Genkyu-en Garden

　With the cherry blossom festival now over, Hikone Castle has returned to a state of tranquillity.

　From Genkyu-en Garden, situated to the east, the castle keep serves as a backdrop, lending the scene a sense of grandeur. Genkyu-en is a strolling garden centred around a vast pond, where visitors can enjoy a variety of scenery, including nine bridges spanning the inlets and islands within the pond.

　Due in part to the destruction caused by the Second World War, only 12 castle keep towers remain in Japan today. Of these, five castles, including Hikone Castle, have been designated as National Treasures in recognition of their historical and aesthetic value.