What this area is like
Hikone Castle is a National Treasure with an original keep, and Genkyu-en garden lies below. The character Hikonyan, a samurai cat, appears at the castle on many days.
Plan your visit
Shinkaisoku trains from Kyoto take about 50 minutes; the castle is a 15-minute walk from the station.
Choose your next step
Places to see in this area
Hikone Castle
An original National Treasure keep above Lake Biwa, with the lords’ Genkyuen garden at its foot.
- Access
- About 15 minutes on foot from JR Hikone Station.
- Hours
- 8:30–17:00 (last entry to the keep 16:45). Open daily.
- Fee
- Adults ¥1,000; elementary and junior high ¥300, including Genkyuen.
- Address
- 1-1 Konki-cho, Hikone, Shiga
Cash only. Climb early to see the lake before the tour groups arrive.
How to plan your time here
- Castle and Genkyuen in the morning, then lunch on Omi beef in the Yume Kyobashi Castle Road.
- Hikone is about 50 minutes from Kyoto on the JR Special Rapid, or about 5 minutes from Maibara, the nearest Shinkansen stop.
Information checked 26 October 2026. Plans are JapaLens editorial suggestions, not on-site reviews. Hours and fees can change; check the official page before you go.