Hikone Castle Museum

Hikone Castle Museum offers an immersive look into the history and culture of the Edo period. The museum was built in 1987 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Hikone City, on the former site of the main palace (omote-goten) of Hikone Castle.

The building faithfully recreates the exterior of the Edo-period palace. The omote-goten served both as the domain lord’s residence and the center of political administration, and was divided into two main areas: the formal section, which included grand halls and shoin rooms for official affairs, and the private inner quarters, designed as living spaces with tea rooms and gardens.

The museum houses approximately 45,000 artworks, crafts, and historical documents handed down through generations of the Ii family, who ruled the Hikone Domain. All exhibits are authentic period materials, including suits of armor, swords, Noh masks, tea ceremony utensils, and furnishings. In addition, the museum collects materials related to Hikone and the Hikone Domain, bringing the total collection to around 100,000 items. Exhibitions are rotated about once a month, ensuring fresh discoveries with each visit.

A particular highlight is the Noh stage located at the center of the complex. It is the only surviving Noh stage within a feudal lord’s palace. Although it was relocated elsewhere after the Meiji period, it was returned and restored to its original location when the museum was built. Today, Noh and Kyogen performances are sometimes held here, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience traditional Japanese performing arts firsthand.