It is said to have been relocated from Otsu Castle, and not only is its external beauty a political symbol, but it also excels in its original military function. Designated as a national treasure in 1952 (Showa 27). Aside from Hikone Castle, the only other national treasure keeps in Japan are Himeji Castle, Matsumoto Castle, Inuyama Castle, and Matsue Castle.
In the early Edo period, a flat mountain castle was built on Mount Hikone, located in present-day Kinki-cho, Hikone City, as the stronghold of the Ii clan, who were responsible for the defense of the western territories. The mountain is also known by the alternate name "Konkiseyama," which is why the castle is referred to as Konkijo. It served as the residence of the 14th generation of the Ii clan, a hereditary feudal lord known for producing many senior statesmen.
The castle is designed in the form of a bastioned flat hill castle, featuring the main keep, the second bailey, and the third bailey, along with the Yamazaki fortification located to the north. The palace is situated in the second bailey. The main keep houses the tenshu, while three-tiered turrets were built in the western bailey and the Yamazaki fortification. The three-tiered turret at Yamazaki was dismantled in the early Meiji period. Additionally, to the north of the castle are two large feudal lord gardens, Genkyūen and Rakurakuen, which are designated as national scenic spots under the name "Genkyū Rakurakuen." Genkyūen and Rakurakuen once faced the Matsubara Inner Lake (which was reclaimed during and after the war) and offered a splendid view of the bay inner lake.
The view of Lake Biwa from the castle tower is absolutely stunning.
Hikone Castle was built as a fortress for the defense of western lords, and therefore has various ingenious defensive features. The arrow slits are designed to be invisible from the outside, while the stairs are steep (with a maximum angle of 62 degrees) to allow defenders to push enemies off from above, and are also structured to enable them to kick adversaries down.
There is a deep moat constructed between the turret built to the west of the Nishi no Maru and the protruding bastion further west. This served as a crucial defense against enemies approaching from the western rear entrance. The three-story turret was positioned to overlook this rear area and also played a role in monitoring Lake Biwa during peacetime.
nkonkohira
September 14, 2024

The main keep consists of three stories with a triple-layered roof. The roof features a diverse arrangement of "kirizuma hafu" (gabled roofs), "irioya hafu" (hip-and-gable roofs), and "karahafu" (Chinese-style roofs). Additionally, the second and third floors are adorned with "katōmado" (flower-headed windows), and the third floor showcases a "mawari-en" (surrounding balustrade), placing emphasis on the exterior appearance and presenting a beautifully varied silhouette.

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