Hikone Castle
Hikone Castle, a national treasure was completed in 1607, just after that decisive battle at SEKIGAHARA (関ケ原合戦), when many building materials were transported from Otsu castle where the early skirmish was fought. It is said that the castle has not only a perfect beauty of the external appearance but also deep ingenuity on the military matters.
There are 4 valuable Yaguras, all of which are important cultural properties. (Yagura refers to a turret, built in the castle, as a guard tower or a watchtower.) A stable in a castle is very rare, and has remained only in this castle. Twenty-one horses used to be kept here for the domain’s head and chief retainers under that neat shake roof.
The gorgeous cherry blossoms at Hikone Castle is chosen as one of the top 100 sites in Japan. Guests can meet the cutest mascot Hikonyan at the Castle.
Genkyu-en (玄宮園）is an attached circuit style garden to the castle, built in 1677. The path is skillfully laid for leading guests to 4 teahouses, which reminds us that the garden used to be a social arena those days for Daimyos.
Guests can visit and take a walk along “Yumekyobashi Castle Road”, after enjoying Hikone castle. It is said dividing and distributing the town started from this area when the castle began to be built. The street is unified like merchant houses in Edo Period with white board and black grating, so that guests can feel as if they were walking in the castle town in those days. There are many Japanese-style and western restaurants and confection stores, and locally produced goods as well.
Hikonyan, the CUTEST Mascot of Hikone Castle
Nagahama Castle
Old Nagahama area used to be under the Azai’s up to 1573, when Nobunaga beat Nagamasa at the War of Ane River. Hideyoshi, who contributed a lot during the war too, was given the KOHOKU area, and built his own castle here in 1576. The castle was built just in front of Lake Biwa, so a part of the stone-walls were founded from the shore so boats were able to go in and out from the water gate in the castle.
For the hero of the Provincial war era, it was the first castle built by his own power. Though Hideyoshi had been almost away from home, going into battles even to the Korean Peninsula, he was said to have been able to acquire management skills for people from his first domain. (Hideyoshi became Kanpaku, a chief advisor to the Emperor in 1585, building Osaka-jyo castle.)
After Hideyoshi, several warlords had lived in the castle, but it was abolished at last in 1615.
Nagahama Castle of today was reconstructed at Ho-koen Park (豊公園) in 1983, and has been managed as “Nagahama Castle Hisorical Museum” and also become the symbol of the main city of KOHOKU.
The elegant cherry blossoms in the Park is chosen as one of the top 100 sites in Japan, too.
After Nagahama castle, guests can enjoy walking excursion in central Nagahama, such as Kurokabe and Hikiyama Museum.
At Ho-koen Park
Overview
- Shiga
- 18,000 JPY
- 7Hours
- 1 ~ 5people
Itinerary
Meeting Point
JR Hikone Station- Hikone Castle
- "Yumekyobashi Castle Road"
- JR Nagahama Station
- Ho-koen Park
- Nagahama Castle (& "Nagahama Castle Hisorical Museum")
- Old Nagahama Railroad Station
- Keiun-kan Guest House
- Kurokabe
- Hikiyama Museum
Ending Point
JR Nagahama Station
What to Expect
【Hikone Castle】
1. Sophisticated and Artistic Appearance and Military Ingenuity of the Castle Designated as a National Treasure
2. Four Valuable Yaguras, All of Which are Important Cultural Properties
3. To Meet with the Cutest Mascot, Hikonyan
4. To Walk along “Yumekyobashi Castle Road” and Enjoy Shopping
【Nagahama Castle】
1. To Walk around Ho-koen Park, Remembering the Days when the Basis of the Castle Town was Founded
2. To Learn More about Nagahama, Visiting to “Nagahama Castle Hisorical Museum”
3. To Actually See and Experience the Deep Culture that the Town People have Created so far
Inclusions & Exclusions
[Inclusions]
Guide Fee
[Exclusions]
1) Admission / Entrance Fee (For Tourists): Approximately 2,000 (Two Thousand) JPY Each at a Maximum for One Day.
2) Transportation (For Tourists): Less than 800 (Eight Hundred) JPY Each at a Maximum for One Day.
