🗺️ Nagahama Castle Historical Museum長浜城歴史博物館

Nagahama Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who unified the country, in 1574 (the 2nd year of Tenshō). At the time of construction, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was still known as Hashiba Hideyoshi. After the completion of Nagahama Castle, the area that was then called "Imabari" was renamed "Nagahama" and developed as a castle town. Since Nagahama Castle was Hideyoshi's first residence, it is also referred to as the "City of Birth." The castle was abandoned during the Edo period, and today, you can see buildings from that time, such as the Tembon Yagura (a type of turret), which were relocated from Nagahama Castle at Hikone Castle. In 1983 (the 58th year of Shōwa), Nagahama Castle was reconstructed through private funding, modeled after the castles of the Azuchi-Momoyama period, and is now open to the public as a historical museum. The 2nd and 3rd floors display various historical materials about Nagahama, including the relationship between Hideyoshi and Nagahama, and host special exhibitions and events. In the permanent exhibition themed "Hideyoshi and Nagahama," historical figures such as Hideyoshi and Ishida Mitsunari, along with the history of the castle's construction, are vividly introduced through documents, artifacts, and three-dimensional perspective models. This allows visitors to gain a more detailed understanding of Nagahama's history and culture. The observation deck on the 5th floor features a corridor that offers a panoramic view of Lake Biwa and the stunning scenery of the northern shore of Lake Biwa.

Rebuilt in 1983, Nagahama Castle is open to the public as a historical museum. From the observation deck, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Biwa. It has been selected as one of the Eight Views of Lake Hokuriku.