Culture & History

Hikone Castle Plum Grove

During the Edo Period (1603-1868), this area within the castle grounds was the storage location for the Ii samurai family's rice, but it stands today as a grove of approximately 400 red and white blossoming plum trees.
The grove was planted in 1950, in celebration of Hikone Castle's selection as one of "100 Sightseeing Locations of a New Japan." The best viewing season for blossoms is typically in late March.