Hikone, Shiga

{{redirect|Hikone}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Hikone | official_name = | native_name = {{nobold|{{nobold|{{lang|ja|彦根市}}}}}} | native_name_lang = ja | settlement_type = City | other_name =  | image_skyline = View of hikone-jo from sawayama-jo ruins.JPG | imagesize = | image_caption = City central, Lake Biwa and Hikone castle viewed from Sawayama castle ruin | image_flag = Flag of Hikone, Shiga.svg | image_seal = Emblem of Hikone, Shiga.svg | seal_type = Emblem  | image_map = Hikone in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture | pushpin_map = Japan | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan | coordinates = {{coord|35|16|N|136|16|E|region:JP|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes =   | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Japan | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Kansai | subdivision_type2 = Prefecture | subdivision_name2 = Shiga | subdivision_type3 = District | subdivision_name3 =  | established_title =  | established_date = | extinct_title = Now part of | extinct_date = | founder = | named_for =  | seat_type =  | seat =  | government_footnotes =  | leader_party = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Issei Tajima (since May 2025) | leader_title1 = Vice Mayor | leader_name1 =  | total_type =  | unit_pref = Metric  | area_magnitude =  | area_footnotes =  | area_total_km2 = 196.84 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = | area_note =  | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m =  | population_footnotes =  | population_total = 111958 | population_as_of = August 31, 2021 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_est = | pop_est_as_of =  | timezone1 = JST | utc_offset1 = +09:00  | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type =  | area_code =  | blank1_name_sec1 = Phone number | blank1_info_sec1 = 0749-30-6111 | blank_name_sec1 = City hall address | blank_info_sec1 = 4-2 Motomachi, Hikone-shi, Shiga-ken 522-8501  | blank_name_sec2 = Climate | blank_info_sec2 = Cfa  | website = {{Official homepage|https://www.city.hikone.lg.jp/}} | footnotes = | module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes | tree = Tachibana Orange | flower = Iris | bird = | flowering_tree = | butterfly = | fish = | other_symbols = }} }}

{{nihongo|'''Hikone'''|彦根市|Hikone-shi}} is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. {{As of|2021|08|01}}, the city had an estimated population of 111,958 in 49,066 households and a population density of 570 persons per km².<ref name="Hikone-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.hikone.lg.jp/kakuka/shimin_kankyo/2/2/3132.html|title= Hikone city official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert|196.84|sqkm|sqmi}}.

==Geography== Hikone is located in central Shiga Prefecture, on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa, and extending inland to the Ibuki Mountains. Parts of the city are within the borders of the Biwako Quasi-National Park.

===Neighboring municipalities=== Shiga Prefecture *Aishō *Higashiōmi *Kōra *Maibara *Taga *Toyosato

===Climate=== Hikone has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Hikone is 14.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1810 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 26.4 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.6 °C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/shiga/hikone-4805/ Hikone climate data]</ref> The highest recorded temperature was 37.7 °C (July 26, 2014) and the lowest was -11.3 °C (January 23, 1904).

