Filled with Ii family treasures such as armor, tea sets, artwork, and documents, the Hikone Castle Museum in Hikone is worth a visit. Just as interesting as the objects within is the building itself, which is a reconstruction of the Hikone Clan office and residence. It gives an interesting glimpse into what life might have been like during the Edo Period.
There is also a Noh stage and artifacts such as masks and costumes. In the spring and fall, live performances are held. The museum is on the Hikone Castle grounds in the Shiga Prefecture and costs 500 yen for adults or 250 yen for elementary or junior high school students. You can get a combined ticket with the castle and garden admission which costs 1000 yen for all of them.
Noh masks @ Hikone Castle Museum
The museum is well labeled in English and there is a pamphlet with English explanations. It is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm. For more information: http://www.hikoneshi.com/en/sightseeing/articles/museum
English: Hikone Castle Museum in Hikone, Shiga prefecture, Japan 日本語: 彦根城博物館, 彦根市, 滋賀県 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
photo by: Su--May
