Himeji

Himeji (姫路) is a large city in southern Hyōgo Prefecture that is universally known throughout Japan as the home of Himeji Castle, and thus a common destination for tourists Japanese and international alike. However, the castle is under renovation until 2014-2015 and so it is not as popular destination as normal.

Getting There from Mie

Himeji is about an hour west of Osaka and about 30 minutes west of Kobe.

By Train

The JR San'yō Main Line (山陽本線) provides direct service from Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe to Himeji.

1. First get yourself to Osaka via Kintetsu or JR. For getting to JR Osaka (大阪) Station, you can use either the JR Loop Line – transfer from Kintetsu at Tsuruhashi – or you can go all the way to Namba and then ride the Midōsuji (red) subway line to Umeda and from there walk to JR Osaka.
2. From JR Osaka, ride any west-bound Special Rapid Service (新快速, shin kaisoku) train – it is vastly quicker than a regular kaisoku. Regardless of the final destination, all new rapid trains will run as far as Himeji Station so you will not need to change anywhere. The ride lasts about an hour and passes through downtown Kobe as well as under the Akashi Straits Bridge which is world's longest suspension bridge. The ride from JR Osaka to Himeji costs ¥1450.

Alternatively, you can take the bullet train from Shin-Osaka, but it's a lot of extra money (total price is ¥3130) for not much benefit – the special rapid trains out of JR Osaka are quick, comfy, and get you there from Osaka without any transfers or long waits...though expect big crowds during rush hour.

By Car

Himeji is about an thirty minutes west of Kobe (assuming no traffic jams) on the San'yo Expressway (山陽自動車道)

Getting around Town

Unless you are in town to see something other than the castle or one of the attached facilities in the park surrounding the castle, you will be navigating the town on foot. No need for bikes or buses.

Things to See

There is really only one thing people go to Himeji to see:

Himeji Castle

If there was a "perfect" castle within Japan, it would be Himeji Castle (姫路城 himeji jō) – it is the standard by which all others are judged. It received this distinction because it has just the right mix of things going for it that other castles lack:

• It is an 100% original construction, making it far more impressive than its more famous siblings like Osaka Castle and Nagoya Castle.
• It is located within range of Japan's second largest urban area, comprised of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. This gives it more exposure than the other few surviving original castles like Matsumoto Castle, Matsue Castle, and Inuyama Castle.
• It has the standard white color, and is beautifully situated within the city on top of its wall. It is said to resemble a white bird taking flight, and is thus often referred to as the White Egret Castle (白鷺城 shirasagi jō).
• Himeji Station is a major train hub and is a stop on the bullet train line.
• It is quickly and easily accessed from said major station – it doesn't require you to bike, bus, or climb up a mountain to get there.
• Last but not least, it is the only castle in Japan to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site

All these factors combine to make Himeji Japan's ideal castle. If you only see one castle in your time here, make it this one.

Major Renovation

Unfortunately, the castle is under renovation until 2015. The construction will strengthen it enough to stand for forty years without another renovation.

Over the years of the renovation, various parts of the castle interior will be inaccessible so visitors are encouraged to research what is currently open before going. The exterior is not visible from the city as it is mostly covered until 2014. However, there are special platforms for visitors on the tent-like scaffolding surround the castle so it is to get a close-up view of the castle's exterior details.

If you are looking to see a castle that is not under renovation but is truly beautiful and is also an original construction, consider Matsumoto Castle.

Nearby

• Okayama

  If you continue west of Himeji, the next major city will be Okayama with its famous garden and tasty fruit.

• Kobe

  Kobe serves as the gateway to Himeji for those coming from Mie.

Links

• Himeji - Wikitravel
• Hime no Michi - Himeji Visitors Bureau