Hikone Castle Umaya (Stable)

Hikone 彦根城 Japan

Hikone Castle (彦根城 Hikone-jō?) is a Japanese Edo-period castle in the city of Hikone, in Shiga Prefecture. It is considered the most significant historical building in Shiga. Hikone is one of only 12 Japanese castles with the original keep, and one of only five castles listed as a national treasure.

Hikone Castle traces its origin to 1603 when Ii Naokatsu, son of the former daimyō Ii Naomasa, ordered its construction. The keep was originally built in 1575, as part of Ōtsu Castle, and was moved to Hikone by the Ii clan. Other parts of the castle were moved from Nagahama Castle. Hikone Castle was completed in 1622. Naokatsu's lands had been taken from him in the interval by the Tokugawa shogunate, and when his brother Naotake assumed control of the area around Ōmi Province, he was able to complete the castle by collecting stones from the former Sawayama Castle.

When the Meiji era began in 1868, many castles were scheduled to be dismantled, and only a request from the emperor himself, touring the area, kept Hikone Castle intact. Today it remains one of the oldest original-construction castles in Japan. The main keep of Hikone Castle was designated a National Treasure by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture in 1952.Hikone Castle also has several parts which are designated Important National Cultural Assets: Umaya (Stable), Tenbin Yagura (Balance Scale Turret), Taikomon Yagura (Drum Gate Turret) and Nishinomaru Sanju Yagura (West Bailey Three-story Turret).

Hikone Castle: Bastion of the Li Samurai Warriors

Ii Naomasa, one of the four top generals in the Tokugawa Army, distinguished himself in the battle of Sekigahara in 1600. For this he was awarded Sawayama Castle which had been the castle of the defeated general Ishida Mitsunari. Naomasa was transferred to that castle, which had been destroyed at the time of war, in 1601. Although he planned to build a new castle, he died of battle wounds before being able to complete his plan. HIs son, Naotsugu carried out his father's wish and began to build Hikone Castle in 1603. The Shogun Ieyasu then sent the Minister of COnstruction and twelve lords from seven provinces to assist with construction. The hilltop castle on Mt. Hikone was completed in 1622 after 20 years of work. Area: 0.25 sq.km., Circumference: 4km., Height: 50m. The main castle tower (Tenshukaku), Tenhin Tower, Taikomon Tower, Sanju Tower, and Sawaguchi Tamon Tower were designated Important CUltural Assets in 1951. The main castle tower was redesigned a National Treasure in 1952. The complete castle area became a Special Place of Historical Interest in 1956. The stable was designated an Important Cultural Asset in 1963.
Hikone Castle has been chosen one of the 100 Best Sightseeing Places in Japan.
This is part 1one of a trhee part series about Hikone Castle. The next parts explore the Hikone Castle museum and the Genkyu-en garden.