Lewis' Japan Retrospective #5: Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture.

This entry might be a bit of a curveball. Hikone City certainly isn’t the first place that will pop up in the travel books and Japan guides, but as I recently took a trip there, I wanted to share my opinions on a place you may not have ever heard of.

I was joined by my friend and fellow JET, who is based in Okinawa, for this short excursion. Which, alongside Okayama, has one of the highest amounts of sunny days in all of Japan and consequently, very low snowfall. I make no secret of the fact I despise hot and humid weather, proof if it’s ever needed that I have Scottish blood in me. 

Hikone City is located in Shiga Prefecture, part of the Kansai region, further east than what we’re used to, so let me start by saying our day was made a thousand times better because of the strong snow and beautiful cold. It perfectly aligned with the black and white castle that sits atop the hill that overlooks the town centre. While the castle tower is not so tall or mighty, it does offer beautiful views, reaching as far as the Prefecture’s most well-known places, Lake Biiwa and Otsu City. 

The lake itself is probably most people’s reason to visit Shiga at all, a breathtaking sight with Mt Hiei looming over it. The misty clouds complement everything just as you would expect them to. You can buy a 3-in-1 ticket for Hikone Castle, Genkyuen Gardens, and the castle’s museum, which I’d highly recommend considering.

There is an express train you can take from Kyoto Station in order to get there, the Tokaido-Sanyo Line Rapid towards Banshu-Ako. 

In short, Hikone City was more than just another smaller city in a less-travelled Prefecture, it was a fantastic break from the bustling Kyoto with all the charms of more rural Japan. The sort of place where, if you have an extra day in the area, you can take your time in. 

As always, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture is written as 彦根市、滋賀県. (ひこねし、しがけん).