Gunnar Wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hikone

Original castle town on Lake Biwa

Hikone is a city on Lake Biwa's eastern side in Shiga Prefecture, built around a castle of the Ii clan. Hikone Castle's main keep is one of only five in Japan listed as a National Treasure and dates to the early 17th century. Genkyuen, a pond garden from the late 17th century, is at its foot. Yume Kyobashi Castle Road, a street of shops in white-walled buildings, is within walking distance. The center is compact and the castle needs about half a day, so the city works as a day trip from Kyoto or an easy stop on the way east.

Add to list Map view

City in Japan

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 8.2

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	9

Read details

2/5

English is spoken at major hotels, the castle, and some shops, but less so in small restaurants and local stores. Signage is improving, but a translation app is handy for deeper exploration.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: Oct 19, 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Hikone Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

"Best for" scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

"Your personal" scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

"Suited for" badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travelers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Strong in castle history and lakeside scenery. Tour one of Japan’s best-preserved castles, stroll historic streets, relax by Lake Biwa and visit museums and gardens.

Place score

7.8

Best at:

Spotless

Castles

Lakes

Walkable

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

👩 7

Solo

Japan – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	100 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A Type A: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Japanese Yen (JPY) $1 ≈ ¥158
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities, with some shops still preferring cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is the norm, and tipping is unnecessary in most places.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is legal and commonly accepted, particularly during festivals and events.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas. Some restaurants may have smoking sections.

New Year (January)	One of the most important holidays, expect crowded temples and high prices. Plan ahead.
Golden Week (April-May)	The busiest travel time, expect high demand for accommodation and transportation.
Obon (August)	A time to honor ancestors, many businesses close, and transportation can be crowded.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire & Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, JapanTaxi, DiDi
Other:	Japan is a country of respect, so understanding local customs and etiquette is important. Public transportation is efficient, but can be crowded during peak hours.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colors of the months:
The color shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the color is shows the travel season: full color means high season, soft color means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The gray info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Hikone, Japan

🌥️

Jan

🌤️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

🌦️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌦️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

🌦️

Aug

🌦️

Sep

🌦️

Oct

🌤️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	April, Nov.
Shoulder season:	March, May, Oct.
Crowdedness:	5 (Moderate tourist numbers)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Cherry blossoms around Hikone Castle usually peak late March to early April

Don't miss

🏯 Climb Hikone Castle and enjoy sweeping views over Lake Biwa
🌸 Walk through Genkyuen Garden and admire its seasonal beauty
🐱 Meet Hikonyan, the town’s beloved samurai cat mascot
🛍️ Stroll the historic castle town streets and browse local shops
⚔️ Visit the Hikone Castle Museum to see samurai armor and artifacts
🥩 Taste Omi beef dishes at a traditional eatery near the station

You've been here?

Why travel to Hikone?

Hikone is known for its castle. The three-story main keep is one of five in Japan designated a National Treasure and is largely in its original state. The castle has defensive details you can look for, such as a spiral ramp that slows attackers and hidden openings for shooting arrows. A museum on the grounds shows armor and reconstructed interiors. Cherry blossoms around the castle make early April the busiest time. Genkyuen is a landscape garden at the foot of the castle, first laid out in the 17th century. A large pond has four islands linked by footbridges with tea houses and a walking path. Rakurakuen Palace is visible from the garden. Yume Kyobashi Castle Road has souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants in white-walled buildings styled after historic ones. Hikonyan, the city's cat mascot in a samurai helmet, makes appearances around the castle. The lake is the other draw. Hikone is on the shore of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. The water is close to the castle area. The castle, garden and street fit into half a day. The city is about 45 minutes from Kyoto, so many travelers add it to a Kyoto stay. It pairs well with Maibara and Nagahama, which are a few minutes up the line.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Hikone Castle Museum
2 Hikone Castle
3 Yume Kyobashi Castle Road
4 Ii Naomasa equestrian statue