{{Weather box |width=auto |metric first = yes |single line = yes |location = Hikone (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1893−present) |Jan record high C = 17.2 |Feb record high C = 19.9 |Mar record high C = 24.8 |Apr record high C = 28.7 |May record high C = 32.2 |Jun record high C = 36.5 |Jul record high C = 37.7 |Aug record high C = 37.5 |Sep record high C = 36.5 |Oct record high C = 32.1 |Nov record high C = 26.1 |Dec record high C = 21.4 |Jan high C = 7.1 |Feb high C = 7.7 |Mar high C = 11.6 |Apr high C = 17.4 |May high C = 22.6 |Jun high C = 26.0 |Jul high C = 30.2 |Aug high C = 32.1 |Sep high C = 27.6 |Oct high C = 21.8 |Nov high C = 15.6 |Dec high C = 9.8 |Jan mean C = 3.9 |Feb mean C = 4.2 |Mar mean C = 7.2 |Apr mean C = 12.4 |May mean C = 17.6 |Jun mean C = 21.8 |Jul mean C = 26.1 |Aug mean C = 27.5 |Sep mean C = 23.6 |Oct mean C = 17.7 |Nov mean C = 11.7 |Dec mean C = 6.5 |Jan low C = 1.0 |Feb low C = 1.0 |Mar low C = 3.5 |Apr low C = 8.1 |May low C = 13.5 |Jun low C = 18.4 |Jul low C = 22.9 |Aug low C = 24.1 |Sep low C = 20.2 |Oct low C = 14.0 |Nov low C = 8.0 |Dec low C = 3.2 |Jan record low C = -11.3 |Feb record low C = -8.9 |Mar record low C = -7.9 |Apr record low C = -2.1 |May record low C = 0.9 |Jun record low C = 6.9 |Jul record low C = 12.8 |Aug record low C = 14.0 |Sep record low C = 8.3 |Oct record low C = 1.5 |Nov record low C = -2.4 |Dec record low C = -8.7 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 112.0 |Feb precipitation mm = 99.6 |Mar precipitation mm = 114.9 |Apr precipitation mm = 117.3 |May precipitation mm = 146.9 |Jun precipitation mm = 175.6 |Jul precipitation mm = 219.0 |Aug precipitation mm = 124.6 |Sep precipitation mm = 167.7 |Oct precipitation mm = 140.7 |Nov precipitation mm = 85.8 |Dec precipitation mm = 105.9 |year precipitation mm = 1610.0 |unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm |Jan precipitation days = 14.1 |Feb precipitation days = 12.1 |Mar precipitation days = 12.2 |Apr precipitation days = 10.6 |May precipitation days = 9.8 |Jun precipitation days = 11.6 |Jul precipitation days = 12.0 |Aug precipitation days = 8.0 |Sep precipitation days = 10.3 |Oct precipitation days = 9.0 |Nov precipitation days = 8.6 |Dec precipitation days = 13.2 |Jan snow cm = 36 |Feb snow cm = 29 |Mar snow cm = 6 |Apr snow cm = 0 |May snow cm = 0 |Jun snow cm = 0 |Jul snow cm = 0 |Aug snow cm = 0 |Sep snow cm = 0 |Oct snow cm = 0 |Nov snow cm = 0 |Dec snow cm = 11 |year snow cm = 81 |unit snow days = 3 cm |Jan snow days = 5.3 |Feb snow days = 4.8 |Mar snow days = 0.9 |Apr snow days = 0 |May snow days = 0 |Jun snow days = 0 |Jul snow days = 0 |Aug snow days = 0 |Sep snow days = 0 |Oct snow days = 0 |Nov snow days = 0 |Dec snow days = 1.8 |humidity colour= green |Jan humidity = 75 |Feb humidity = 74 |Mar humidity = 72 |Apr humidity = 70 |May humidity = 71 |Jun humidity = 76 |Jul humidity = 77 |Aug humidity = 73 |Sep humidity = 75 |Oct humidity = 74 |Nov humidity = 74 |Dec humidity = 75 |Jan sun = 99.8 |Feb sun = 115.6 |Mar sun = 162.6 |Apr sun = 183.8 |May sun = 197.3 |Jun sun = 154.4 |Jul sun = 169.8 |Aug sun = 213.0 |Sep sun = 162.9 |Oct sun = 163.0 |Nov sun = 134.6 |Dec sun = 106.4 |year sun = 1863.3 |source 1 = JMA<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=60&block_no=47761&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値） | publisher = JMA | access-date = February 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=60&block_no=47761&year=&month=&day=&view=h0 |script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値） | publisher = JMA | access-date = February 26, 2022}}</ref>}}

==Demographics== Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-shiga.php Hikone population statistics]</ref> the population of Hikone has increased steadily over the past 60 years.

{{Historical populations | 1920 | 55,280 | 1930 | 62,877 | 1940 | 64,264 | 1950 | 77,606 | 1960 | 72,931 | 1970 | 78,753 | 1980 | 89,701 | 1990 | 99,519 | 2000 | 107,860 | 2010 | 112,156 | 2020 | 113,647 |align = none | footnote = }}

==History== [[File:Nakasendo in Tsuzuracho Hikone 20110809.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Nakasendo]] [[File:Hikone castle17s3200.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Hikone Castle]] Hikone was part of the ancient Ōmi Province and was originally a market town that developed around a Buddhist temple called Hogon-ji which was founded in the Heian period.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=International Dictionary of Historic Places, Volume 5: Asia and Oceania|publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers|year=1996|isbn=1-884964-04-4|editor-last=Schellinger|editor-first=Paul|location=Chicago|pages=338, 339|editor-last2=Salkin|editor-first2=Robert}}</ref> The site was a natural bottleneck on the route of the Tōsandō (later the Nakasendō) highway connecting Heian-kyō with the eastern provinces. Hikone is home to two former post stations, Toriimoto-juku and Takamiya-juku on the Nakasendō and the Chōsenjin Kaidō also passed through the area. Strategically, it was a vital point in protecting the capital from attack from the east. In the Sengoku period, this area was controlled by the Azai clan, who were based in northern Ōmi, and who built a castle called Sawayama Castle. The Azai were defeated by Oda Nobunaga, who assigned Sawayama Castle to his general Niwa Nagahide. Under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, this closest advisor, Ishida Mitsunari was entrusted with the castle. After Ishida Mitsunari was defeated at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu appointed his general Ii Naomasa as ''daimyō'' of a new domain centered at Sawayama Castle. Ii Naomasa began the construction of Hikone Castle, which was completed by his son Ii Naokatsu in 1622. The area remained under the control of Hikone Domain through the end of the Edo Period.<ref name="Shiseki">{{cite book |last1=Isomura |first1=Yukio |last2=Sakai |first2=Hideya |title=(国指定史跡事典) National Historic Site Encyclopedia |date=2012 |publisher=学生社 |isbn=4311750404}}{{in lang|ja}}</ref>

