What would you like to see in Shiga?
Explore Hikone Castle's keep and garden or Ishiyamadera's temple grounds. Choose Hachiman-bori for a canal-side walk through historic streets, or Lake Biwa Museum for exhibits on the lake's fish and local life. Temple buses leave from Ishiyama Station; museum buses leave from Kusatsu Station. Check the official opening guides for both Lake Biwa Museum and Hikone Castle Museum before choosing your date.
Attraction admission, hours, and access
Hikone Castle · 彦根城
Hikone Castle彦根城
Explore the castle keep, then stroll through Genkyuen Garden for views of the castle across the pond. The approach to the keep and its interior include steep stairs. Castle and garden admission differs from museum admission, so decide what you want to visit before checking the prices below.
- AdmissionCastle and Genkyuen Garden admission is ¥1,000 for general visitors and ¥300 for elementary and junior high school students. A same-day ticket that also includes the castle museum is ¥1,500 for general visitors and ¥550 for elementary and junior high school students. Visiting the museum on a different day requires a separate ¥700 general admission ticket, bringing the castle and museum total to ¥1,700.
- HoursThe castle is open 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. Combined tickets may be unavailable during museum closures or exhibition changes.
- The museum has separate hoursFrom October 2026, museum hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. from March through November, with last admission at 4:30 p.m.; from December through February, hours are 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. The castle's 8:30 a.m. opening does not apply to the museum. Museum official guidance, checked October 9, 2026.
- Getting thereOfficial guidance lists about a 15-minute walk from JR Hikone Station to the castle. Use the west exit, walk toward the castle, and check the on-site map for your entrance and ticket office. Ticket lines and the climb to the keep take additional time. The route includes steps and slopes.
- Additional visit conditionsThe castle's opening time does not apply to the museum. Museum closures and exhibition changes can affect visits and combined-ticket availability.
Official museum guideHikone Castle visitor guideHikone Castle access
Ishiyamadera Temple · 石山寺
Ishiyamadera Temple石山寺
Explore Ishiyamadera, a temple associated with Murasaki Shikibu and The Tale of Genji. Its grounds include the main hall and Tahoto pagoda, both National Treasures, as well as large rock formations. Entry to the main hall's inner sanctuary costs extra, and visits may pause during religious services.
- AdmissionGeneral grounds admission is ¥600; junior and senior high school students pay ¥350, and elementary school students pay ¥250. General admission to the main hall's inner sanctuary is an additional ¥500, and Hozoden is an additional ¥300. Seasonal combined tickets are also available.
- HoursThe grounds are open 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. The inner sanctuary is open 9 a.m.–4 p.m., with visiting pauses and closure dates for religious services.
- Getting thereFrom JR Ishiyama Station's stop 1, take Kojak Bus route 1, 4, 14, 52, 54, or 55 to Ishiyamadera Sanmon-mae. The ride takes about 10 minutes and costs ¥250 per adult each way. Return on an Ishiyama Station-bound bus from Sanmon-mae stop 2. From Keihan Ishiyamadera Station, the walk is about 10 minutes.
- Additional visit conditionsFor the return, use an Ishiyama Station-bound bus from Sanmon-mae stop 2; it is a different service from the Otsu Station-bound bus. Check visiting pauses for religious services before entering the main hall's inner sanctuary.
Current prices and exceptionsOfficial bus guideKojak Bus fares, revised March 1, 2026Sanmon-mae stop 2 timetable toward Ishiyama StationWalk from the station
Hachiman-bori Canal · 八幡堀
Hachiman-bori Canal八幡堀
Follow Hachiman-bori's canal past warehouses, old white-walled houses, and stone-paved streets. Explore on foot or take a sightseeing boat for views from the water. For a boat ride, check the operator's boarding point, schedule, and fare separately.
- AdmissionThe bus between the station and Hachiman-bori costs ¥520 round trip per adult. Sightseeing boats and paid attractions cost extra; the standard walking itinerary does not include a boat ticket. Check each operator's boarding point, fare, and schedule before choosing a ride.
- HoursThe canal walking area has no regular closing day. Shops and sightseeing boats each have their own operating days and hours.
- Getting thereFrom Omihachiman Station's north exit, take the appropriate bus to Hachiman-bori (Osugicho) Hachimanyama Ropeway-guchi. The canal is directly accessible on foot from the stop. This guidance covers a walk along the canal and historic streets; boat boarding points are separate. The operator's roughly seven-minute station-to-stop ride excludes waiting, strolling, and meals.
- Additional visit conditionsCheck buses both to the canal and back to the station for your visit date. For a boat ride, check the operator's boarding point, operating dates, fare, and reservation conditions separately.
Hachiman-bori bus fares and round-trip timetablesHachiman-bori access
Lake Biwa Museum · 滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館
Lake Biwa Museum滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館
Visit the museum to learn about the fish of Lake Biwa · 琵琶湖 and the lives of people along its shores. Explore freshwater aquariums alongside exhibits on local life and history. Permanent and special exhibitions have separate admission fees. Since you travel by bus from Kusatsu Station, check return services and museum closure dates.
- AdmissionPermanent exhibition admission is ¥840 for general visitors and ¥470 for university students. High school students and visitors under 18 enter free. General admission to special exhibitions is an additional ¥340.
- HoursThe museum is open 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. It closes Mondays but is open on public holidays. Check the calendar for temporary closures.
- Getting thereTake an Ohmi Bus toward Lake Biwa Museum from stop 2 at JR Kusatsu Station's west exit. The ride to the museum stop takes about 25 minutes; walk from there to the museum. Adult bus fares are ¥480 each way or ¥960 round trip, separate from admission. Check outbound and return buses for your visit date.
- Additional visit conditionsCheck the calendar for public-holiday Monday openings and temporary closures. Permanent exhibition admission, special exhibition admission, and round-trip bus fares are separate costs.
Official Ohmi Bus guideLake Biwa Museum admissionLake Biwa Museum opening calendarMuseum accessOutbound busReturn bus
Frequently asked questions
Which ticket includes Hikone Castle Museum?
For the castle and Genkyuen Garden only, choose the ¥1,000 general admission ticket. A ¥1,500 combined ticket includes the castle museum on the same day. On separate days, castle and garden admission of ¥1,000 plus the ¥700 museum ticket total ¥1,700. Check museum visiting availability and combined-ticket sales during closures or exhibition changes.
Does Lake Biwa Museum open on Mondays?
It usually closes on Mondays, but opens on public holidays. Temporary closures also occur, so check the official calendar for your visit date.
Do I need a boat ticket to walk along Hachiman-bori?
You do not need a boat ticket for a walk. Only check the operator's boarding point, schedule, fare, and reservation conditions if you want a ride. The ¥520 round-trip bus fare between Omihachiman Station and Hachiman-bori excludes sightseeing boats.
Hachiman-bori accessHachiman-bori bus fares and round-trip timetables
Official sources and checked dates
- Museum access ·
- Hachiman-bori access ·
- Hikone Castle access ·
- Kojak Bus fares, revised March 1, 2026 ·
- Sanmon-mae stop 2 timetable toward Ishiyama Station ·
- Hachiman-bori bus fares and round-trip timetables ·
- Hikone Castle visitor guide ·
- Official museum guide ·
- Current prices and exceptions ·
- Official bus guide ·
- Walk from the station ·
- Official Ohmi Bus guide ·
- Lake Biwa Museum admission ·
- Lake Biwa Museum opening calendar ·
- Outbound bus ·
- Return bus ·