Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle

Also known as the "Golden Turtle Castle," Hikone Castle is an ancient fortress located in Kinsei-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is a wooden, connected-enclosure style hilltop castle. Along with Himeji Castle, Inuyama Castle, and Matsumoto Castle, it has been designated as a National Treasure of Japan by the Japanese government. It is also one of only four surviving wooden castles among Japan’s National Treasures and Historic Sites.

Hikone Castle is a significant cultural heritage site in Japan and has been specially valued since ancient times: In 1931, the castle’s turret was designated as a National Treasure under Japan’s National Treasures Law; in 1951, well-preserved after restoration, Hikone Castle was designated as a Special Historic Site of the nation, five years earlier than Himeji Castle, which was later listed as a World Heritage Site; in 1952, it was further recognized as one of Japan’s most important fundamental National Treasures; in 1987, the Hikone Castle Museum opened to showcase artifacts related to the castle. The museum houses approximately 65,000 important cultural properties, greatly enhancing visitors' understanding of Hikone Castle.

Hikone Castle is also one of Japan’s most renowned tourist attractions, drawing visitors from around the world. In 1950, when Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, was designated as a national park, the public selected the “Eight Views of Lake Biwa,” with the seventh view, “Moonlight,” referring to the scenic beauty of Hikone Castle illuminated by moonlight; in 1987, a group of black swans gifted by the city of Mito began living in the castle’s moat, becoming a popular spot for both locals to feed them and tourists to take photos.

Hikone Castle

Must-visit reason: One of Japan’s most important fundamental National Treasures

Continent where the attraction is located: Asia

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Japan

Province/State where the attraction is located: Shiga Prefecture

City where the attraction is located: Hikone