikonyan.
Origins
Completed in 1622 as the seat of Ii Naotsugu. The Ii clan governed Hikone Domain as the foremost fudai daimyo until the end of the Edo period. Ii Naosuke, the Bakumatsu-era tairo, was also lord here. Legend says an imperial decree saved it from demolition. The tower is designated a National Treasure…
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Pilgrimage Courses
100 Famous Japanese Castles
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Japan's 100 Famous Castles: How to Read Castle Layouts and Ruins
A guide to reading the layouts and surviving structures of Japan's 100 Famous Castles, organized by region and castle design type. Covers key terms including honmaru, kuruwa, horikiri, and koguchi, with primary source citations.
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Related Figures
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Ii Naomasa
One of the Tokugawa Four Generals
Age 61 at founding (posthumous)
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Ii Naomasa fought valiantly as the vanguard of the Eastern Army at Sekigahara in 1600, and was rewarded with 180,000 koku in Omi by Tokugawa Ieyasu. He died the following year from his battle wounds, but his son Naotsugu, with Naokata effectively organizing the construction, built Hikone Castle. The fame of the Ii Red Armour that Naomasa earned is the foundation of the Hikone domain's four centuries.
I
Ii Naosuke
Tairō (Chief Minister)
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Hikone Castle, whose National Treasure keep was built starting in 1601, is also renowned as the castle seat of Ii Naosuke, the tairo (great elder) of the late Edo period.
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あきとし
2026/5/13
新幹線から激写☝️
Visiting Information
Hours
8:30 AM–5:00 PM (last entry to the keep and other buildings 4:45 PM). Open year-round.
Admission
General (high school age and older) ¥1,000; elementary/junior high students ¥300. (Covers Hikone Castle and Genkyuen Garden; revised October 2024)
As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.
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