Article Hikone Castle

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A section of the stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of the few original Edo-period castles still standing in Japan, collapsed after heavy rain from Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8. Hikone Castle, a National Treasure, retains its original main keep more than 400 years after it was built.

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The collapse occurred at the Komegura Suimon stone wall along the castle's inner moat. The damaged area measured about 6.5 metres wide and 2.5 metres high. Officials believe the prolonged heavy rain during the two typhoons triggered the collapse. The same section of the Komegura Suimon wall was also damaged by heavy rain in July 2024. Hikone City said it is now considering repair measures.

The castle's three-story wooden keep is one of only 12 original surviving castle keeps in Japan. It is also one of only five original keeps designated as National Treasures, together with Himeji, Matsumoto, Inuyama and Matsue castles. While many Japanese castles seen today are modern reconstructions, Hikone Castle preserves the atmosphere and construction techniques of the early Edo period. The wider castle grounds also remain important. The moats, stone walls and surviving structures show how early modern Japanese castles combined military defence with political authority and administrative control. The castle town that developed around Hikone also reflected the power of the domain, with samurai residences, merchant districts and roads arranged around the castle. Hikone Castle has long been regarded as a symbol of Shiga Prefecture and the Lake Biwa region. It is also a major tourist destination, known for its historic buildings, views over the lake and the surrounding Genkyuen Garden, a traditional landscape garden built for the Ii family.

Hikone Castle Stone Wall Collapses After Typhoon Deluge

A section of stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few surviving original Edo-period castles and a National Treasure whose main keep remains intact more than 400 years after its construction, collapsed after heavy rain caused by Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8, Hikone city officials said.

newsonjapan.com