World Heritage and National treasure castle "Himeji-jo"! The best castle in Japan. Discover the 400 years history and its charm!

"Himeji-jo" is the most famous and attracting castle in Japan. Himeji-jo has beautiful white castle tower and it is national treasure and also it was designated as a World Cultural Heritage in 1993.

Himeji-jo stands on the vast site which overlook the Himeji castle town.
Its magnificent donjon is a lookout-tower-style connecting the "Daitenshu(Gig donjon)" and 3 "Shotenshu(Small donjon)".
Inside the castle, many parts which have old atmosphere are still existing.
Especially, a well called "Okiku ido(well)" famous for the ghost story of "Okiku" and its "Banshu sara yashiki" is remained.

Also the great feature of Himeji-jo is its long history of 400 years and in that history, Himeji-jo had never attacked by enemies in the battles.

Now, Himeji-jo is very popular sightseeing place where lots of people not only from Japan but also from foreign countries come and visit.
Then, we would like introduce the "Himeji-jo" and its best point.

Table of contents for this article

１，Basic and Useful information
２，Map
３，The highlight of Himeji-jo
４，Photo of Himeji-jo
５，Access information
６，Information around Himeji-jo

１，Basic and Useful information

Basic information

Name： Himeji-jo ※World Cultural Heritage・National treasure
Name in English： HIMEJI CASTLE
Prefecture： Hyogo
Area： East part of Hyogoken (around Himeji)
Address： 68 Honmachi, Himeji-shi, Hyogo
Tel： 079-285-1146
Closed day： Dec 29／30
Open：

・9:00 ～ 16:00
・in Summer ※ Apr 27 ～ Aug 31／9:00 ～17:00

Price：

・Adult ※age 18 or older／¥1000
・Children ※Elementary・Jr high・High school student／¥300

Parking：

・There are some parking around Himeji castle.
※It is charged.
※In weekend or high season, parking is very crowded.

Official web site：

▶http://www.himejicastle.jp/
▶http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/guide/castle.html

Useful information

EnjoyJapan! recommendation level：

The size of Himeji-jo is huge and amazing.
There are lots of places to see including the brightly white donjon. Himeji jo is called the best castle in Japan so it is worth while visiting.

Less than 10 min walk from a station： ☓
Credit Card： ☓
Accompanied with： friend／date／family／alone
Staff who can speak foreign language： Unknown
Free Wi-Fi： Unknown
Duration： about 1 hour ～
Congestion information：

On weekend and holidays it is very crowded. So please check the official congestion information in advance.


Source by： Himeji-jo official web site／http://www.himejicastle.jp/

・Red： Very crowded day and long waiting time.
・Yellow： Waiting time and limiting admission is expected
・Green： Short waiting time is expected.

※In these situation, numbered ticket is distributed.

You can also check the congestion at the present circumstances from the below web site.

the congestion at the present circumstances
▶http://www.himejicastle.jp/#guidance

２，Map

Source by： Himeji-jo official web site／http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/guide/castle/enjoy.html

The site of Himeji-jo is so huge. There are several routes to the Big donjon, for example, from the facade "go straight to the Big donjon", from the east side "after drop in the Nishino-maru(western citadel)", or from the east side "go around to Okiku well to the Big donjon". Please check the map and don't overlook the interesting spot.

３，The highlight of Himeji-jo

The Donjons of Himeji-jo from the outside.

The highlight of Himeji-jo is looking at the donjons from outside before enter its site. You can see the donjons in the distance because its site is huge.

After enter its site, there are 3 routs to go to the "Small donjons" and "Big donjon". If you have time, there are many interesting spots around the routs please visit them on the way to the Big donjon.


Himeji-jo's stone wall

When you visit Himeji-jo, please look at carefully the height of the stone wall of the castle wall and the many halls on the wall (the soldiers had shot the gun or the arrow from these halls to the enemy). Also the routs and the gates are getting narrow and the width of the stairs is not same and very steep. Furthermore, the ceiling is low. All of these things are for resistance against to the enemy.

Because Himeji-jo is huge and built firmly so it is never attacked neither captured by the enemies for 400 years.


Osakabe shrine on the top floor of Big donjon.

Inside the Big donjon, you can see the historical architecture from B1 floor to the top floor. And the top floor, there is a guardian deity of Himeji-jo called "Osakabe shrine" (the god of a fire and disaster and other trouble).
Also you can enjoy the superb view from the Big donjon.



"Okiku well" famous for the "Banshu sara yashiki".

There is also "Okiku well" famous for the ghost story "Banshu sara yashiki" in the castle.

４，Photo of beautiful Himeji-jo

We show you Himeji-jo and its charm by the photos

The view of "Daitenshu(Big donjon)" from the huge site

The donjons of Himeji-jo

The white donjon is very beautiful and imposing appearance.

Inside the "Daitenshu(Big donjon)" The color of the history is still remained

The top floor of the donjon of Himeji-jo


The top floor of the donjon of Himeji-jo

The view of the castle town from the "Daitenshu(Big donjon)"

Loot at Himeji-jo from the street near Himeji station

Overlook from the Big donjon of Himeji-jo, we can figure out the town of Himeji is castle town. The street goes straight from Himeji statiion to Himeji-jo and the view of Himeji-jo from this street looks imposing.


The castle town looking from the big donjon. No.1.


The castle town looking from the big donjon. No.2.


The castle town looking from the big donjon. No.3.

Himeji-jo in Spring with "Cherry blossom" and in Fall with "Autumn Leaves"

Himeji-jo with cherry blossom looks excellent!




During the season of autumn leaves, Himeji-jo is tinged with red and yellow by the leaves.

Inside the "Daidenshu (Big donjon)" by Google street view

You can watch the inside of the each floor from B1 to 6th and please enjoy looking the each floor.

５，Access information

Address： 68 Honmachi, Himeji-shi, Hyogo
Tel： 079-285-1146
Transportation：

(by Train)
20 min walk from JR "Himeji" station
※It takes about 1 hour from Osaka by special rapid train

20 min walk from Hanshin・Sanyo "Sanyo Himeji" station
※It takes about 1 hour and half from Osaka by direct express train

(by Bus)
Take the Shinki bus at JR "Himeji" station and get off at "Otemon mae" stop then 5 min by walk

６，Information around Himeji-jo

※This information is being prepared.