The town of Hikone was established on April 1, 1889 within Inukami District, Shiga with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to city status on February 11, 1937 by merging with the neighboring villages of Matsubara, Aonami, Kitaaoyagi, Fukumitsu and Chimoto. The city escaped major damage in World War II.

In 2003, meetings were held to discuss the merger of Hikone with the towns of Toyosato, Kōra, and Taga (all from Inukami District). However, a survey conducted by the city in February 2004, revealed that most citizens opposed the merger, leading the city government to shelve the proposal.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

==Government== right|thumb|Hikone City Hall Hikone has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 24 members. Hikone, collectively with the towns of Inukami District, contributes four members to the Shiga Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Shiga 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

==Economy== [[File:Hikone Apples 07.jpg|thumb|Hikone apples, a local apple cultivar]] The key industries of Hikone are the manufacturing of butsudan, textiles, and valves. Bridgestone has a tire manufacturing plant here. Fujitec, Ohmi Railway, and Heiwadō (the largest supermarket chain in Shiga) are headquartered in Hikone.<ref name=":0" />

In 1999, a small area south of the castle, called the Yume Kyōbashi Castle Road, was built in the old style and attracts visitors keen to see modern construction fused with traditional looks. Even the Kansai Urban Bank in this district has remodeled itself to fit in with the surrounding structures.

==Education== thumb|Shiga University There are three universities in Hikone: Seisen University, Shiga University, and The University of Shiga Prefecture (USP).

Hikone is also the home of the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU), a facility operated jointly by a consortium of the fifteen public universities in the State of Michigan and the government of Shiga Prefecture (in coordination with USP) that offers programs for American university students and scholars for the study of Japanese language and culture, as well as courses in English for the citizens of Shiga Prefecture. The Michigan Center, as it is known, was founded in 1989, under the auspices of the Michigan-Shiga Sister State Agreement, the oldest such relationship between a US state and Japanese prefectures.

Hikone has 17 public elementary schools and seven public middle schools operated by the city government and one middle school operated by the Shiga Prefectural Department of Education. The prefecture also operates six public high schools and two special education schools for the handicapped. There are also two private high schools.

==Transportation== ===Railway=== 20px JR West – Biwako Line * {{STN|Hikone|x}} - {{STN|Minami-Hikone|x}} - {{STN|Kawase|x}} - {{STN|Inae|x}} 20px Ohmi Railway – Main Line * {{STN|Fujitec-mae|x}} - {{STN|Toriimoto|x}} - {{STN|Hikone|x}} - {{STN|Hikone-Serikawa|x}} - {{STN|Hikoneguchi|x}}

===Highway=== * 20px|link=|alt= Meishin Expressway * {{jct|country=JPN|Route|8}} * {{jct|country=JPN|Route|306}}

==Sister cities== Hikone is twinned with the following two cities:<ref>[http://www.city.hikone.shiga.jp/english/inter/index.html International relations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214050145/http://www.city.hikone.shiga.jp/english/inter/index.html |date=2012-12-14 }} Retrieved 7 November 2012</ref> *{{flagicon|United States}} Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States 1969 *{{flagicon|China}} Xiangtan, Hunan, China

==Local attractions== *Carrom, unlike in most parts of Japan, carrom is still popular in Hikone ever since it was introduced in the early 20th century. *Hikone Castle, National Treasure and Special National Historic Site *Kōjinyama Kofun, National Historic Site *Lake Biwa *Sawayama Castle ruins

== Noted people from Hikone == * Oniroku Dan * Yoshihide Fukao * Hikonyan * Ii clan * Yoshihide Kiryū * Ii Naokatsu * Ii Naomasa * Takanori Nishikawa * Ippei Shimamura * Kizo Yasui

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.city.hikone.shiga.jp/ Hikone City official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802011517/http://www.city.hikone.shiga.jp/english/index.html |date=2009-08-02 }} {{in lang|ja|en|pt}} {{wikivoyage|Hikone}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20041208054618/http://www.isp.msu.edu/jcmu/ Information on the Japan Center for Michigan Universities and its academic programs]

Category:Cities in Shiga Prefecture Category:Hikone, Shiga Category:Populated lakeshore places in Japan