Hikone Castle night viewing and Genkyuen illumination have different calendars, entry cutoffs and tickets. A garden-event date does not automatically mean the castle is open at night.
Photo: Drivephotographer / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 1.0 · Commons 1280px derivative; no retouch; display may crop
Who this guide is for: Travellers pairing Hikone Castle night viewing with Genkyuen illumination
Compare a combo only on overlapping dates. Castle entry ends at 19:30, garden entry at 20:30; daytime admission is not valid for these night events.
Compare at a glance
| Option | Best fit | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Castle night · ¥1,000 | Selected nights | 18:00–20:00; last entry 19:30 |
| Garden · ¥900/¥700 | On-site/advance | 14–29 November; last entry 20:30 |
| Combo · ¥1,400 | Both events | Four dates; sales18:00–19:00 |
Check the selected castle nights
The 2026 castle event runs Saturdays from 19 September to 5 December, plus 20–22 September, 11 October and 22 November. Dates already past are not upcoming recommendations. Hours are 18:00–20:00, last entry 19:30, with cancellation in severe weather. Advance online application is recommended; same-day counter sales are planned from 18:00. Capacity and availability still need checking.
The garden uses a different calendar
Genkyuen autumn illumination runs 14–29 November 2026, 18:00–21:00, last entry 20:30. This differs from the castle’s selected-night schedule. The earlier moon-viewing event ended in early October and is not currently running. Garden night admission does not establish access to the castle keep interior.
Four combo dates, with a separate sales cutoff
The tourism association specifies combo sales at both event entrances on 14, 21, 22 and 28 November, 18:00–19:00: adults ¥1,400, elementary/junior-high pupils ¥600. Do not extend sales to other weekdays or 29 November. Castle ¥1,000 plus on-site garden ¥900 totals ¥1,900, a ¥500 difference when visiting both. Avoid duplicate purchases if you already bought a ¥700 garden advance ticket.
Daytime tickets are separate
Castle night admission is ¥1,000 from high-school age, ¥300 for elementary/junior-high pupils and free for preschoolers. Garden night admission is ¥900/¥450 on site or ¥700/¥350 in advance. Daytime castle/garden tickets do not admit visitors to either night event. Check the specific session and date even when the facility name matches.
Garden advance deadline and cancellation
Garden advance applications close at 23:45 three days before the visit. Customer-requested cancellation and refunds are unavailable. If the organizer cancels for severe weather or a natural disaster, the organizer decides whether and how much to refund. Do not transfer these terms to the separate castle booking product; read its own purchase conditions. Non-advance garden admission is payable on site in cash or PayPay.
Plan around both entry deadlines
Allow time to reach castle entry by 19:30 and garden entry by 20:30. The combo sales cutoff at 19:00 is a third separate deadline. The castle’s roughly 15-minute walk from Hikone Station’s west exit is not a total event, internal walking and return estimate. Check return trains and current notices; illumination operation and autumn colours are not guaranteed.
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Before you book
- Exact castle night date
- Garden dates14–29 November
- Four combo dates;18:00–19:00 sales
- Separate daytime/night tickets
- Garden advance deadline and terms
- 19:30/20:30 entry and return train
Common questions
Can I buy a combo on 29 November?
That is the last garden illumination date, but not one of the four stated combo-sale dates.
Does the photograph show this night event?
It shows the keep in daylight on 22 July 2021, not the 2026 lighting, autumn colours or current route.
Sources and booking conditions
- hikonecastle.com — operator, destination or property information
- www.hikoneshi.com — operator, destination or property information
- hikonecastle.com — operator, destination or property information
English edition published 2026-10-15. Source review date inherited from the original guide: 2026-10-15. Editorial recommendations are not firsthand reviews or live quotes. Check current prices, availability and conditions before purchase.