Genkyuen Garden

Hikone Castle, a national treasure, took about 20 years from 1606 for the completion. In 1677, which is approximately 50 years after the castle was completed, Ii Naooki, the fourth feudal lord of Hikone Domain, started building a garden along the moat, and completed the Genkyuen, a Daimyo garden (created by a daimyo / feudal lord at his estate or in the castle town of his domain in the Edo period) in 1679. It is a circuit style garden built around a vast pond, visitors are able to enjoy various scenery such as nine bridges over the cove and the island in the pond. There was also a boat house at the pond, and it is said that feudal lords enjoyed boating on the pond during the Edo period.

The landscape of Hikone Castle from Genryuen is beautiful, and every September at the lit-up garden, the "Moon-viewing Evening" is held to view the moon. Visitors are able to enjoy an elegant experience of viewing the scene of Hikone Castle rising above the mountaintop and the moon lighting up the castle. Moreover, in November, “Genkyuen Garden (Lightup) ” is also held. Lighting up the garden colored with autumn leaves. Visitors are able to enjoy the tasteful landscape. Other than this, the seasonal appearances such as cherry blossoms in spring and snowy scenery in winter are charming.

Currently, along with Ninomaru Palace of the Hikone Domain is called "Rakurakuen", it was designated as a national scenic beauty in 1951 (the 26th year of Showa) as "Genkyu Rakurakuen". In 2015, it was also designated as a Japan Heritage Site as a constituent cultural asset of "Lake Biwa and its Surrounding Waters : the Water Heritage of Prayers and Lifestyle”.