Departing from Nagoya and arrived Hikone 彦根. First thing is to checkin hotel for overnight stay and start to explore Hikone 彦根. Mainly interest to visit the Hikone castle 彦根城.
Below the trip journal
From Nagoya to Hikone
Take the travel luggage from hotel and take the train from Nagoya station to Hikone station.
It 11.05am, when consider arriving already lunch time, and the time on the train, and this train allow to take meal, so we decide to buy bento carry in and take lunch on train. One of the main reason it just so beautiful for those bento set, so want to try it out.
Nagoya station is main train station, this is why got so many bento set offering.
One of the bento set purchase.
Another bento set purchase.
Inside bento set 1.
Inside bento set 2.
The local map make it so clear for all the travel sightseeing spot, saw at Hikone train station.
Big sign post told that Hikone castle just by foot 10 minutes.
12:16pm Wife take the photo with local iconic character Hikone Cat, while check in at the Hotel Sunroute Hikone ホテルサンルート彦根.
Hikone Castle 彦根城
Hikone Castle 彦根城, is a Japanese Edo-period castle in the city of Hikone 彦根, in Shiga Prefecture 滋賀県. It is considered the most significant historical building in Shiga. Hikone is one of only 12 Japanese castles with the original keep, and one of only five castles listed as a national treasure.
Below from the walk from hotel and what see in the sequence when visit Hikone Castle.
Walk near Shigakengokoku Shrine 滋賀縣護國神社.
Pass the castle bridge while saw the castle wall.
Ancient Eight view of Lake Biwa – Hikone Castle 琵琶湖八景.
The entrance with ticket counter and where you take the castle stamp on the left.
By the way, the main castle located in the hill top, so you need to climb and follow the stair case to the hill top.
When reach the hill top, it flat land.
Wife and the Hikone cat. Unfortunately the castle in innovation (see those modern steel rack on the left), else it is good photo.
Me and the Hikone cat turn.
One side of the view when you inside the castle observation deck.
Due to the castle one side is under innovation, the only way to take the castle photo right, will be the shoot taken from another side, try to minimise the impact of the modern steel rack saw from the photo.
Garden Park 玄宮楽々園(玄宮園 + 楽々園)
One way in and using another way out, will passing thru this garden park. It basically two park 玄宮園, 楽々園, together name 玄宮楽々園. One park need additional top up, so do we top up to access both park.
The entrance to the garden park.
The goose on the river, what a calm and peace scene.
While way back visit the Shinto Shrine just in front of the castle gate. Shigakengokoku Shrine 滋賀縣護國神社.
Due to no had specific agenda after visit the castle, so we are slow down and just flow by the time, walk and see.
Park with lot of sculpture work.
The shrine, after pray we continue hanging around.
Yumekyobashi Castel Road 夢京橋 shopping district
One store visit selling the local Hikone cat red bean, buy some for the taste.
The suggest walking and shopping street district.
The famous bridge, from this street both side of the street is shopping district.
Shopping district.
Store front and display.
A temple along the street.
More shopping street within shopping district, I think it best to walk during sunset moment.
Walk from traditional old fashion shopping district to more modern shopping streets.
Japanese dinner
The hotel we stay operate a Japanese restaurant, so the night we are taste out the local dish from the restaurant.
Here is Shiga prefecture, off-course order and taste the local beef dish – omi beef 近江牛.