3) Lunch and/or Dinner (For Tourists): Less than 1,500 (One Thousand and Five Hundred) JPY Each at a Maximum.
4) Any Unexpected Cost (For Tourists): Less than 1,000 (One Thousand) JPY Each at a Maximum.
Important Information
1) The tour consists of 7 hours walking excursion, basically starting from 9:30 AM to 16:30 (4:30 PM), including 1 hour lunch.
2) Meeting & “Good-bye” Place:
9:30 AM at JR Hikone Station (Tour start)
4:30 PM at JR Nagahama Station (Tour end)
3) Lunch: A Set Menu of Local Foods from 12:00 AM to 1:00 PM
4) Peak Season: The destination spots may slightly change due to seasonal situation, after getting an approval from the guests
5) Longer or shorter Excursion time and other specific regions are available, on your request.
Remark
[Cancellation Policy]
1) Free cancellation – 10 days prior to meeting time
2) 50% Refund – 9 to 3 days prior to meeting time
3) No Refund – Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Book Now!
Reviews
Thank you again for all your help in making our visit to Nara so interesting and enjoyable.
Yes, I did receive your very excellent photos, they will be a wonderful memory of our family trip.
John
Thank you, John san, for your kind reply. Now I can get sound sleep....(^^♪Yoshi
Hello Yoshi,
I hope you are well. We just arrived back to our homes in Indiana and Michigan late yesterday, so today was the first time I had to open up the files you sent. Great pictures! Thank you!
We had a great trip and certainly enjoyed the time we had with you as our guide. Our visits to Hiroshima and Osaka were excellent as well.
Finally, you are welcome to use our pictures on your website or any other way that helps your work.
Brian
Kyoto Imperial Palace (Oct., 19)
Tenryu-ji temple at Arashiyama park (Oct., 19)
The bamboo forest at Arashiyama park (Oct., 19)
Nonomiya jinjya shrine at Arashiyama park (Oct., 19)
Nara Life Song Church in Tenri city (Oct., 20)
Higashimuki Shopping Street in Nara city (Oct., 20)
Todai-ji tem in Nara city [1 of 2] (Oct., 20)
Todai-ji tem in Nara city [2 of 2] (Oct., 20)
Kintetsu Nara sta. [1 of 2] (Oct., 20)
Kintetsu Nara sta. [2 of 2] (Oct., 20)
Brian san, thank you very much for your permission to use your nicest photos on my small website.Please relieve your weariness of a long journey and have a nice weekend!
(1) Sep., 30 (Mon.)
Good afternoon.
Thank you very much. The photos are well received, and I am happy to see all we have done in the past visits during our stay in Japan.
I know George and Malakai will have the best photos to show to their wives and kids and tell the stories of their trip in Japan.
Thank you very much for your accompany during our stay. We enjoyed each day learning and eating well and in good health until we left Japan.
Currently, all of us are now in Port Moresby together with George and Malakai and they will be leaving tomorrow for Kavieng.
Thank you very much for your continuous support.
Best regards
Marina San.
Thank you.
(2) Oct., 04 (Fri.)
Dear Yoshi san,
Good morning and thank you for the pictures. We arrived safely in PNG. I take this time to thank you for the opportunity to have you as
our guide through the beautiful attractions around Kyoto. We are thankful and very much appreciated the tour and your time.
Wishing you a pleasant day and success in your endeavors as a guide.
Kind regards,
George
ATTN.: 1) Dear MALAKAI KOMAI san 2) Dear GEORGE MICHAEL YOWAI san3) Dear MARINA MEOMBI sanGood day. I thank you very much for sharing your precious time with this clumsy tour guide on Sep. 23 (Mon.) and 24 (Tue.)(I thought you could go back to your sweet home safely on Sep., 26(Thu.))Thank you very much for giving me a permission to post some photos on my website.I strongly hope that all of your days in Japan this time will be unforgettably good memories.I was so glad to be able to meet all of you. I'll never forget the nicest gests from PNG.From Yoshi / KOHOKU TourSep., 28 (Sat.), 2024; 21: 30PM
Yoshi
Thank you so much for the photos, we don’t have that many family photos, so we appreciate it very much. Thank you again for taking us on such an amazing tour through Japan. We believe we were able to see a lot of what Japan offers, thanks to you. I hope you were able to get lots of rest after our adventure. 
