Himeji

• • Himeji Castle — Dating to 1609 and also graced with the name "White Egret Castle" (白鷺城 Shirasagi-jō), this striking white edifice is generally considered the most beautiful of Japan's castles and is one of the few that has escaped the ravages of civil war, World War II, earthquakes, and firebombings. The castle was designated as a national treasure in 1931 and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. It is virtually the last castle in Japan that still manages to tower over the surrounding skyscrapers and office buildings. Although renovated, much of the castle looks as it did when it was first built, and in contrast to European castles, is very empty, consistent with the Japanese minimalist style of the time. On extremely busy days, you may have to wait to enter since the number of visitors at any one time is limited. Check the website for a "congestion forecast" and status. — Directions: an easy 15-minute walk north from the station; also accessible by bus — Hours: Daily 09:00-17:00 (admission is only until 16:00); May-Aug until 18:00 (admission is until 17:00); closed December 29–31. The Main keep is limited to the first 15,000 visitors each day — Price: ¥1,000 adults and ¥300 children. A ¥1,050/¥360 combination ticket gets you into both the castle and the nearby Kōkoen Garden. A free guided tour in English is included if a guide happens to be available (no reservations are possible) — Website: http://www.himejicastle.jp/en/
• • Kōkoen Garden — This magnificent collection of 9 Edo-period-style walled gardens was laid out in 1992 on a site where samurai houses once stood. The street plan and gated partitions preserve the appearance of the old residential quarter, except that within the various enclosures visitors find beautifully landscaped gardens and water features instead of noble residences. There is a tea arbour and a restaurant within the grounds, but eating and drinking outside of these places is prohibited. — Directions: next to the western edge of Himeji Castle's outer moat — Hours: Open from 09:00 daily and closes at either 17:00 or 18:00 (last admission at 16:30 or 17:30) depending on the time of year — Price: ¥310 adults and ¥150 children. A ¥1,050 combination ticket gets you into both Kōkoen and Himeji Castle — Website: http://www.himeji-machishin.jp/ryokka/kokoen/
• • Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History — Unlike most prefectural museums, this one actually has very little information about Hyogo prefecture's history, and historical artifacts also tend to be lacking, so if you really want to learn more about Hyogo, you may be disappointed however, if you are interested in Japanese history as a whole, this museum is well worth visiting. It contains replicas of all twelve original castles remaining in Japan, has a room dedicated to festivals (while they feature Hyogo festivals, most are done nationwide), and toys throughout history. There is an art gallery, as well, which often features some of Japan's most interesting artwork. The artwork is not limited to Hyogo artists. Check the website to see what will be displayed when you arrive. — Directions: across the street from Himeji City Museum of Art — Hours: 10:00-17;00, closed Mondays — Price: Entrance fee ¥200 (adult), ¥150 college and high school students. During special exhibitions admission changes, typically to around ¥700. — Website: https://www.hyogo-c.ed.jp/~rekihaku-bo/english/about.html
• • Himeji City Museum of Art — Features artwork from local artists and European art, along with special exhibitions. — Hours: Daily 10:00-17:00 — Price: ¥200 (prices are raised during special exhibitions) — Phone: +81 79-222-2288 — Website: http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/art/english/
• • Senhime Shrine — This is the only shrine in Japan associated with a castle. While the shrine is rather small and not very interesting, travelling up the stairs to the next lookout reveals a spectacular view of Himeji Castle. — Directions: on the flank of Otokoyama, towards the castle
• • Himeji City Zoo — This zoo has a pretty comprehensive array of animals, but usually only one of each and all in very small cages or enclosures. — Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji, 670-0012 — Directions: in the park in front of the castle — Hours: Daily 09:00-17:00 — Price: Entry ¥200 adults, ¥30 children — Phone: +81 79-284-3636 — Website: http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/dobutuen/
• • Engyō-ji Temple — The beautiful temple complex founded in 966 is in the northern area of Himeji. This temple is best known among the locals as the setting for part of Tom Cruise's The Last Samurai. Mount Shosha, where the temple complex is located, is particularly beautiful in the fall, when the Japanese maples change colors. — Address: Shosya2968 — Directions: a 30-minute bus ride from Himeji castle on the orange bus #8 — Hours: Daily 09:00-17:00, 18:00 in spring and fall — Price: ¥500 entrance + ¥900 cable car return trip — Website: http://www.shosha.or.jp/
• • Tegarayama — A district with a large park with a small WWII museum, an aquarium, a amusement park, a botanic garden, and a monorail museum. — Directions: a short train ride away southwest of Himeji castle on the Sanyo line to Tegarayama Station — Website: http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/var/rev0/0086/3998/20166221560.pdf
• • Historical Peace Center — A small museum in remembrance of air raid victims during the Pacific War, WWII. It sits right next to a monument in the shape of a sword struck into the earth with a listing of the casualties and fatalities by prefecture in Japanese. Sobering and confronting. — Directions: in Tegarayama Central Park — Website: https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/kanko/category/1-9-1-4-0-0-0-0-0-0.html
• • Japan Toy Museum — A small museum based in the home of the toy collector and founder Mr Shigeyoshi Inoue. The toys may have aged over the decades but they are still fun for anyone with an inner child. Inoue-san has collected toys and dolls from several prefectures and several countries since the 1970s. — Address: 671-3 Nakanino Kodera-cho — Directions: 10 km north of Himeji; take JR Bantan line to Koro Station and walk east for 15 minutes — Hours: 10:00-17:00 — Price: Adults ¥500, students ¥400, children ¥200 — Phone: +81 79 232 4388 — Website: https://japan-toy-museum.org/

