Nagahama Castle & Hokoen Park 長浜城・豊公園
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Nagahama Castle (reconstructed) is a lakeside castle within Hokoen Park near Nagahama Station. This is the entrance to the park. 豊公園 MAP
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The original castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 16th century who lived in Nagahama Castle until 1582. Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo later lived in Nagahama Castle.
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The current castle tower was reconstructed in 1983. It serves as a local history museum.
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In April, numerous cherry trees around the castle in Hokoen Park bloom spectacularly. The best time to visit Nagahama Castle.
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Nagahama Castle, Shiga
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Cherry Blossom Plaque and Nagahama Castle Honmaru marker.
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Plaque proclaiming Hokoen Park as one of Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots.
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Plaque proclaiming Hokoen Park as one of Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossom Places.
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Side view of Nagahama Castle
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I visited the park in April 2009 in the early morning before the crowds arrived. It truly was a peaceful beauty.
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Cherry blossoms in full bloom and no people. How wonderful. Like it was all for me only, at 7 am.
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Way to Nagahama Castle's main tower (donjon).
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Steps to Nagahama Castle's main tower (donjon).
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Nagahama Castle is a local history museum.
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Nagahama Castle tower, local history museum.
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Nagahama Castle History Museum, open 9 am - 5 pm (enter by 4:30 pm). Closed during the year end and New Year's period.
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Castle wall foundation rocks.
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Entrance to Nagahama Castle History Museum. Small admission charged.
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Inside Nagahama Castle, a local history museum.
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Model of castle construction.
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Old map of Nagahama Castle. There were many moats and canals.
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Top floor of castle.
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View of cherry blossoms from Nagahama Castle's lookout deck.
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Panorama from the top of Nagahama Castle, looking south.
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Panorama from the top of Nagahama Castle, looking west toward Lake Biwa.
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Panorama from the top of Nagahama Castle, looking north and west.
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In winter.
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In spring.
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In summer.
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In summer.
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In summer from Nagahama Castle.
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Lake Biwa and cherry blossoms as seen from Nagahama Castle.
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Mt. Yamamoto-yama as seen from Nagahama Castle.
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On the balcony, with Mt. Ibuki in the distance in winter.
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Back on the ground heading toward another bunch of cherry trees.
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Nagahama Castle and cherry blossoms.
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Nagahama Castle
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Water fountain and Nagahama Castle in spring.
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Stone foundation of original Nagahama castle tower. It is just slightly behind the current castle building is this small hill with stone walls.
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On the original site of the castle tower is a stone marker and statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
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Stone marker and statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
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Stone monument marking the site of the original Nagahama castle donjon.
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Statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Nagahama Castle, Shiga. He renamed the town from Imahama to "Nagahama" after his boss and mentor Oda Nobunaga.
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The old and new sites of the castle tower.
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Lake Biwa shore near the castle tower.
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Toward the lake shore next to Nagahama castle is this glass bench. It's a monument for Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) verse 3 where Nagahama is mentioned.
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Built and unveiled on June 25, 2017 by a non-profit citizens group in Nagahama for the song's 100th anniversary. You can sit on Japan's most expensive public park bench.
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The verse 3 lyrics are engraved on the middle of the glass bench.
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The glass bench is shaped like a boat with a few ripples. Made in Nagahama. Unfortunately, this bench cracked and was replaced by a monument made of whitish stone below.
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Verse 3 Song Monument at Nagahama's Hokoen Park. It is shaped like a boat and the top has a wavy surface like the water. It is called the "nami-makura" (rolling waves) design.Since the original glass bench song monument broke, it was replaced by this one made of stone having a similar shape and design concept.
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Verse 3 Song Monument in Nagahama's Hokoen Park near Nagahama Castle is engraved with Verse 3.Nami no mani mani, tadayoeba
Akai tomaribi, natsukashimi
Yukue sadamenu, nami makura
Kyo wa Imazu ka, Nagahama ka
浪のまにまに 漂えば
赤い泊火 懐かしみ
行方定めぬ 浪枕
今日は今津か 長浜か
We drift from wave to wave, straying aimlessly.
On shore we see red fire, brings back memories.
With our sights set nowhere, rolling with the waves.
Today is Imazu or, Nagahama huh.
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This side of the monument faces the lake. It's a popular bench to sit on during weekends and holidays.
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Wavy bench surface. Looks like marble, but not sure what type of stone it is.
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Nagahama Castle as seen from Lake Biwa.
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Nagahama Castle in summer.
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In summer, the park has lots of green.
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Lake Biwa shore near Nagahama Castle.
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Shoreline near Nagahama Castle.
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Shoreline of Hokoen Park facing Lake Biwa.
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Athletic field in Hokoen Park. You can see the castle tower in the distance toward the right among the trees.
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Water fountain
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Marker indicating the location of Nagahama Castle's stone wall.
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Stone marker in central Nagahama marking the location of the castle's Sotobori outer moat.
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Stone marker near Otabisho marking the location of the castle's Otemon Gate.
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Gourd monument on the roadside of Nagahama Castle.
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Nagahama Castle in autumn.
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Nagahama Castle in autumn.
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Nagahama Castle in autumn.
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Nagahama Castle and autumn foliage.
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Nagahama Castle and autumn foliage, Shiga Prefecture.
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Nagahama Castle is most famous for cherry blossoms, but it also has some maple trees too.
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Hokoen Park with cherry trees in autumn.
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Nagahama Castle in autumn.
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Nagahama Castle and autumn foliage, Shiga Prefecture.
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Nagahama Castle and autumn foliage, Shiga Prefecture.
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Near Nagahama Castle is Hoko-so, a low-cost lodge. 豊公荘
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Sadly, Hoko-so has been closed since the start of the pandemic. As of Nov. 2022, they still don't know when it will reopen.
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No skateboarding, kickboarding, roller skating, etc., at Hokoen Park.
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Old map of Nagahama shows the castle mostly surrounded by lake water. Another moat still exists at the red dot.
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Nagahama Castle's Sotobori outer moat still here.
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Nagahama Castle's Sotobori outer moat
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Nagahama Castle's Sotobori outer moat
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Sake from Shiga (Omi)
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Beer place next to the outer moat.
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Narita Art Museum
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Hokoen Park also has a good-size grove of plum blossoms which bloom in March.
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Nagahama Castle and plum blossoms.
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The plum blossoms are mainly red and white.
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Plum tree and Nagahama Castle.
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Plum blossoms and Nagahama Castle.
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Plum tree grove called "bairin."
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Plum blossoms, Hokoen Park, Nagahama, Shiga
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With snow.
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