The Backpack Adventures

10 Things to Do in Hikone City Hikone ( 彦根市 ) is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan . Established in 1889, Hikone officially became a city on February 11, 1937, through the merger with the villages of Matsubara, Aonami, Kitaaoyagi, Fukumitsu, and Chimoto. The city is renowned for its textile industry and is distinguished as a prominent producer of butsudan (Buddhist altars) and valves. The kanji characters comprising its name, hiko ( 彦 ) meaning "boy or young lad" and ne ( 根 ) meaning "root," symbolically represent both the essence of youthful vitality and the foundational roots of its community. For those planning to visit the city to check what it has to offer, here are the 10 Things to Do in Hikone City : Hikone City manhole covers 1. Take a picture of the manhole covers of Hikone City . So far, I have seen 2 unique manhole covers. The one on the left is common around the city while the manhole cover on the right is installed in front of Hikone Station. ...

Hikone Castle ( 彦根城 ) is an Edo-period castle that is one of the only 12 castles with an original tenshu . It is located at 1-1 Konkicho in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan .  Hikone Castle Hikone Castle Details Hikone Castle  is a notable example of an Edo-period castle and is considered the most significant historical site in Shiga. Designated as a National Historic Site since 1951, it stands out as one of only twelve Japanese castles that still retain their original tenshu (main keep) and one of just five listed as National Treasures. Hikone Castle - Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture Originally located directly on the shores of Lake Biwa , Hikone Castle now sits about one kilometer inland due to land reclamation efforts. The castle's strategic location was pivotal during the Sengoku period, positioned on a key route connecting Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto) to the eastern provinces. Initially controlled by the Azai clan, who built Sawayama Castle nearby, the area was later ta...