Hikone, Japan
彦根市
Hikone is a town of 113,647 people in Shiga, Japan, founded in February 11, 1937.
Why visit Hikone
Townapedia lists 23 museums and landmarks, 31 parks and trails, 287 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Japan Center for Michigan Universities, Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, Binmanji Ishibotokedani Necropolis and Dainaka Lake Minami Site.
Weather in Hikone
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Hikone
Hikone (彦根市, Hikone-shi) is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 August 2021, the city had an estimated population of 111,958 in 49,066 households and a population density of 570 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 196.84 square kilometres (76.00 sq mi).
From the Wikipedia article Hikone, Shiga (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Hikone on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do9
Japan Center for Michigan Universities
School · 5.4 km
Higher education institution in Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology
School · 12.2 km
Higher education institution in Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Seisen University
School · 6.5 km
Higher education institution in Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Shiga University
School · 3.0 km
Higher education institution in Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Museums and landmarks23
Binmanji Ishibotokedani Necropolis
Monument and historic site · 5.3 km
Sengoku period cemetery in Taga, Japan
Dainaka Lake Minami Site
Monument and historic site · 13.6 km
Archaeological site in Õmihachiman, Kinki, Japan
Old Saigo Yashiki Nagaya mon
Monument and historic site · 2.6 km
景観重要建造物; 歴史的風致形成建造物
11 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds31
19 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes287
275 more on the map.
History
Hikone was part of the ancient Ōmi Province and was originally a market town that developed around a Buddhist temple called Hogon-ji which was founded in the Heian period. The site was a natural bottleneck on the route of the Tōsandō (later the Nakasendō) highway connecting Heian-kyō with the eastern provinces. Hikone is home to two former post stations, Toriimoto-juku and Takamiya-juku on the Nakasendō and the Chōsenjin Kaidō also passed through the area. Strategically, it was a vital point in protecting the capital from attack from the east. In the Sengoku period, this area was controlled by the Azai clan, who were based in northern Ōmi, and who built a castle called Sawayama Castle. The Azai were defeated by Oda Nobunaga, who assigned Sawayama Castle to his general Niwa Nagahide. Under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, this closest advisor, Ishida Mitsunari was entrusted with the castle. After Ishida Mitsunari was defeated at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu appointed his general Ii Naomasa as daimyō of a new domain centered at Sawayama Castle. Ii Naomasa began the construction of Hikone Castle, which was completed by his son Ii Naokatsu in 1622. The area remained under the control of Hikone Domain through the end of the Edo Period.
From the History section of Hikone, Shiga on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Churches and places of worship78
Shopping56
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries21
Healthcare69
Map of Hikone
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Gifu Airbase (QGU) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 58 km away.
- Nagahama 15 km north, about 15 min by car
- Ōgaki 35 km east, about 35 min by car
- Kusatsu 37 km southwest, about 37 min by car
- Kuwana 44 km southeast, about 44 min by car
- Ōtsu 45 km southwest, about 45 min by car
- Yokkaichi 46 km southeast, about 46 min by car
- Inazawa 48 km east, about 48 min by car
- Gifu 50 km northeast, about 50 min by car
- Ichinomiya 50 km east, about 50 min by car
- Kyoto 52 km southwest, about 52 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Genkyu-en-r, Oilstreet, CC BY 2.5
- Hikone Local Joint Government Building, Suikotei, CC BY 4.0
- Hikone City Fire Department headquarters, Yasu ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Okamachi, Hikone, Shiga Prefecture 522-0037, Japan - panoramio, 400a, CC BY 3.0
- Serikawacho, Hikone, Shiga Prefecture 522-0033, Japan - panoramio, 400a, CC BY 3.0
- Nanamagari,Hikone 20220523, 皓月旗, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hikone 20211002175718 (51814615254), inunami, CC BY 2.0
- Hikone City Hall Takamiya branch, Suikotei, CC BY 4.0
- Hikone 20211002170925 (51814992080), inunami, CC BY 2.0
- Hikone 20211002171813 (51814377993), inunami, CC BY 2.0
- Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology, OAS at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ShigaUniv Hikone AssemblyHall01, Jazzy at Japanese Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
- The University of Shiga Prefecture, KATSURA Roen, CC BY 3.0
- Shiga Dainakanoko Minami Remains 2013-10, At by At, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Heiwado Viva City Hikone, Kyoww, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hikone-city Minami junior high school 001, Crown user, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hikone Josei Elementary School 2017, イココ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Myōhōzan Menshō-ji Temple 20210402 01, 先従隗始, CC0
- Hikone Higashi High school No,4, Mti, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 井伊直政の灰塚, Norry~jawiki, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hikone Joto Elementary School 2023, hyolee2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chiyo Shrine 20210306 02, 先従隗始, CC0
- Shiga Seisen University Gate, イココ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- HikoneSougoHighscool, Asasa198, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hikone city Hikone junior high school, y213413, Public domain
- Hikone city Sawayama elem-sch, Bakkai, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 長松院, Norry~jawiki, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Myōhōzan Menshō-ji Temple 20211106, 先従隗始, CC0
- Hokora 20210405, 先従隗始, CC0
- Yakushi jizō-son 20210405 01, 先従隗始, CC0
- The name monument of Shin Shrine 20210705 01, 先従隗始, CC0
- Tamaju Shrine 20210705, 先従隗始, CC0
- Loppi, 高菜明太, CC0
- Muragishi Family's House 20220523 P2, 皓月旗, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Muragishi Family's House 20220523, 皓月旗, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Unknown Shrine 20210411, 先従隗始, CC0
- 戦国屋 - panoramio, daidarabotti, CC BY 3.0
- Kasuga Shrine Otabisho 20230118, 先従隗始, CC0
- 芹川の様子, 高菜明太, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Takamiya Torii 20250608, Suikotei, CC BY 4.0
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