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Lake Biwa
2 Genkyū Gardens

🍽️Eat & Drink

1 Omi Gyu Restaurant Sennaritei
Omi beef set meals, shabu-shabu, sukiyaki and steak, with private rooms and tatami seating for relaxed dining. It is run by the Sennaritei beef company, which raises its own Omi beef.
2 Omi Niku Sennaritei Kyara
Omi beef sukiyaki, steaks and shabu-shabu in a Japanese-style space in the castle town, with a view of Hikone Castle from the entrance. The beef comes from the company's own ranch.
3 Omi Gyu to Omi Dori no Mise Omi-ya
Omi beef and Omi chicken sets and courses at a hideaway restaurant with an Edo-period feel on Yume Kyobashi Castle Road. It is on the second floor in Honmachi, a short walk from the castle moat.
4 Omi-ya Kura
Omi beef Hikonyan-don, a rice bowl that won the top gold award in West Japan at the national rice bowl grand prix, plus Omi chicken, rice and local sake. It is on Yume Kyobashi Castle Road, near Hikone Castle.
5 Biwako-han Mikaku no Yado Futabaso
Omi beef, biwa trout, sweetfish and eel in private rooms at a lakeside ryokan restaurant that feels like a second home. It uses local, seasonal ingredients, and is listed by Hikone City under Omi beef.
6 Sukiyaki Udon Nishikawa
Sukiyaki and udon at a restaurant listed by Hikone City among its Omi beef places. The shop's name combines the two dishes, making it a simple stop for either one.
7 Chanpontei Sohonke Hikone Ekimae
Hikone chanpon, also called Omi chanpon, with golden soup, thin noodles and plenty of vegetables, at the station-front branch of a shop founded in 1963 with its head office in Hikone. It is a 2-minute walk from Hikone Station.
8 Uokou
Live eel grilled in a house sauce, plus funazushi, a fermented crucian carp sushi, and Lake Biwa fish simmered in sweet soy, at a river fish shop founded in 1947. It is in Honmachi and sells takeaway items.
9 Sushi Unagi Umai-dokoro Daimyo Kamon
Sushi, eel and seasonal dishes using fish from Wakasa, at a restaurant that has run for about 70 years, three minutes' walk from the west exit of Hikone Station. It also serves sashimi, tempura and single dishes.
10 Pomme d'Amour
A petit French café near Hikone Station serving lunch first and café sweets and drinks in the afternoon. It is a 13-minute walk from the station on the ground floor of the Maruhei building.

🎈Events

Hikone Castle Festival Parade (Nov 3)
Buddhist Altar Festival (spring)
Cherry Blossom Festival (April)
Genkyu-en Night Illumination (autumn)
Lake Biwa Fireworks (summer)

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Nozomi trains skip Maibara, so use a Hikari or Kodama.
From the station the castle is a 15 to 20 minute walk or a short taxi ride.
Watch for the spiral ramp and hidden arrow openings, which were built to slow attackers.
Omi beef has a 400-year history because Hikone Domain was once the only place allowed to slaughter cattle.

How to travel to Hikone

Trains are the easiest way to reach Hikone, with the JR Tokaido Main Line (Biwako Line) calling at Hikone Station. From Kyoto, a direct train takes about 45 minutes. From Shin-Osaka it takes 40 to 80 minutes depending on the train. From Tokyo, ride the Tokaido Shinkansen to Maibara in about 2 hours and change to a local train for a 4-minute ride to Hikone. Only Hikari and Kodama trains stop at Maibara. From Nagoya the Shinkansen reaches Maibara in about 25 minutes. Kansai Airport (KIX) and Chubu Centrair Airport (NGO) are the main international airports, reached by changing at Osaka or Nagoya. By road, Hikone is on the Meishin Expressway and is roughly an hour from Kyoto.

