🗺️ Mystic Palace Garden

Hikone Castle, a national treasure, began construction in 1606 and took about 20 years to complete. Approximately 50 years after the castle was built, in 1677, the fourth lord of the Hikone domain, Ii Naokata, started to build a garden along the castle moat. The daimyo garden, known as Genkyūen, was completed in 1679. Genkyūen is a large pond-centered strolling garden designed in the style of a Japanese landscape garden. Within the garden, visitors can enjoy various scenic views, including nine small bridges spanning the pond and small islands in the water. There are also boathouses where boats were said to have been used for leisure by the daimyo during the Edo period. From Genkyūen, the view of Hikone Castle is quite beautiful. Every September, an event called "Tsukimi no Yoru" (Moon Viewing Night) is held. In the brightly lit garden, visitors can admire the enchanting sight of Hikone Castle, towering on the mountaintop, bathed in moonlight. Additionally, every November, the "Kishū Genkyūen Lantern Festival" takes place. The courtyard, dyed red by maple leaves, radiates a dreamlike and elegant charm under the illumination. Furthermore, the cherry blossoms in spring and the snowy landscapes in winter each possess their unique allure. In 1951, Genkyūen and the "Rakuraku-en" of the Ninomaru Palace, known as the Hikone domain, were designated as national scenic spots under the name "Genkyū Rakuraku-en." In 2015, it was officially listed as a cultural asset of Japan Heritage as part of the "Lake Biwa and its Lakeside Landscape - A Water Heritage of Wishes and Life."

The large pond garden, a strolling-style daimyo garden built by the lord of the Hikone Domain, Ii Naosuke, along with the adjacent "Rakurakuen," has been designated as a national scenic spot. In 2015, it was recognized as a famous garden of Japan Heritage.