9 Castles in Shiga worth your time

A historic mountain site featuring the ruins of Oda Nobunaga's revolutionary castle and surviving sixteenth-century structures.

What it is

• A mountain castle site in Shiga Prefecture designated as a Special National Historic Site
• Built by Oda Nobunaga starting in 1576 as the first castle with a large keep
• The fortress was destroyed by fire in 1582 and officially abandoned in 1585
• Construction was overseen by Niwa Nagahide with stonework by the Ano-shu group

What to see

• Original stone walls built by the specialized Ano-shu stonemason group
• A surviving three-story pagoda and the historic Nio-mon gate
• The mausoleum dedicated to Oda Nobunaga located in the second bailey
• The site where the massive thirty-two meter tall main keep once stood

Getting there

• The castle ruins are a 20-minute walk from JR Azuchi Station

Official site

www.azuchi-nobunaga.com

Read more about Azuchi Castle

Hikone Castle is a well-preserved castle with strategic significance, worth visiting for its historical architecture.

What it is

• One of Japan's best-preserved castles.
• Built by the Ii family in the early 17th century.
• Constructed on orders of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.
• Strategic location on Lake Biwa and Nakasendō road.

What to see

• Main keep on Mt. Hikone's flattened top.
• Multiple walled baileys.
• Inner and middle moats.
• Stone foundations around the main bailey.
• Omote goten with meeting chambers and stroll garden.
• Buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties.

Official site

hikonecastle.com

Read more about Hikone Castle

Explore the ruins of a 14th-century mountain castle, a National Historic Site with impressive stone walls.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle, first mentioned in 1335.
• Final base for the Rokkaku clan.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Castles in 2006.

What to see

• Castle ruins on Mt. Kinugasa, 432.9m above sea level.
• Impressive all-stone walls.
• Main keep at 395m altitude, covering 2000m2.
• Hirai Maru, the largest kuruwa with stone walls.
• Site of the first documented rakuichi market.

Read more about Kannonji Castle

Minakuchi Castle is a historic site built for a shogun, offering insights into Edo period castle architecture.

What it is

• A castle built in 1634 for Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu.
• It served as a lodging for the shogun.
• Later became the residence of Kato Akimoto in 1682.
• Castle ruins are a prefectural designated historic site.

What to see

• The main bailey and a second bailey.
• Main bailey was surrounded by a moat.
• Main bailey had four corner turrets.
• Minakuchi Castle Museum opened in November 1991.

Read more about Minakuchi Castle

Visit Odani Castle ruins for historical significance and mountain-top views of Nagahama and Lake Biwa.

What it is

• Site of a 1573 siege, a turning point for Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
• Former castle of the Azai family, built in a deep valley.

What to see

• Remnants of stone walls.
• Sweeping views of Nagahama from the summit.
• Chikubushima Island on clear days.

Getting there

• Reached via several hiking routes to the mountain top.

Read more about Odani Castle

Explore the remains of a 16th-century water castle built by Akechi Mitsuhide on Lake Biwa.

What it is

• A flatland castle built by Akechi Mitsuhide.
• Construction ordered by Oda Nobunaga in 1571.
• Built to control Kyoto and Mount Hiei.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.

What to see

• Site of a water castle facing Lake Biwa.
• Excavated 30-meter stone wall.
• Excavated 8-meter moat.
• A burnt soil layer from 1979 excavations.

Read more about Sakamoto Castle

Explore a reconstructed castle keep and museum, once home to Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

What it is

• A castle built by Hashiba Hideyoshi (Toyotomi Hideyoshi).
• Completed around 1575 or 1576.
• Originally a Mizushiro, a castle built on the water.
• The current keep is a 1983 reconstruction.

What to see

• The reconstructed castle keep.
• Nagahama Castle Historical Museum inside the keep.
• The castle site is now Toyo Park.

Official site

www.city.nagahama.lg.jp

Read more about Nagahama Castle

Explore Sawayama Castle ruins, a former mountain stronghold of powerful samurai, offering a glimpse into Japan's feudal past.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle in Omi Province.
• It was a military and political stronghold.
• Its history began with a fort built by Saho Tokitsuna.
• Demolished when Hikone Castle was completed.

What to see

• Ruins include parts of stone walls.
• See remnants of earthworks.
• Explore the castle moats.

Read more about Sawayama Castle

Explore the ruins of Zeze Castle, a historic lake castle built by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

What it is

• A water castle built on a cape in Lake Biwa.
• One of Japan's three great lake castles.
• Ordered by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1601.
• First castle built under the Tenka Fushin system.

What to see

• The main keep site is now Zeze Castle Ruins Park.
• See the former residence of the Honda clan for 220 years.

Read more about Zeze Castle