Access summary

From Kansai Airport (KIX): JR via Osaka/Kyoto to Hikone, about 2–2.5 hours.
From Kyoto: JR Biwako Line rapid trains to Hikone, roughly 45–70 minutes.
From Osaka (Osaka/Umeda): JR Kyoto Line then Biwako Line, around 1.5 hours total.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Hikone

Most visitors stay in the business hotels around Hikone Station, which are the simplest option for early or late trains. Choices are smaller near the castle, so the station area is the practical base. A direct train to Kyoto takes about 45 minutes, which makes a Kyoto hotel a workable alternative if you want more choice. Many travelers treat Hikone as a day trip and stay in Kyoto or Osaka, which have far more rooms at every price level. Maibara and Nagahama, a short train ride away, are other options with a quieter feel. Rooms in Hikone tighten around cherry blossom season in early April and on autumn weekends, so book ahead for those dates.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Grand Mercure Lake Biwa Resort & Spa

8.2

Comfort Hotel Hikone

8.6

Hotel Sunroute Hikone

8.3

Grand Mercure Lake Biwa Resort & Spa

7.9

Toyoko Inn Maibara-eki Shinkansen Nishi-guchi

8.4

KAMENOI HOTEL HIKONE

8.4

Toyoko Inn Hikone-eki Higashi-guchi

8.3

Kitabiwako Hotel Grazie

8.6

HOTEL R9 The Yard Nagahama

8.5

Hikone Castle Resort & Spa

9.2

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Hikone

Hikone is easy to explore on foot.

On foot:
The castle is about a quarter hour's walk from Hikone Station and the garden, the castle museum and Castle Road are all within walking distance of it. Taxis are available at the station if you'd rather ride.

Inside the castle:
The paths inside the castle grounds are steep near the keep, so allow extra time if you want to see it all.

Cars and trains:
A car isn't needed in the center. It only helps if you plan to explore farther along the lake shore. For other towns on the Biwako Line the train is easier. Maibara is about 4 minutes up the line and Nagahama is another short ride beyond it.

Food in Hikone

The main local food in Hikone is Omi beef and fish from Lake Biwa. Castle Road has cafes and restaurants with local dishes and convenience stores near the station cover quick meals. Many places close in the early evening so lunch is the easier meal to plan. Vegetarians should ask before ordering since beef and lake fish are the main local dishes.

Omi beef:
One of Japan's three most famous wagyu brands, with a history of more than 400 years. It's known for tenderness and fine marbling and appears as steak, sukiyaki and rice bowls.

Lake fish:
Lake fish dishes include tsukudani, fish simmered in soy sauce. Funazushi is fermented carp with a strong taste that not everyone likes.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when traveling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customize this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-45 %

Daily expenses in Hikone are around 45% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-17 %

Your exchange rate (USD to JPY) is 17% better than in recent years. That means traveling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when traveling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	$59	$128	$327
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	$30	$75	$150
🍝 Food per day	$23	$44	$133
🚕 Transportation per day	$7	$10	$45

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	$16
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	$7
🍟 Fast food combo	$5
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	$9
☕ Cappuccino	$2.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l / 16 oz	$3.10

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	$1.60
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	$28
⛽ Gas, 1 l / ¼ gal	$1.10

Other

🎞️ Movie ticket	$12
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	$27
🤧 Cold medication	$10
💇 Basic haircut	$15

Safety information overview

General safety

Hikone is very safe for travelers, with low crime around the station and the castle. The main risks are natural. Typhoons and heavy rain can disrupt trains in late summer and autumn. The lake shore can be windy and the castle paths slippery in rain.

Health & Medical

Health risks are low and the city has clinics and hospitals, with larger hospitals in nearby Nagahama and Kyoto. English-speaking care is limited, so carry travel insurance. Summers are hot and humid, so carry water for a day of walking.

Accessibility

The station area and old streets are mostly flat, but the castle grounds climb gradually and the keep has steep stairs. Genkyuen has footbridges and paths of uneven stone. Taxis shorten the walk from the station.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink in Hikone and across Shiga. Lake Biwa is a major source of drinking water for the Kansai region. Vending machines and shops sell bottled drinks near the station and the castle. A refillable bottle helps on hot days.