One of the twelve original castles remaining in Japan and one of the country's four National Treasures. The three-storey keep dates from 1622 and sits on a forested hill above Hikone city, with Lake Biwa glittering to the west. Compact by the standards of Himeji or Osaka, it is all the better for it — the proportions feel human, the timber interiors are beautiful, and the view from the top floor takes in the full expanse of Japan's largest lake.
The approach climbs through stone-walled compounds, past the Tenbin-yagura gatehouse and along cherry-lined paths that make early April the most popular visiting time of year. The grounds are extensive and include the reconstructed Nihonmatsu-maru enclosure. Allow at least two hours to see the castle properly, or longer if cherry blossoms are out.