We will treasure these photos forever, and be counting down the days until we can visit you and Kaoru-San again. Emmett was very sad to leave Japan, and I’m sure he will want to visit again!
-Wakana, Rob, and Emmett
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Yoshi
Thank you so much for your time and hospitality!
We had an amazing time in Japan and the big part of it was thanks to you! (^^♪
Rob
【Translation into Japanese (日本語)】
ヨシ
日本旅行の写真を送ってくれてありがとう！
私たちは、そんなに多くの家族写真を撮っていないのでとっても嬉しいわ。
先日は、日本の素晴らしいところへ連れて行ってくれてありがとう。再度御礼するわ。私たち、貴方達のおかげさまで日本の素晴らしいところを見たり、美味しいものをいただいたりすることができたと思うわ。ありがとう。どうか十分にお疲れをとってね。
私たち、貴方が送ってくれた写真をずっと宝物にすることにするわ。そして、貴方と薫さんのところへまたお訪ねすることができるまで指折り数えることにするわ。エメットは日本を離れるときにとても寂しそうだったわ。彼はきっとまた日本へ行きたいというに違いないわ。
和香奈、Rob、Emmett より
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ヨシ
貴方が私たち家族のために多くの時間を割いてくれたこと、そして「おもてなし」をしてくれたことに感謝しているよ。
日本で、とっても素晴らしい体験をすることができたよ。そしてその大部分は貴方達のおかげだった。
ありがとう
Robより
【July 20 (Sat.), 2024 Yogo, Shiga pref.】
【July 21 (Sun.), 2024 Fukui pref. (1 of 2)】
【July 22 (Mon.), 2024 Fukui pref. (2 of 2)】
【July 23 (Tue.), 2024 Kyoto】
【July 24 (Wed.), 2024 Nara】
【July 25 (Thu.), 2024 Osaka】
[clink url="[Motion Picture] Sightseeing Tour around Shiga, Hokuriku and Kansai with the Families of My Niece (【動画】姪っ子家族との滋賀・北陸そして関西旅行） - KOHOKU Tour"]
Good day. I thank you very much for sharing your precious time with me and Kaoru during your memorable tour around our hometown, Hokuriku area and Kansai (Kyoto, Nara and Osaka). Toshi told us that you safely went back to your sweetest home. It's our utmost pleasure, too, that Riina and Stephen kun kindly dropped by our home on 20th (Sat.) on the way to their happiest honeymoon.【Translation into Japanese (日本語)】こんにちは。私の故郷（湖北）、北陸、そして関西地方をめぐる想い出深い旅行へ私と家内も時間を共有させていただいてありがとう。Toshiは先日貴方達が無事にご自宅へ到着したと連絡をくれたよ。RiinaとStephen君も２０日（土）、新婚旅行の途中に我が家へ立ち寄ってくれたことも私たちにとってとっても嬉しいことだったよ。
(1) July, 07 (Wed.)
That would be perfectly fine to send the pictures when you are ready. We will definitely let you know. That was a very nice article on your website. Leia especially thanks you for your kind compliments. We will take note of your recommendations for Nara and Osaka. We are very fortunate and blessed to have met you. Ramon, Leia and Victor
(2) July, 12 (Fri.)
Good morning from North Carolina, Yoshi-San,
We are safely home and are reminiscing our wonderful trip to Japan. Thank you for making our visit to Kyoto so memorable. We learned so much from you.
I finally downloaded all your photos of us. Thank you for these memories. I appreciate that you labeled the photos with the places they were taken.
With much gratitude,
Ramon, Leia and Victor
Ramon san, Leia san and Victor san. Good evening. It was a HEAT day today in Kyoto, too! Incredible! You selected Sapporo ramen, didn't you? That's very good! When you visit Nara and Osaka tomorrow, do not miss to see Ashura, a guardian god of Hachi Bushu (or Eight Legions, Protectors of Buddhist Teachings) in Buddhism, at the national treasure house of Kofuku-ji temple. And you must be amazed to see the HUGE power of Hideyoshi, when you visit Osaka-jo castle! Please enjoy! Yoshi
