Things to Do in Hikone, Shiga | MK Travel

M.R. Lucas
6 days ago
4 min read

Japanese castle with white walls, ornate black roofs, and a stone base against a clear blue sky. Red maple tree in the foreground.

Within Shiga, on the eastern shores of Japan’s largest lake, Biwa, lies Hikone — a modestly sized town of just over 110,000 souls. Here, freshwater breezes move gently through low plains and forested hills, where silvergrass sways and the turning of each season arrives as a quiet spectacle.

Shiga, often overlooked in favor of nearby Kyoto or Osaka, remains something of a secret to international travelers — a secret that locals seem content to keep. For centuries, this region has offered refuge and renewal — a place to slow down, breathe, and remember the created world and the life shared within it.

Hikone sits perfectly between the two great cities — less than an hour from Kyoto by train — an ideal stopover for those crossing Kansai. Yet travelers seldom linger. Those who do often wish they’d stayed longer. It’s a place to still your nervous system and rediscover what it feels like to be human again.

If you do linger, MK has you covered — with routes that flow, not interrupt, and with recommendations that reveal the deeper rhythms of Shiga’s heart. Below is your framework for exploring Hikone: from marbled Omi beef that rivals Kobe’s, to Edo-period gardens and a castle that has watched four centuries pass unscathed. Hikone is a glimpse of Japan as it truly is, and as it once was—the perfect gateway into the timeless prefecture of Shiga.

Top Things to Do in Hikone

A serene landscape with a traditional Japanese building by a pond, lush greenery, and a distant castle on a hill under a clear sky.

Hikone Castle — 彦根城 — As the sun rises, Hikone Castle casts long shadows over the moat, reflecting what samurai saw centuries ago. Completed in 1622, it's one of five Japanese National Treasures, with its main keep preserved from the early Edo period. Climb its narrow stairs, hear the creak of wood, and look toward Lake Biwa—Japan’s largest freshwater mirror. From the hilltop, the view stretches far, making time seem to pass quickly.
Genkyuen Garden — 玄宮園 — Genkyuen Garden at the castle’s base is a classic Edo-period strolling garden for reflection and seasonal beauty, designed for Hikone lords to contemplate impermanence. It features a still pond reflecting the castle’s silhouette. Visit in spring for peonies or autumn for moonlit views that inspired poets about the harmony between heaven and earth.

Dining: The Taste of Omi Beef

Chef flambéing steak on a grill, with tall flames and sauce bottle in hand. Kitchen tools and spices in the background. Mood is intense.

Hikone is the spiritual home of Omi beef (近江牛)—Japan’s oldest and, some say, finest wagyu. The marbling is soft and subtle, melting with quiet sweetness. Dining here is not an act of indulgence but of reverence.

Sennari Tei Kyara — 近江肉せんなり亭伽羅 — A refined Japanese setting where Omi beef is treated as art. Every element—from service to plating—honors the craft itself.
Sennaritei Bekkan Hanami — 千成亭別館華見 — Subdued, intimate, and elegant—Hanami offers a dining experience that feels both ceremonial and deeply human.
Restaurant Sen’naritei — レストラン千成亭 — Traditional yet timeless, this restaurant refines Omi beef cuisine through generations of quiet mastery.
Omi Meat Sennaritei Kyara — 近江肉千成亭伽羅 — For a luxurious yakiniku experience, this is where Omi beef reaches its purest form—smoky, tender, and unforgettable.

Assorted Japanese dishes on a red tablecloth, featuring sushi, grilled fish, and sashimi. A blue sake bottle is visible with Japanese text.

If you prefer something lighter, there’s warmth to be found in Hikone’s smaller kitchens:

Hana-Shoya — 華しょうや — A modern izakaya grounded in regional tradition, offering seasonal sake and comfort dishes shaped by the rhythm of Shiga’s seasons.
La Cuisine Enju — 槐 — A minimalist dining space where Japanese form meets modern restraint, offering seasonal and vegan-friendly dishes in a tranquil atmosphere.

Where to Stay: Stillness by Design

Modern hotel room with a bed, sofa, and rocking chair. Large window shows scenic view. Warm lighting, neutral colors, and cozy atmosphere.

Evenings in Hikone are hushed—the castle lights shimmering over the moat, footsteps echoing softly down old streets. Stay somewhere that honors that peace.

Hikone Castle Resort & Spa — 彦根キャッスルリゾート＆スパ — Overlooking the castle, this upscale hotel blends calm elegance with modern spa amenities—ideal for restoring balance after travel.
Yasui Ryokan — 旅亭紅葉 — A traditional ryokan near the castle grounds, where gardens, tatami rooms, and candlelit stillness capture the essence of Japanese hospitality.
BIWAFRONT HIKONE — アオノコテイビワフロントヒコネ — Modern design meets the vast serenity of Lake Biwa. A stay here feels like living inside the horizon itself.
KAMENOI HOTEL HIKONE — かめの井ホテル彦根 — A relaxed, well-appointed base for travelers passing through Shiga—comfortable, convenient, and quietly dependable.

Cafés and Everyday Calm

vokko — ヴォッコ — A café and lifestyle shop blending Scandinavian minimalism with Japanese warmth. Enjoy handmade goods, soft lighting, and a sense that time has slowed just for you.

The MK Take

Driver in mask and gloves drives luxury car, GPS on screen, sunny day outside. Rearview mirror shows passenger's face.

Hikone doesn’t ask for your attention—it earns it quietly. Time slows here by design. The castle keeps its vigil, the garden breathes with the seasons, and the lake holds the sky in still reflection.

Let MK GUIDE you through Hikone—across bridges and cobbled paths, from kitchens to courtyards—to rediscover Japan’s quieter truth: that beauty often waits where no one is looking.

Image Credits

高菜明太, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
ttshr1970, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Images courtesy of Sennaritei Bekkan Hanami, Hana-Shoya, and Hikone Castle Resort & Spa official websites