Shiga Prefecture (滋賀県) - Travel Report My Weekend Trip in Summer 2021 - Part 1

To escape the summer heat in Tokyo, I set out on a small weekend trip - or a drive, as such a small journey is called here in Japan - and visited the Shiga and Fukui prefectures. 

Shiga Prefecture

Shiga Prefecture is located in the central part of Japan's main island Honshu and is approximately five and a half hours west of Tokyo by car. You may have heard of "Omi Beef" or "Wagyu Beef" - Shiga is the home of this delicacy. The area is also known for its large number of national parks and ski resorts in winter. However, since I traveled to Shiga in the summer, I wanted to take a closer look at the famous Lake Biwa and the equally well-known Hikone Castle and take you along on this journey.

At Lake Biwa

The first stop of my journey was Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. It is even believed to be the third oldest lake in the world. The most well-known image is probably the large Torii gate in the middle of the water, which is pictured on many Japanese postcards. Unfortunately, I was not in that spot myself but was on the other side of the lake, exploring the somewhat less touristy areas more closely.

A Car is Worth It!

To enjoy Lake Biwa, I can only recommend renting a car . The route around Lake Biwa that I took unfortunately did not have much to offer in terms of tourist spots, but being able to enjoy the scenery while driving made up for this deficit immediately. I would also highly recommend the evening hours around sunset for anyone who loves landscape photography.

There is the option to travel on Lake Biwa with a cruise ship from one shore to the other with a detour to the small island Chikubu-shima. During the pandemic, however, these ships only operate on selected days, and unfortunately, I had no luck here and had to forgo further exploration of the lake. 

 

My Impression

All in all, Lake Biwa is worth a visit, but you should be clear beforehand what is most interesting to you: If you want to fully enjoy Japan's nature, a car tour around the lake is recommended, as there are some beautiful spots for landscape photography and you pass by a few temples. It is also certainly a nice area for hiking.

For city dwellers and those who would like to dine with a view of the lake, it might be better to plan the trip more towards local towns.

For city dwellers and those who would like to dine with a view of the lake, it might be better to plan the trip more towards local towns.

Hikone Castle

The next day we went to Hikone Castle, which - as the name suggests - is located in the city of Hikone, directly on Lake Biwa. It is very easy to reach by car, but you have to expect somewhat expensive parking fees: 1,000 Yen per hour. 

However, the castle is also easy to reach by train: it is only about a 15-minute walk from Hikone Station.

Admission

If you want to take a closer look at the castle, you have the choice between two rates: admission with a small tour of the interiors and the surrounding garden costs 800 Yen (approx. 6 Euros), together with a ticket for the adjacent museum 1,200 Yen (approx. 9 Euros).

This time I only chose to visit the castle and the garden and skipped the museum.

Historical Background

Hikone Castle was built starting in 1603 during the Edo period on the orders of Ii Naokatsu, the son of the first lord of Hikone, and was completed in 1622. It is one of the 12 Japanese castles that have retained their original main tower to this day and was also designated as a National Treasure of Japan in 1952.

Especially in spring, Hikone Castle is frequently visited because it is surrounded by plum trees and the blooming season must be particularly picturesque. But even in summer, the castle is truly impressive and appears quite imposing to visitors despite its small size.

Inside the Castle

With the admission ticket, you can also visit the premises. If you have visited a castle in Germany before, you certainly know that the interior decoration or weapon collections are always part of the exhibition. This should not be expected here: the entire interior of the castle is empty. However, in my opinion, it is still worth taking a look inside, as the architecture is naturally quite different from what we know from our castles. On one hand, the walls and floors are entirely made of wood, and on the other hand, there are hardly any separate rooms.

My highlight was the view from the castle's platform. Not only does the city of Hikone stretch out before you, but also a large portion of Lake Biwa. According to tourist guides I consulted beforehand, this platform is one of the eight best spots to view the lake, and I can only agree.

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My Conclusion

In summary, Hikone Castle is small but very beautiful. It is not necessary to plan an entire day for the visit, but if you are in the area, I definitely recommend adding the castle to your daily itinerary. 

There are no restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the castle, so after visiting the castle, it is advisable to head towards the town and find a local eatery.

But caution: Outside of the major cities, many restaurants and shops close already at seven in the evening!