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From the castle town Hikone
The Sengoku and Edo periods
To travel
Japan's largest freshwater lake,
Hikone-shi Shiga, located east of Lake Biwa.
It once flourished as a castle town of the Hikone domain.
Currently, the area is full of historical spots, centered around the national treasure, Hikone.
With your family and friends,
Let's travel back in time to the Sengoku and Edo periods!
More than 400 years ago at Hikone
Think back
The first place I want to visit on this trip Hikone, which is small but has a beautiful triple tower. In the early Edo period, when so many castles were built that it was called the Keicho castle-building rush, Ii Naomasa, a senior vassal of Tokugawa Ieyasu, was given Sawayama Castle, the castle of Ishida Mitsunari, who led the enemy forces, as a reward for his military achievements in the Battle of Sekigahara. However, the castle was later abandoned and Hikone was built. Unfortunately, he died before he could live in the castle, and his sons spent about 20 years building the castle.
While many castles were destroyed during the Meiji period, Hikone has remained beautiful and has survived to this day, unaffected by the effects of World War II. One theory is that Prime Minister Okuma Shigenobu, who accompanied Emperor Meiji on his tour, asked the emperor to preserve Hikone, which is why it survived.
View the castle from the moat on a houseboat
If you have time, take a tour of Hikone moat. The houseboats are almost life-size replicas of the ones used by feudal lords to inspect their territories, entertain daimyo and nobles, and engage in falconry on the lake, and you can leisurely view the majestic Hikone from the moat.
Battle of Sekigahara,
feel the history up close
The Sekigahara battlefield is the site of the decisive Battle of Sekigahara, which established Tokugawa Ieyasu's hegemony and led to Ii Naomasa being given Hikone.
A total of over 150,000 troops led by Tokugawa Ieyasu and Ishida Mitsunari gathered, and a fierce battle ensued when Ii Naomasa's forces opened fire. However, Tokugawa Ieyasu won the battle with a complete tactical victory, and the battle is said to have been decided in just six hours.
This battle marked the transition to the Edo period. Today, a stone monument and the flags of both the Tokugawa and Ishida clans are displayed at the Sekigahara battlefield, and at the memorial museum you can watch a realistic video of the battle.
Served by Hideyoshi
To the tea producing region
Mandokoro (Higashiomi City), located in the valley of the Suzuka Mountains in Shiga, is famous for the story of Sanken tea, which was offered to Toyotomi Hideyoshi by Ishida Mitsunari, who pledged his loyalty to him after his defeat in the Battle of Sekigahara.
Hideyoshi, the lord of Nagahama Castle at the time, stopped at a temple on his way back from falconry and asked for tea to quench his dry throat. The temple's page offered him a generous first cup of lukewarm tea, a smaller amount of slightly hot tea for the second cup, and a small amount of hot tea in a small teacup for the third cup.
Starting with lukewarm tea that is easy to drink even on a dry mouth, he gradually heated the tea up. This page, who showed hospitality with consideration for the person drinking, was none other than Ishida Mitsunari himself.
Thus, Mitsunari caught Hideyoshi's interest and was brought back to Nagahama Castle, where he began his life as a military commander under Hideyoshi.
Nowadays, "Mandokoro tea" is said to be a "phantom famous tea," and in the Edo period, it was a famous tea-producing area known throughout the country, with tea pickers' songs saying, "Uji is the tea place, tea is Mandokoro." If you are sightseeing Hikone, why not stop by a Japanese tea shop and have a cup of Mandokoro tea?
Provided by: "Biwako Visitors Bureau"
Recommended Hotel
Recommended hotels
The magnificent view of Lake Biwa
From Guest rooms and the large Hot springs bath
KAMENOI HOTEL HIKONE
A sense of history and tradition
Plenty of production
If you are planning a historical trip around Hikone, choose KAMENOI HOTEL HIKONE as your accommodation. The hotel will be renovated in spring 2023, and the lobby will be a cozy space incorporating the vermilion color that is the symbol of the Ii clan. The front counter is reminiscent of the piled stones of Hikone, the wall decorations are inspired by armor, and the carpet is reminiscent of a moat. From Guest rooms and the large Hot springs bath, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Biwa, allowing you to relax and soothe your fatigue.
In a restaurant reminiscent of Hikone
Savor the Omi beef
The restaurant also has Lake Biwa as a backdrop. Like Hikone, the restaurant is decorated in monochrome, and Omi beef, one of Japan's three major wagyu beef brands, is served for dinner. The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, including teppanyaki, nigiri sushi, steak, and shabu-shabu, and the deliciousness of Omi beef can be enjoyed even more when paired with sake and wine. If you choose the day trip plan that includes lunch and Hot springs, you can easily enjoy hamburgers and shabu-shabu made with A5-ranked Omi beef.
Nearby Spots
Nearby spots
Lake Biwa, the largest and oldest lake in Japan
Spend your time however you like
Lake Biwa was named after its resemblance to the shape of a Japanese lute. With an area of 670 km2, it is the largest lake in Japan. With a history of over 100,000 years, it is one of the rare ancient lakes in the world with endemic species. It is said that a shallow and narrow lake was formed about 4 million years ago, and the current Lake Biwa was formed at least 400,000 years ago. The day after visiting the historical sites, enjoy your favorite activities such as jogging, walking, fishing, and water sports on the shores of Lake Biwa.
@JAXA
Genkyuen
This is a feudal garden created by Ii Naoki, the fourth lord of Hikone domain, in 1677 (Enpo 5). You can see the castle tower of Hikone reflected in the pond.
Shosakai Park
From May to June, about 1,400 roses of 118 varieties and 2,000 irises of 28 varieties bloom in full glory. The roses also bloom in autumn.
Toriimoto Post Town and Takamiya Post Town
Toriimoto-juku and Takamiya-juku in Hikone are post towns on the Nakasendo road. Even today, the charming buildings and streetscapes of the Edo period remain, making them ideal places for a historical stroll.