- Period
- Late March to Early May
- Location
- In a special tent at Konki Children Park
This Market is held in May between the Hikone Cherry Blossom Festival and the Golden week. Special Ohmi beef, boiled fish from Lake Biwa, Japanese sweets, pickles, Hikonyan (Hikone Kitty Mascot) goods, etc. are sold at this market, They are all “Made in Hikone” products. Many special products and lunch sets for parties under cherry blossoms are crowdedly arranged here. After enjoyably walking in the full bloom cherry blossoms around the castle, please look for your special souvenir of Hikone in this market.
- Period
- April 1 - April 20
- Location
- Along the inner moat of Hikone Castle
In spring, about 1,200 cherry trees bloom around Hikone Castle, and the Castle has its most beautiful season in the year.
Cherry blossoms are in full bloom around April 8 each year, so in early April many people enjoy the cherry blossoms even at night.
During the period, the areas along the inner moat of Hikone Castle: Genkyu-en, Front Gate, Otebashi Bridge, and Kyobashi Bridge are lighted up.
- Period
- Late July to Early August
- Location
- Yume-Kyobashi Castle Road area
Yume Kyobashi Castle Road, a revived town in the Edo era, is an “old and new” avenue. We recommend you take a walk in this area in yukata (yukata is a light Japanese cloth worn after bathing) In a nostalgic atmosphere, crowded with event stages and stalls, you may participate in the festival in yukata, as well as take part in a lottery to win an exclusive prize.
- Period
- August 1
- Location
- Biwa Lake, Matsubara swimming beach
Thousands of fireworks color the castle town at the lakeside. Watching the fireworks from afar and enjoying yourself in the night air at the lakeside bring very good feelings. Besides, a night cruise during the firework night is also romantic.
A number of Star Mine reflected on the surface of Lake Biwa looks like a painting. Particularly, the final display of fireworks is the most impressive. The contest-like Star-Mine is breathtaking.
- Period
- Early August
- Location
- Shopping street of Ginza, Chuo, Noborimachi and Hashimoto
Hikone Tanabata Festival is one of the leading summer festivals in Hikone. It is as well known as Hikone Great Firework Festival, Hikone Manto-Nagashi (Buddhist lantern festival) and Hikone-Bayashi Whole Dance Competition. .
Every shopping street of Ginza, Chuo, Noborimachi Green and Hashimoto is decorated with brightly colored streamers and this creates an exciting atmosphere of Tanabata Festival.
- Period
- August 6
- Location
- Serikawa River site
Many lanterns of farewell candle lights are flown to the river. Thousands of lanterns reflected on the waters of Serikawa River create a fantastic mood in summer.
The origin of these religious memorial events of the ancient succeeded in the local areas is traced back to the Urabon-kyo, (one of Buddhism bibles). In the event people light up at their gate and put light lanterns at the riverside and flow them to the river for comforting the spirits of their ancestors.
- Period
- Mid-August
- Location
- The shopping streets
This is the climax of the summer in Hikone. With the new folk song made in 1960, “Hikone Bayashi” thousands of citizens participate in dancing and parading on the shopping streets. In recent years many groups of people dressed in novel styles take part in this event and gain popularity.
- Period
- September
- Location
- Genkyu-en
At night in early autumn in the lightened Genkyu-en, while listening to the sounds of insects, a Japanese court music concert and an outdoor tea party are held. Please enjoy an evening at the Daimyo (Lord) garden.
The chirr of insects in Genkyu-En with the chime of the Time Bell of Hikone Castle has been chosen as one of the one hundred nice sounds in Japan.
Genkyu-En is a Daimyo garden of the Ii Family who were the lords of the Hikone Clan. It is a stroll garden around the pond affected with the luxurious culture of Edo. We take pride in the exceptional beauty of Hikone Castle, a National treasure, with the moon over it from Genkyu-en.
- Period
- November 3
- Location
- Hikone Castle area to town
The main event of Little Edo Hikone Castle Festival is a parade. A child in a feudal lord costume, children in old samurai kimonos, firefighters, girls in Ichimonji-kasa caps and men in Ii red-armored samurai soldier are in the parade. The parade is held by total of about 1,000 people for about two hours just like a colorful picture scroll.
- Period
- Mid-November to late November
- Location
- Genkyu-en
Genkyu-En is a Daimyo Garden for the Ii Family, the lords of the Hikone Clan. It is a stroll garden around the pond affected by the luxurious culture of Edo.
Every place in the garden is named, such as “Horaisan Mountain”, “Musashino Field” or “Gyoyakusho Pond”. The leaves there change their color into red and yellow in autumn, and their reflected colors on the water are truly breathtaking and charmingly beautiful.
Please enjoy the unique brilliance of Hikone in late autumn.