Nagahama Castle Historical Museum

OVERVIEW

Hideyoshi’s Legacy: An Insight into Medieval Japan

The historical museum, situated within the recreated Nagahama Castle, holds significance as a tribute to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the pivotal figures in Medieval Japanese history. In 1573, Hideyoshi was granted this territory following his battles with the Azai Clan, who had previously rule the area. Establishing Nagahama Castle as his stronghold, he utilized it as a base to further solidify his power in unifying the nation. This castle not only served as Hideyoshi’s initial fortification, but also served as an early example of advanced castle town development.

While the original castle structures became obsolete after the peaceful unification of the Edo period, remnants were relocated to Hikone Castle and Daitsu-ji Temple. In 1983, the original site underwent revitalization, including the reconstruction of this Azuchi-Momoyama period castle. Today, this reconstructed castle and its historical museum offer visitors a journey back in time. From the observation deck on the fifth floor, visitors are treated to panoramic views over Lake Biwa and Hideyoshi’s town. Additionally, the park surrounding the castle is among the area’s top cherry blossom viewing sites from late March to early April. Annually, many visitors flock here to revel in the stunning fusion of Lake Biwa and the beauty of the cherry blossoms.

This facility is covered by the Nagahama Excursion Passport >>