Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture stands on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. It was the seat of the Ii family, and its keep is a National Treasure.
History
After the Battle of Sekigahara, the Ii family, led by Ii Naomasa's line, were granted land in Omi Province, and construction began in the early 17th century. The work was carried forward under Naomasa's heirs, and materials from other castles are said to have been reused. The Ii family remained lords of Hikone until the end of the shogunate, known as a leading fudai (hereditary) house close to the shogunate.
Highlights
- A National Treasure keep with elegant gabled roofs
- The Tenbin Turret and the bridge over the moat-like cut
- The Genkyu-en garden
Map
Sources
- 公益財団法人日本城郭協会 日本100名城一覧 / retrieved 2026-09-30
- Wikidata（座標）（CC0） / retrieved 2026-09-30
- Wikipedia「彦根城」（参照）（CC BY-SA 4.0） / retrieved 2026-09-30
- Photo: Hikone Castle November 2016 -02.jpg（Martin Falbisoner / CC BY-SA 4.0）