=

• • Himeji Central Park — A drive-in safari park, amusement park and car racing tracks. It is possible to rent a campsite in summer months. — Directions: 20 min by car or bus, east of Himeji castle; buses depart from Himeji North bus terminal (Sanyo Bld., 1F) hourly — Website: http://www.central-park.co.jp/en/
• For families in particular, the park behind Himeji castle offers a decent play structure and ample space to sit down and have a picnic in the shadow of Japan's most famous castle.
• • Taiyo Park — An "around the world" theme park split into two areas; the "Stone Area" features replicas of the Terracotta Warriors, Moai Statues, and the Arc de Triomphe among other things, and the "Castle Area" centers around a recreation of Neuschwanstein Castle that can be entered and explored. — Hours: 09:00-17:00 — Website: https://www.taiyo-park.com/

As you exit the station facing the castle (North), the main shopping street (Miyuki dori) will be on your right and the main entertainment area on your left. Both areas have some fine restaurants. Himeji has a full selection of foods, from fast food (Western and Japanese) to gourmet dining. For breakfast there are countless coffee shops, including a Starbucks that has small waffles.

Himeji isn't particularly famous for crafts or goods. Wind chimes made of iron tongs and white leather accessories are popular higher-end Himeji souvenirs, and they can be bought in many of the department stores or along the Miyuki dori shopping arcade. There are also numerous shops along the route to the castle selling a variety of Himeji Castle and other assorted souvenirs. Additionally, the streets in the area surrounding Himeji Station are filled with shopping arcades (particularly Miyuki dori) and the usual department stores (there are several lining the way to the Castle, including Sanyo, Forus, and Yamatoyashiki.)

• Himeji Ceramics market - in autumn
• • Animate — Two floors of anime and manga. The ground floor has a large selection of manga and doujinshi for all tastes and ages. The second floor has anime goods, CD soundtracks, and DVDs.
• • Bon Marche — Gourmet grocery stores with an impressive (though sometimes pricey) selection of foods, including some import foods. — Directions: one on Miyukidori close to the castle & one behind and between Sanyo department store and Mitsubishi UFJ Bank (left hand side of Otemae dori)
• • Daiso — Three floors of everything from housewares to clothes, electronics to food mostly (but not always) priced at ¥100 — Directions: above the Bon Marche behind Sanyo department store
• • Festa — A small selection of stores. — Directions: northeast corner outside of Himeji station and under the station — Phone: +81 79-221-3500 — Website: http://himeji-festa.com/info
• • Piole Himeji — The section next to the North exit consists of women's clothing stores, zakka (home goods) stores, and a large Junkudo book shop. The other section consists of some omiyage (food gift) shops and a few restaurants like McDonald's and KFC. — Directions: inside and around Himeji Station — Website: https://piole.jp/himeji/
• • Sanyo Department Store — A standard department store with a variety of goods on multiple floors, including a small LOFT, a popular chain of stores that sells hip accessories, stickers, home goods and pop culture items. — Address: 1 Minamimachi — Directions: inside Sanyo station, north of Himeji JR station, on the West side of the main street — Phone: +81 79-223-1231 — Website: https://www.sanyo-dp.co.jp/

There are many hotels near the train station. Another possibility is to sleep in Kakogawa, and prolong your trip into the country side of Hyogo.

=

• Kansai International Airport ( is 126 km southeast of Himeji and is the closest major international airport. Airport Limousine Buses operate every 1-2 hours between the airport and Himeji station (2 hr 20 min, ¥3300 one-way/¥5150 round-trip). More expensive, but free for users of the Japan Rail Pass, is to take the JR Haruka limited express to Shin-Osaka and transfer to the shinkansen (1 hr 45 min, ¥5020). It's also possible to buy a one-day JR Kansai Area Pass (¥2300) to reach Himeji in around 2 hours using a combination of the Haruka and the Special Rapid Service.
• Osaka Itami International Airport ( is 85km east of Himeji. Buses operate eight times per day between the airport and Himeji station (1 hr 20 min, ¥2160). If you can't catch a direct bus, take a bus to Shin-Osaka instead (25 min, ¥500) and change to the JR line (1 hr, ¥1490 by Special Rapid Service, or 30 min, ¥3220 by shinkansen).
• Kobe Airport ( is 65km southeast of Himeji, but has fewer flight options than the airports in Osaka. To reach Himeji, take the Port Liner to Sannomiya and change to the JR Special Rapid Service (75 min, ¥1300).

Himeji's main attractions are its gorgeous castle, one of the largest wooden structures in the world, built in the late 1500s, and Mount Shoshazan, a temple with a history of over 1,000 years.

Because of its picturesque old Japanese appearance, Himeji has been used for filming many Japanese and foreign movies; props from these films, including "The Last Samurai," can be found in the JR station information center.