Meeting Point

At JR Hikone Station or designated place in Gifu, Aichi or Shiga

Hikone Castle

A tour of the National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, including the Tenbin Yagura (an Important Cultural Property), the castle tower, the Nishi-no-Maru (west wing) and the Taiko Yagura (drum tower), with detailed explanations.

Genkyuen Garden, Rakurakuen Garden

After Hikone Castle, you can also visit Genkyu-en (Genkyu Rakuraku Garden), which faces the inner moat. This is where the daimyo's garden with a pond and circular garden was built by Ii Naoki, who was the head of Hikone Castle, half a century after the completion of the castle. On a clear, windless day, you may be able to see the reflection of Hikone Castle's keep in the surface of the pond.

Lunch

Near Hikone castle area

Azuchi Castle Museum

The Castle Museum is a castle-like building in the south square of JR Azuchi Station. The museum houses a replica of Azuchi Castle, built by Oda Nobunaga, one-twentieth the size of the actual castle. Azuchi Castle was a grand and splendid castle with gilt tiles, five storeys on the exterior and seven storeys on the interior, and the interior was decorated with sliding door paintings by Kano Hyoutoku and furnishings from foreign cultures. Azuchi Castle is said to be the first castle to have a full-fledged tenshukaku (main building). It was introduced throughout Europe by the foreign teacher Luis Frois (1532-1597) in a letter he sent home. Its tenshukaku has been faithfully reproduced down to the smallest detail, and is a reminder of what Azuchi Castle looked like.

Ruins of Azuchi Castle

Ruins of the castle of Oda Nobunaga (1534-82), located in the area of Mount Azuchi, 198 m above sea level, north-east of JR Azuchi Station. It is a nationally designated Special Historic Site. It took Oda Nobunaga about three years from Tensho 4 (1576) to complete. The castle was built at the start of the Azuchi-Momoyama period, but after the Honnoji Incident in which Oda Nobunaga fell, it was burnt down and only the stone walls remain. A moat runs along the south side of Mt Azuchi, retaining vestiges of the old days. Cornerstones can be seen at the ruins of the Tenshukaku and Honmaru, while the mausoleum of Oda Nobunaga, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, can be seen at the Ninomaru ruins. There is also a magnificent stone wall near the Kuroganemon-ato (Gate of Black Gold), a short distance down to the east from the Tenshukaku ruins. There are also the ruins of the vassal residences halfway up the mountain, and if you follow the mountain ridge to the north, you will find Hakkakudaira and Yakushidaira. Passages to the centre of the castle mountain include the Ote-michi road entering from the south front, as well as the Dongmon-do road, the Hyakunabashiguchi road and the Lente-do road.

Ruins of Azuchi Castle, entrance/exit at the foot of the mountain.

JR Azuchi station Dismissal or drop-off at a location of your choice

Please contact me in advance for your chosen location.

Ending Point

At JR Azuchi Station