The Tenshu Tower in Hikone Castle, Omi Province, had a typical Fenglin architectural style. It functioned as both a fortress and a residence. 0

The Tenshu Tower had a traditional hip-and-gable roof, complete with balcony parapets. The outer appearance did not match the interior layout. The main keep consisted of two main floors and a three-story observation tower, making it five stories tall from the outside. However, the hip-and-gable eaves were staggered and interwoven with the upper rooflines, creating six internal floors. The top floor’s veranda was set back within the outer walls, which were finished with white plaster. The gable ends had decorative variations, and the windows were designed like sliding doors, giving the structure a grand and elegant outlook.0

Taking inspiration from the palace gardens of the Qi Dynasty, the Ii Clan had constructed Genkyu-en Garden within Hikone Castle. From the Hoshodai within, one could look upward to view the castle, a site typically reserved for the daimyo to receive honored guests.0

Strictly speaking, Toyotomi Hidemochi was not the true master of Hikone...3