Photo= The main keep with its complicated roof structure shows its dignified appearance. The city and Lake Biwa spread out behind it (Hikone Castle, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture)= taken by drone

White walls bathed in dawn's breaking light are faintly tinged red. The main keep of Hikone Castle in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture is a designated National Treasure. As the drone pivots north from the front, overlapping large and small roofs come into sight. The keep's appearance, which even now conveys the architectural beauty of early modern castles, creates a superb view along with Lake Biwa, which extends behind the keep.

It is believed that the main keep was completed around 1607. The keep is a three-tiered, three-story building. It has undergone repeated restorations to preserve its original state. Approximately 800,000 people visit the castle annually.

As the drone approached the keep, beautifully-curved "Katomado," or bell-shaped windows, were shown close up. Even the building's elegant ornamentation, such as "Shachigawara," or imaginary, fish-shaped ornamental tiles, gilded metal fittings, and other items were observed in close detail. A local man, who comes to the castle for a walk every morning, said, "It's not a big keep, but it's quite graceful."

The keep has a bird's-eye view of the city, which used to be the castle town. Without having changed its appearance in 400 years, the keep quietly watches over citizens' lives.