Japan Travel Guide

Near the city of Kyoto is Lake Biwa, the largest lake in all of Japan, and on its shores is a small town called Hikone. Among the Japanese is well known as home to one of the “Big Four Japanese castles, four strengths that have been declared national treasures: the Hikone Castle.

I advise you to consider making the trip here from either Kyoto or from Tokyo, as the trip does not last long and worthwhile destination. The castle in black and white, was completed in 1622 after two decades of work on a hill. It became the residence of feudal lords, called daimyo, to the end of Japanese feudalism in 1868.

Is it an original castle? Yes it is. Survived the Middle Ages and did not cross any destruction or reconstruction so that makes it even more wonderful because there are few castles in Japan than reconstructions. Most of the homes of the guard, internal pits, doors and walls are intact, are the original, although it is true that some of the buildings have had to be rebuilt.

The fact is that the atmosphere transmits a medieval castle complete. It has three floors but even small design is unique because it combines different architectural styles. The climb to the castle includes a spiral ramp that ends at a wooden bridge (destructing in the event of attack), there are many towers you can see, a huge bell still rings several times a day, a huge store, stables and Finally, while taking you climb increasingly beautiful views of the city and around the castle.

There is a museum with reconstructed rooms with corridors, gardens and tatami floors. Kimono exhibits, musical instruments, armor, swords and old documents and the time of cherry blossoms around the castle becomes a pink and white world.

Tags: Hikone Castle, japan lake, Japanese feudalism, Kyoto, Lake Biwa