Miho Museum and Hikone Castle in 1 day

Dear All:

I will be arriving in Kyoto in a few days, and I am planning to go to Miho Museum and Hikone Castle. Are those 2 places doable in the same day? And how long will be a reasonable stay at each location? Would 2-3 hours be enough in Miho? What I want to avoid is to have to keep watching my time to make it to Hikone Castle before it closes.

Thanks
Steve

It should be possible. The crucial factor is an early start. Don't start your sightseeing at noon.

What is your mode of transport between the two locations?

Thank you for the answers.

Probably via public transportation. Train to bus for Miho, and train for the castle.

I actually looked at the bus and train schedule. If assuming catching the first bus to Miho and stay for 3 hours, I will have 1 3/4 hours at Hikone. The castle is that enough to stay at both places to enjoy both properly.

I would say that's not long enough in Hikone as It is a bit of a walk from the station to the castle. If I was determined to do both in a day I would probably allow 2-2.5 hours for the Miho museum & then go to Hikone but have a backup plan of something near Kyoto station (or wherever your hotel is) to do in case I spent longer at the museum. That said I like Hikone a lot and have stayed there for several days in the past. I will definitely visit again.

I guess it is best if I split Hikone and Miho then. Anyway, I discover there is a nice Lake Biwa island ferry just behind Hikone Castle. I guess doing that with Hikone Castle be a better idea. And do Miho Museum plus other random Kyoto stuff for a different day.

Anyway, it will be a great trip. I timed the whole thing for Gion Masturi. I am sure it will be great.

You can get to Chikubu Island from Nagahama also. Nagahama has a very small railway museum and castle ruins/museum also. The Nagahama train station to the port is about 250m. the museum and ruins are in between.

I just booked the ferry from Nagahama. The ferry is cheaper as well and I will have JR pass for it.

I mean JR pass for train transfer from Hikone to Nagahama.

If you find yourself with time in Hikone there is plenty to see. I particularly liked Ryotan-ji. This trip report is very fair, although I liked the castle museum more than they did. Have a great time.

http://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1074

Nice information. Thank you. Those temples are actually east of the castle and north of the station, but I will check them out if I have time. Actually I am surprised how high Hikone Castle is relatively to the town.

Also I don't blame them commenting on the air conditioner in museum after I lived more than 1/2 of my life in Hong Kong and Florida. ;-) I bet the hike up the castle will get the sweat back out quickly. ;-)

You can use the following guide service.

http://www.hikoneshi.com/en/guide/