Hikone Castle UNESCO World Heritage Nomination: Where Is It and Why Is It Important?

On September 3, 2026, Japan took an important step toward seeking UNESCO World Heritage status for Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture.

Japan’s Council for Cultural Affairs selected Hikone Castle as a candidate to be nominated for UNESCO World Heritage inscription.

The Japanese government is expected to submit a provisional nomination dossier by the end of September, followed by a formal nomination to UNESCO by February 1, 2027. Consideration by the World Heritage Committee is expected in 2028.

But what exactly is being nominated?

Is UNESCO considering only the famous castle tower, or a much larger part of the castle?

In this article, we look at where Hikone Castle is located, the proposed World Heritage property boundary, why the castle is considered internationally significant, its long road toward UNESCO inscription, its history, and how to get there from Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo.

What happened to Hikone Castle on September 3, 2026?

On September 3, Japan’s Council for Cultural Affairs selected Hikone Castle as the country’s candidate for a future UNESCO World Heritage nomination.

This is a major milestone, but it does not mean that Hikone Castle has already become a World Heritage Site.

Hikone Castle has actually been on Japan’s UNESCO Tentative List since 1992.

In other words, the September 2026 decision represents another major step in a process that has continued for more than 30 years.

UNESCO’s official Tentative List currently identifies the site as “Hikone-Jo (castle)”, a cultural property in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture.

UNESCO World Heritage Centre – Hikone-Jo (castle)

Where is Hikone Castle in Japan?

Hikone Castle is located in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, in central Japan.

It stands on the eastern side of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan.

For international visitors, one of the easiest ways to understand its location is to look at its position between Japan’s major cities.

Hikone Castle is located in central Japan, between the Tokyo and Osaka metropolitan areas.

Hikone is much closer to Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya than many overseas visitors may expect.

Hikone Castle in relation to Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya.

Zooming in further shows that the castle stands on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa.

Hikone Castle stands on the eastern side of Lake Biwa, northeast of Kyoto.

Hikone Castle on Google Maps

Hikone Castle is around a 15-minute walk from JR Hikone Station.

What area of Hikone Castle is being proposed for World Heritage status?

This is one of the most important points about the nomination.

The proposed World Heritage property is not limited to Hikone Castle’s famous main tower.

The property is centered on the area inside the middle moat, encompassing a much wider castle complex.

Proposed World Heritage property boundary of Hikone Castle. The nomination covers a much larger area than the castle tower itself.

The proposed property includes elements that show how the castle functioned not only as a defensive structure, but also as a political and administrative center.

These include the castle keep, turrets, stone walls, moats, palace remains, former residences of senior retainers, gardens and archaeological remains.

What does Hikone Castle look like from above?

A three-dimensional view makes the structure of Hikone Castle much easier to understand.

A 3D view of Hikone Castle shows how the central hill, moats and surrounding areas form one large castle complex.

The castle’s defensive and administrative spaces remain clearly visible within the moat system.

Looking closer, the main keep stands on the hill at the center of the complex.

The main keep, Tenbin Gate and other surviving structures at Hikone Castle.

Why is Hikone Castle considered important enough for UNESCO?

Hikone Castle is already famous as one of Japan’s best-preserved feudal castles.

Its main keep is one of only 12 surviving original castle keeps in Japan and one of only five castle keeps designated as National Treasures.

But the current World Heritage strategy goes beyond the architecture of the keep itself.

A major focus is the way Hikone Castle demonstrates the daimyo governance system of the Edo period.

A daimyo was a powerful feudal lord who governed a domain under Japan’s Tokugawa shogunate.

Hikone preserves physical evidence of how such a domain was organized and governed: the lord’s castle, defensive structures, administrative spaces, residences of senior retainers, gardens and other elements survive together within the historic castle landscape.

This broader interpretation became particularly important during the preliminary assessment process conducted before formal nomination.

Why is Hikone Castle different from Himeji Castle?

This is another question international visitors may have.

Himeji Castle, already inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is internationally recognized in particular as an outstanding masterpiece of Japanese wooden castle architecture.

Hikone Castle therefore needs to demonstrate a distinct form of Outstanding Universal Value.

The current approach emphasizes Hikone as evidence of the political and administrative system of the Tokugawa period, rather than simply presenting it as another beautiful surviving Japanese castle.

Why has Hikone Castle been waiting since 1992?

Hikone Castle was placed on Japan’s UNESCO Tentative List in 1992, the same year Japan ratified the World Heritage Convention.

However, inclusion on a Tentative List is only the beginning.

A country must develop a nomination dossier demonstrating why a property has Outstanding Universal Value and how it differs from similar heritage sites already on the World Heritage List.

