How to Get to Hikone from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and the Airports

Many people trip up by assuming the Tokaido shinkansen stops at Hikone. In fact the line runs nearby but the stop is Maibara, a few stations to the east on the JR Tokaido Line. The city is therefore reached in two ways: an ordinary JR train from Kyoto or Osaka, or the shinkansen to Maibara followed by a short JR ride. This guide is organised by the starting points Thai travellers actually use, and compares trains, buses and rental cars.

The quick summary

From Tokyo

From Tokyo or Shinagawa Station, take the Tokaido shinkansen to Maibara. Whether a given train stops at Maibara depends on the service, so look at the latest timetable before buying a ticket. The shinkansen ride takes roughly two to three hours, followed by a JR train a couple of stops west to Hikone. If a train does not stop at Maibara, the alternative is to get off at Kyoto or Nagoya and take an ordinary JR train. Check services on a timetable app.

From Osaka and Kyoto

From Kyoto, board a JR Special Rapid heading east on the Tokaido Line (Biwako Line), passing Otsu and the Lake Biwa shoreline, and get off at Hikone. This takes roughly an hour. From Osaka, the same type of service runs through Kyoto and onward east, with a total of roughly an hour and a half or more. Some trains may terminate at a closer station, so check the destination on the display. You catch glimpses of Lake Biwa along the route.

From airports and nearby cities

From Kansai Airport you normally go to Kyoto or Osaka first and then connect by JR to Hikone, which makes for a fairly long journey. From Chubu Centrair Airport, go to Nagoya and take a shinkansen or JR train to Maibara, then continue to Hikone. Nagoya to Maibara is much shorter than the Tokyo route. Nearby towns such as Omi-Hachiman and Maibara each connect easily to Hikone by JR.

Train, bus and rental car

• Train: the easiest option for most visitors, punctual, with English signs, and Hikone Station is walkable to the castle.
• Bus: long-distance and local buses exist, but most rail travellers do not need them; check routes with the operator.
• Rental car: suits exploring around Lake Biwa or several nearby towns; you need a driving licence valid in Japan and must check the rental company's conditions.

If you only visit the town itself, a rental car is unnecessary and parking can be hard to find. Also remember that Japan drives on the left and some roads are narrow.

Passes and related tickets

No pass is designed specifically for Hikone, but certain JR West rail passes cover the Kyoto-Hikone route, depending on the area listed for each pass, so check the coverage on the JR West website before buying. If your trip is just a Kyoto-Hikone return, single tickets are often enough and a pass may not pay off. For routes using the shinkansen from Tokyo, check whether your pass covers the shinkansen. Conditions and prices can change.

Luggage and reservations

JR Special Rapid trains in the Kyoto-Shiga area mostly have unreserved seating, and mornings and evenings can be crowded. With large suitcases, choose less crowded trains or store luggage in a locker at the departure station. Many shinkansen services have rules about oversized luggage, such as reserved space, so read the latest operator rules before buying a ticket.

Voir les forfaits eSIM Japon

Changing trains at Maibara or Kyoto means checking timetables and platforms in real time, which is where train apps and online maps help. An eSIM is one option that gives you data as soon as you land.