Other Sights in Hikone

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JR Hikone Station

JR Hikone Station as seen from Heiwado.

Corridor to east exit.

Hikone Station

The old Ohmi Railways Museum had indoor and outdoor (trains) exhibits. This museum in Hikone closed and reopened inside Yokaichi Station in Higashi-Omi.

Ohmi Railways Museum at Hikone Station east exit.

Ohmi Railways trains on display

Inside Ohmi Railways Museum, a pantographThis museum in Hikone closed and reopened inside Yokaichi Station in Higashi-Omi.

Ohmi Railways Museum display panels

Inside Ohmi Railways Museum, rail gauges.

On the east side of Hikone Station in 2007, there was almost nothing.

Tearing down old homes on the east side of Hikone Station.

Corridor back to west side of Hikone Station.

Statue of Ii Naomasa in front of Hikone Station's west side.

Statue of Ii Naomasa in front of Hikone Station

Heiwado dept. store

In front of JR Hikone Station

Low-cost tourist shuttle bus

Inside tourist bus

Hikone City Hall

Lake shore

Some kind of eatery decorated with beautiful wisteria in Hikone.

Eatery decorated with beautiful wisteria in Hikone.

Hikone Port for boats going to Chikubushima and Takeshima islands 彦根港

Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) monument at Hikone Port. MapIn June 1917, a song called Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) was composed by college student Taro Oguchi during a boat rowing trip around Lake Biwa. He was a member of the rowing club at Dai-san High School (now Kyoto University). He composed it in Imazu, Shiga Prefecture during the second night of the trip.

Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument for Verse 5, three stone monuments.The song is about the boys rowing around Lake Biwa while mentioning famous places like Otsu (the starting point), Omi-Maiko (Omatsu), Imazu, Chikubushima, Nagahama, and Chomeiji.

Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument for Verse 5Another boat mate matched Oguchi's lyrics to the melody based on the old song called Water Lilies as modified by a young Chiaki Yoshida. It soon became a popular dormitory song.

The song became a national hit in 1971 when singer Tokiko Kato recorded it. Numerous famous Japanese singers and groups have since released cover versions of the song. The town of Imazu even holds an annual song contest in June when choir groups from around Japan sing the song in a competition. The town even has a museum dedicated to the song.

Verse 5One of the verses mentions an "old castle" which most likely refers to Hikone Castle. This monument commemorates the song and that verse 5.

Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument map

Hikone View Hotel, formerly known as Hikone Prince Hotel.

Yume-Kyobashi Castle Road of shops near Hikone Castle. Shops look nice, but the road is busy with cars.

Yonbancho Square shopping center 四番町

JR Minami Hikone Station

Viva City, a shopping mall and theater complex near Minami Hikone Station.

And here's Hiko-nyan!! Direct from Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, Japan in the 30th Pan-Pacific Festival (also called “Matsuri in Hawaii”) parade on June 7, 2009 from 5 pm to 7 pm along Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki.ひこにゃんが僕の故郷であるハワイにも登場したことはとても嬉しいかったけど、写真をよく見ると、どこも「Shiga」とか「Hikone」が表示していないの。ただの「Hikonyan–Ii Naosuke-Gateway to the Future」しか載っていない。それは意味が不明。最低、FROM HIKONE, SHIGA, JAPANとか書けばいいな。せっかく皆が見るので。市の職員がPRの感覚が鈍い。

Hiko-nyan in Hawaii!!

Aloha from Hawaii, Hiko-nyan!!

He looks great with a lei!! So nice to see this in my native Hawaii. Wish I was there to see it.

Back view. Unfortunately, they did not display where this cat came from. It was Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, JAPAN.ひこにゃんが僕の故郷であるハワイにも登場したことはとても嬉しいかったけど、写真をよく見ると、どこも「Shiga」とか「Hikone」が表示していないの。ただの「Hikonyan–Ii Naosuke-Gateway to the Future」しか載っていない。それは意味が不明。最低、FROM HIKONE, SHIGA, JAPANとか書けばいいな。せっかく皆が見るので。市の職員がPRの感覚が鈍い。