Travel in Shiga
Hikone Castle
Hikone Castle · 彦根城
At Hikone Castle, explore the keep before walking Genkyuen Garden. The castle is visible across the pond, giving an outside view after exploring its interior.
Visitor information
Admission
Individual castle and Genkyuen tickets cost 1,000 yen for general visitors or 300 yen for elementary and junior high school children. Individual museum tickets cost 700 yen and 350 yen respectively. A same-day combined ticket for all three costs 1,500 yen and 550 yen. General visitors on different days pay 1,700 yen in total. Genkyuen-only tickets cost 400 yen and 150 yen. Fees are as of October 1, 2024.
Opening hours
Hikone Castle opens 08:30–17:00, with last castle and Genkyuen admission at 16:30. Major castle buildings close at 16:45. The castle opens year-round; Kaikoku Memorial Hall closes December 25–31. See separate seasonal castle museum hours below.
What to see at Hikone Castle
Keep interiors and castle views across the pond
Explore the keep, then continue to Genkyuen. Walk the garden with views of the castle across the pond.
How to get to Hikone Castle
Leave JR Hikone by the west exit and walk towards the castle, about 15 minutes away. Use the on-site map to find your entrance and ticket office. Allow separate time for ticket queues and climbing to the keep.
Official museum information Hikone Castle visitor information Hikone Castle access
Before you visit
Steps up to the keep
The keep approach has steps and slopes, and interior stairs are steep too. Beyond the station-to-castle walk, allow time for ticket queues and climbing to the keep.
The museum opens later than the castle
From October 2026, Hikone Castle Museum opens 09:00–17:00 March–November, with last admission at 16:30, or 09:00–16:30 December–February, with last admission at 16:00. Closures and exhibition changes may affect access and combined-ticket sales.
Official museum information Hikone Castle visitor information
Questions about Hikone Castle
Which ticket should I buy to include the castle museum?
A same-day combined ticket for castle, Genkyuen and museum costs 1,500 yen for general visitors or 550 yen for elementary and junior high school children. Different days require separate tickets, totalling 1,700 yen for general visitors. Check access and combined-ticket availability during museum closures or exhibition changes.
Hikone Castle visitor information Official museum information
Official sources
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