Gi to Kizuna Hall Guide: Access, Admission & How to Visit with Odani Castle in Nagahama, Shiga
Gi to Kizuna Hall (義と絆館) is a limited-time exhibition centered on the Azai clan and the three Azai sisters — Chacha, Hatsu, and Gō — using video and display panels to tell the story of the Battle of Anegawa and the fall of Odani Castle. It sits right next to a roadside station, making it a convenient stop for historical context before heading to Odani Castle.
The hall is on the former grounds of the Higashi-Azai Chamber of Commerce and Industry office, just west of the roadside station "Michi-no-Eki Azai Sanshimai no Sato" (道の駅 浅井三姉妹の郷). It's open 10:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30), and admission is ¥200 for adults and free for high school students and younger. Because a few details can change during the run of the exhibition, it's worth checking the official page before you go.
Below: how to get there by car or bus, what's on display, the photography rules, and how to combine a visit with Odani Castle.
In 2026, to coincide with the NHK taiga drama Toyotomi Brothers!, the city of Nagahama — a place closely tied to the Toyotomi brothers — is hosting the Kita-Ōmi Toyotomi Expo. As part of it, the exhibition hall Gi to Kizuna Hall has been set up right next to the roadside station "Azai Sanshimai no Sato," in the Azai and Odani Castle-town area of Uchiho-chō, Nagahama.
This isn't a hall of drama props. Instead, it walks visitors through the history of the Azai clan and the lives of the three Azai sisters — Chacha, Hatsu, and Gō — using video and panel displays. The Battle of Anegawa and the fall of Odani Castle can be hard to follow as a bare timeline, but here they're framed around a more personal question — what happened to Nagamasa's family afterward — which makes the thread of events easier to follow.
There also appear to be periods when hands-on events are held alongside the regular exhibits, so it's worth checking the official website before you go.
Because it's right next to the roadside station, it's an easy stop for a restroom break or some shopping, and a good place to get your bearings before heading to Odani Castle.
Suggested visit time: no official estimate is given, but on a first-hand visit the exhibits took about 25 minutes to view. This will vary with how busy it is and how much of the video content you watch.
Venue: just west of the roadside station "Michi-no-Eki Azai Sanshimai no Sato" (former Higashi-Azai Chamber of Commerce and Industry office)
Exhibition period: February 1 – December 20, 2026
Hours: 10:00–17:00, last admission 16:30 (subject to change at the organizer's discretion)
Closed: open daily in principle, though temporary closures can occur at the organizer's discretion
For the latest details, check the official page before visiting.
Official URL: https://www.nagahama-sengoku.jp/kizuna/
Access
Address: 2843 Uchiho-chō, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture — the same address as the roadside station "Azai Sanshimai no Sato."
Driving is the easiest option. The hall is some distance from central Nagahama, so a car pairs well with the free parking lot at the roadside station (on National Route 365) — there's also a free parking area on the north side of the facility itself. Rental cars and car-sharing are available around Nagahama Station (JR-A09, JR Biwako Line). From Nagahama Station, it's about a 20-minute drive; actual travel time to the roadside station will vary with traffic.
Take the Tōkaidō Shinkansen to Maibara Station (JR-A12), then transfer to the JR Hokuriku Main Line for Nagahama Station (JR-A09). From Nagahama Station, take a local bus. Because the bus stop name can vary by service, it's safest to set "Michi-no-Eki Azai Sanshimai no Sato" as your destination in a route-search app or the latest timetable rather than relying on a stop name. From Kyoto Station, a direct JR Special Rapid (Shinkaisoku) service reaches Nagahama Station with no transfer in around 70 minutes (about ¥1,340); a Kodama shinkansen plus a local-line transfer at Maibara is faster, around 45 minutes (about ¥2,330). From Osaka Station, the Special Rapid takes roughly 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours, usually with a change at Maibara. From Nagahama Station, allow a further ~20 minutes by car or bus to reach the hall.
