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Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle
(Oumi Province/Shiga Prefecture)

Hikone-jo was built by Naotsugu Ii in the 8th year of Keicho era (1603). The Ii clan is the retainer of the Tokugawa clan and Naomasa, the father of Naotsugu, was assigned to this place after the Battle of Sekigahara. He first set up base in Sawayama-jo and then planned to build a new castle in Hikone 2km away in the west from Sawayama. However, Naomasa passed away shortly and his son, Naotsugu, built the castle.
The castle was built on the Mt. Hikone that faces the Lake Biwa, which was convenient for water transportation. At the time of building the castle, architectures from the castles in the vicinity such as Sawayama-jo, Nagahama-jo and Otsu-jo were removed to Hikone and reconstructed there. For example, Nagahama-jo's Otemon was used for the "Tenbin" turret and Otsu-jo's castle tower was removed and reconstructed for Hikone-jo.
Daimyos all over Japan were called out for the construction of the castle and consequnetly an enormous castle was built. It is said this was because Ieyasu Tokugawa was on his guard against the Toyotomi clan and ordered the construction of this castle for the purpose of preventing the Toyotomi's forces from advancing to the east.

(2009/5/23 、2013/7/6 、2015/9/26 )

Hikone Castle
The ruins of main gate
Hikone Castle The ruins of main gate
Omote palace
Hikone Castle Omote palace
The ruins of main gate
Hikone Castle The ruins of main gate
Nobori Stone wall (Near main gate)
Hikone Castle Nobori Stone wall (Near main gate)
Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge (Omote gate side)
Hikone Castle Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge (Omote gate side)
Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge (Main gate side)
Hikone Castle Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge (Main gate side)
Kanenomaru
Hikone Castle Kanenomaru
Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge
Hikone Castle Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge
Taiko enclosure and Taiko gate turret
Hikone Castle Taiko enclosure and Taiko gate turret
Main enclosure
Hikone Castle Main enclosure
Main tower
Hikone Castle Main tower
West enclosure
Hikone Castle West enclosure
South enclosure Sanjyuu turret
Hikone Castle South enclosure Sanjyuu turret
Big trench and Demaru enclosure
Hikone Castle Big trench and Demaru enclosure
Nobori Stone wall (Near West enclosure)
Hikone Castle Nobori Stone wall (Near West enclosure)
The ruins of Kuro gate
Hikone Castle The ruins of Kuro gate
Sawaguchi tamon turret
Hikone Castle Sawaguchi tamon turret
Sawaguchi entrance
Hikone Castle Sawaguchi entrance
Kyoubashi entrance
Hikone Castle Kyoubashi entrance
Funamachi entrance
Hikone Castle Funamachi entrance
Rakuraku-en garden
Hikone Castle Rakuraku-en garden
Genkyuu-en garden
Hikone Castle Genkyuu-en garden
Relocated gate (Main gate of Hozenji)
Hikone Castle Relocated gate (Main gate of Hozenji)
Konki Kaikan
Hikone Castle Konki Kaikan

Map


Oumi Province
Hikone Castle
Sawayama Castle
Azuchi Castle
Kannonji Castle
Hachimanyama Castle
Kozutsumi Shiroyama castle
Kamaha Castle
Nagahama Castle
Odani Castle
Zeze Castle
Minakuchi Castle
Sakamoto Castle
Oomizo Castle
Kutsuki Jinya

Shiga Prefecture
Hikone Castle
Sawayama Castle
Azuchi Castle
Kannonji Castle
Hachimanyama Castle
Kozutsumi Shiroyama castle
Kamaha Castle
Nagahama Castle
Odani Castle
Zeze Castle
Minakuchi Castle
Sakamoto Castle
Oomizo Castle
Kutsuki Jinya

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Hikone Castle The ruins of main gate

The ruins of main gate



Hikone Castle Omote palace

Omote palace



Hikone Castle The ruins of main gate

The ruins of main gate



Hikone Castle Nobori Stone wall (Near main gate)

Nobori Stone wall (Near main gate)



Hikone Castle Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge (Omote gate side)

Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge (Omote gate side)



Hikone Castle Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge (Main gate side)

Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge (Main gate side)



Hikone Castle Kanenomaru

Kanenomaru



Hikone Castle Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge

Tenbin turret and Rouka bridge



Hikone Castle Taiko enclosure and Taiko gate turret

Taiko enclosure and Taiko gate turret



Hikone Castle Main enclosure

Main enclosure



Hikone Castle Main tower

Main tower



Hikone Castle West enclosure

West enclosure



Hikone Castle South enclosure Sanjyuu turret

South enclosure Sanjyuu turret



Hikone Castle Big trench and Demaru enclosure

Big trench and Demaru enclosure



Hikone Castle Nobori Stone wall (Near West enclosure)

Nobori Stone wall (Near West enclosure)



Hikone Castle The ruins of Kuro gate

The ruins of Kuro gate



Hikone Castle Sawaguchi tamon turret

Sawaguchi tamon turret



Hikone Castle Sawaguchi entrance

Sawaguchi entrance



Hikone Castle Kyoubashi entrance

Kyoubashi entrance



Hikone Castle Funamachi entrance

Funamachi entrance



Hikone Castle Rakuraku-en garden

Rakuraku-en garden



Hikone Castle Genkyuu-en garden

Genkyuu-en garden



Hikone Castle Relocated gate (Main gate of Hozenji)

Relocated gate (Main gate of Hozenji)



Hikone Castle Konki Kaikan

Konki Kaikan




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