Snowy views of Hikone Castle and its expansive grounds (Photo-essay)

Although there are many castles to be found in Japan today, only 12 have the distinction of being considered original castles.  Of these, I've visited UNESCO World Heritage-listed Himeji-jo, Bitchu-Takahashi's Matsuyama-jo (a mountain castle that's the highest fortress with an existing main keep in Japan), Matsue Castle, Matsumoto Castle (the first sight of which caused me to gasp out loud -- so stunningly beautiful is it) and, on my most recent Japan trip, the castle that is the pride and joy of Hikone (and where Hikonyan supposedly officially resides).

While it's not a mountain castle like Bitchu-Takahashi's Matsuyama-jo, Hikone Castle's main keep does sit atop a hill amidst expansive grounds that includes a stroll garden (Genkyuen), a day palace (that's now home to the Hikone Castle Museum) and various other structures, including the only stables still standing in a Japanese castle.  Even though it was on the cold (and snowy!) side on the day I visited, I still felt compelled to spend many hours wandering about in the castle grounds and I must say that Hikone-jo's white walls really appear very photogenic amidst a background of equally white snow and bright blue skies...   

I don't think I've seen a moat all frozen up before 

until the day I went and visited Hikone-jo... :O

 

The steps that take one from the ticketing office

up the hill to the inner grounds of the castle

 

Many of the castle buildings are built atop high mounds of stone

 

This photo gives an idea how thick 

the snow was when I visited!

 

Puppet Ponyo points to the main castle keep behind her! :)

 

The staircases in this three-storey original castle keep

are on the distinctly steep side...

View of the back of Hikone-jo's main keep from the plum tree orchard 

whose trees were mainly bare of leaves and covered more with snow

 

The snow came pelting down once more

as I bade farewell to Hikone-jo...