| Nearest Station | Nagahama Station (JR-A09, JR Biwako Line) — about 20 min by car/bus to the hall |
|---|---|
| Practical Shinkansen Station | Maibara Station (JR-A12), Tōkaidō Shinkansen |
| Travel Time From Major Cities | From Kyoto Station: about 70 min by direct JR Special Rapid, or about 45 min via Shinkansen (Kodama) + local line (change at Maibara). From Osaka Station: about 1 hr 40 min – 2 hr by JR Special Rapid (usually a change at Maibara). Add roughly 20 more minutes from Nagahama Station to the hall. |
| Difficulty | Easy — flat, indoor exhibition space. Getting between the hall and Odani Castle by public transportation alone is inconvenient (see below) |
| Recommended Transport | Car (to use the free parking at the roadside station and the hall itself) |
| Parking | Free parking on the north side of the facility; free parking is also available at the adjacent roadside station |
| Hours | 10:00–17:00, last admission 16:30 |
| Closed | Open daily in principle; temporary closures possible at the organizer's discretion |
| Notes | Photography is allowed only at designated spots; video recording, eating, drinking, smoking, and phone calls are not permitted inside. No re-entry once you leave. Only guide and service dogs are allowed. |
Admission
Visitors with a physical disability certificate, rehabilitation certificate, or similar documentation, plus one accompanying person, are admitted free. Eligibility follows the official guidance.
There's also a mutual discount with the Taiga Drama Museum and the Nagahama Castle History Museum: show the stub of your ticket from either Gi to Kizuna Hall or the Taiga Drama Museum at the other venue's reception for a group-rate discount, or at the Nagahama Castle History Museum for 20% off (valid throughout the Kita-Ōmi Toyotomi Expo, February 1 – December 20, 2026).
Photos Inside the Hall
Inside, there were numerous portraits and historical explanation panels, including material on the conflict between Nobunaga and Nagamasa described above.
Tap to enlarge
Important notes: photography is not permitted except at designated spots, and video recording is prohibited. Eating, drinking, smoking, and phone calls are also not allowed inside the hall.
Visiting with Odani Castle: Recommended Route
Recommended order: Gi to Kizuna Hall → Odani Castle (foot of the mountain to the climb)
Learning the background of the Azai clan, the three Azai sisters, the Battle of Anegawa, and the fall of Odani Castle at Gi to Kizuna Hall first makes the terrain and remaining features at Odani Castle much easier to read once you get there.
- Head first to the roadside station "Michi-no-Eki Azai Sanshimai no Sato" (next to Gi to Kizuna Hall), on National Route 365.
- From there, continue on to Odani Castle, which is commonly reached via the Odani Castle Smart IC expressway exit.
By Public Transportation (planning ahead helps)
Most routes to Odani Castle start with a walk from JR Kawake Station (JR-A07), which is a different station from the one nearest to Gi to Kizuna Hall (the roadside station).
If you're relying on public transportation, the clearest route is to return once to Nagahama Station (JR-A09) and continue from there via Kawake Station (JR-A07).
From JR Kawake Station (JR-A07), it's about a 4 km walk to the Sengoku Guide Station at the foot of Odani Castle.
Bus services are limited, so check a route-search app each time before traveling from Gi to Kizuna Hall to Odani Castle.
Peak-Season Note: A Shuttle Bus Runs in Some Years
During peak travel seasons, a shuttle bus connecting the Sengoku Guide Station (at the foot of the mountain) with the Bansho Site (partway up) sometimes runs. Operating dates vary by year and season, so check current information before you visit.
FAQ
If you're driving, set your destination to "Michi-no-Eki Azai Sanshimai no Sato" — the hall is just west of it. From Nagahama Station (JR-A09) it's about a 20-minute drive along National Route 365. By public transportation, take a local bus from Nagahama Station and search for the roadside station as your destination, since stop names can vary by service.
No official estimate is given. On a first-hand visit, viewing the exhibits took about 25 minutes, though this can vary with crowds and how much of the video content you watch.
Yes — the whole exhibition is indoors, and the adjacent roadside station makes it easy to shelter nearby. The hall closes at 17:00 with last admission at 16:30, so plan ahead if you're visiting late in the day.
Gi to Kizuna Hall is a video-and-panel exhibition, not a site with physical ruins or reconstructed buildings. For historical remains, pair your visit with a nearby site such as the Odani Castle ruins — seeing this hall first makes the terrain and features there easier to follow.
It's next to the roadside station, so taking breaks is easy, and admission is free for high school students and younger. Note that inside the hall, photography is allowed only at designated spots, and eating, drinking, and phone calls are not permitted.
Photography is not permitted except at designated spots, and video recording is prohibited throughout. A commemorative photo area is provided — please follow staff guidance on where photography is allowed.
No — this is a history exhibition facility, not a temple or shrine, so goshuin are not offered. If you're collecting goshuin, consider nearby Daitsūji Temple, which is also part of the 3-facility combo ticket.
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