Over the years, Shiga Prefecture and Hikone City continued research and worked to refine the nomination concept.

A major recent development came with UNESCO’s new preliminary assessment process.

Roadmap: Hikone Castle’s long road to World Heritage status

Hikone Castle’s bid for World Heritage status has taken more than three decades. The timeline below shows the major steps from its addition to Japan’s Tentative List to the expected UNESCO review.

Official Hikone Castle World Heritage promotion website

A short history of Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle’s history is closely connected with one of the most important turning points in Japanese history: the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600.

Tokugawa Ieyasu won the battle and later established the Tokugawa shogunate.

Ii Naomasa, one of Ieyasu’s most important generals, was given control of the area around present-day Hikone.

Construction of a new castle on Mount Hikone began in 1604.

Materials from nearby castles and temples were reused to speed construction. The castle complex was finally completed around 1622.

Hikone Castle almost disappeared

One reason visitors can still see the original castle today is an extraordinary episode from the Meiji period.

After the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate, many Japanese castles were dismantled as symbols of the old feudal order.

Hikone Castle was also scheduled for demolition.

However, during an imperial visit to Hikone in 1878, the demolition was halted, allowing the main buildings to survive.

Today, Hikone Castle is regarded as one of the best-preserved surviving castles in Japan.

Visit Hikone – History of Hikone Castle

What kind of city is Hikone?

Hikone is a historic castle city on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture.

Its importance did not come from the castle alone.

The area stood close to major historic routes connecting eastern and western Japan, including the Nakasendo, one of the main highways linking Edo — present-day Tokyo — with Kyoto during the Edo period.

Because of this location, Hikone developed as both a strategic military center and a castle town.

Today, traces of that history remain around the city, while Lake Biwa gives Hikone a very different atmosphere from larger tourist cities such as Kyoto and Osaka.

Visitors can combine the castle with places such as Genkyu-en Garden, Hikone Castle Museum and the traditional-style Yume Kyobashi Castle Road.

How to get to Hikone Castle

Hikone is easily reached by rail from several major Japanese cities.

From Hikone Station, the castle is approximately a 15-minute walk.

Visit Hikone – Official access information

Is Hikone Castle an easy day trip from Kyoto?

Yes.

A direct JR journey from Kyoto to Hikone takes roughly 47 minutes, making the castle one of the more accessible historic destinations outside Kyoto itself.

For travelers spending several days in Kyoto, Hikone can therefore be visited without changing hotels.

Frequently asked questions about Hikone Castle and UNESCO

Is Hikone Castle already a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

No.

As of September 2026, Hikone Castle is not yet inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

It has been on Japan’s Tentative List since 1992 and has now been selected as Japan’s candidate for a formal nomination.

When could Hikone Castle become a World Heritage Site?

Japan is aiming for a decision in 2028.

The formal nomination is expected in 2027, followed by evaluation and consideration by the World Heritage Committee.

Is only the Hikone Castle tower being nominated?

No.

The proposed property covers a much wider area centered on the castle grounds inside the middle moat.

It includes not only the main keep but also moats, stone walls, turrets, former administrative and residential areas, gardens and archaeological remains.

Why is Hikone Castle famous?

Hikone Castle is one of Japan’s best-preserved original castles.

Its main keep is one of only 12 surviving original keeps in Japan and one of only five designated as National Treasures.

How old is Hikone Castle?

Construction began in 1604 and the wider castle complex was completed around 1622.

That means the castle has survived for more than 400 years.

Where is Hikone Castle?

Hikone Castle is in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa in central Japan.

Is Hikone Castle close to Kyoto?

Yes. JR trains connect Kyoto and Hikone in around 47 minutes, making Hikone Castle suitable for a day trip from Kyoto.

Summary

Hikone Castle took an important step toward UNESCO World Heritage status on September 3, 2026, when it was selected as Japan’s candidate for nomination.

However, the castle is not yet a World Heritage Site.

The proposed World Heritage property is also much broader than the famous castle tower. The nomination focuses on the castle complex inside the middle moat and on the way Hikone preserves evidence of the political and administrative system of Japan’s Edo-period daimyo.

Hikone Castle has been on Japan’s Tentative List since 1992, and the current roadmap calls for a formal UNESCO nomination in 2027 and possible consideration for inscription in 2028.

Located on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa and less than an hour from Kyoto by train, Hikone is also relatively easy for international travelers to visit.

If Hikone Castle is eventually inscribed, the World Heritage designation would recognize not simply a beautiful Japanese castle tower, but a much larger historic landscape that has survived for more than four centuries.