Hikone and Nagahama: May 1, 2019

I visited Hikone and Nagahama cities using the “Golden Week” holidays.

Today was the first day of the Reiwa era.

Hikone City locates at the east coast of Lake Biwa. It is famous for the Hikone Castle.

The main tower of the castle has been preserved for more than 400 years. (See also the top and the 2nd photo)

A  famous mascot character "Hikonyan" welcomed the guests at the castle.

It is one of the five castles (main towers) which are registered as national treasuries. Other fours include Himeji castle, Matsumoto Castle, Inuyama Castle and Matsue Castle.

It was built I the early 1600s by the Ii family, one of powerful families in the Tokugawa Shogunate government.

The castle stands on a hill quite near from the Lake Biwa.

Ii Naosuke, who was the head of the family in the 19^th century, was one of the important figures in the late Edo era. He was grown up in the castle.

He became the top official of the Tokugawa government in 1858 and decided to open the country after 200 years of isolation policy. He was assassinated in 1860.

They produce good “Omi” beef in the area. There are many good beef restaurant in the street near the castle. People made long queues.

The statue of Is Naosuke stands in front of the railway station of Hikone. 

Nagamhama locates about 15 km north of Hikone. It also faces Lake Biwa.

The original city was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late 16^th century.

The original Nagahama Castle was developed in the late 16^th century, but was destroyed in the early 17^th century. A new concrete-made castle was made in 1983.

I saw the waves of the lake repeatedly arrived in the shore of the castle site.

I visited an area called “Kurokabe Square” in the city. There are tens of small museums, galleries, gift shops, craft shops, glass workshops and restaurants there. Retro buildings are used.

I found many tourists enjoying shopping and making their own glass works in experience workshops.

The re-development of the area started in the 1980s. It succeeded to attract many visitors. Now, the city accepts 2 million tourist every year. It is regarded as a good example of success story in the local development.

I also visited a railway museum. The country’s oldest railway station building is used as a museum.

At a beer restaurant in the city, I enjoyed local-brand beer and Omi beef.

The weather was not so good today, but I had interesting and meaningful time in the two cities in Shiga Prefecture