Himeji Things to Do

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Himeji Castle has a donjon which used to be the place to keep and store armoury. On top of this are the Shachi which you can see in these photos. Shachi or whale talisman are mounted on top of donjons to protect them from fire. One of the photos show clear picture of a shachi that was built on the gables, not on the roof of te donjon. You will definitely appreciate this unique structure, something you can find only at Himeji Castle.

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You will be able to see how the city of Himeji takes care of their environment. The lush of green in the surrounding mountains, rivers, and small hills indicates the cities' effort to protect its natural environment. You will also notice a cluster of factories in some of the photos, but eventually all these pollution producing establishments is surrounded with groves of trees.
This type of serene environment is very pleasing to the eye and good for the health and excellent for the relaxation of the locals and tourists alike.

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I consider Himeji Castle as the most popular castle in Japan. It is worth remembering as the castles' entirety is almost in its original architecture. It is worth a visit because if you don't, it's like you did not visit Himeji.

Himeji Castle is on top of the hill and was built for military purposes. The way it was built served its purpose as it is only one of the few castles that survived the World War II. All I see at this castle is old, except for part of the floor where it was replaced with a lighter colour of wood. This can be found at almost the exit of the castle. This exit is where you have to put back the slippers you used during the tour.

I highly recommend Himeji Castle. Don't miss it. It is a 'must see' attraction in Japan.

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The first glimpse I saw of this magnificent castle was from the Shinkansen train window. It was late at night and it was all lit up. What an unforgettable sight it was in the darkness!

Himeji Castle, or the white heron castle is one of the most visited places in Japan and no wonder. It's said to be the best preserved example of medieval japanese craftsmanship. The foundations are made of natural stones (i.e. round not chiseled) and the top is made of cedar wood. Originally built as a defence castle high on two hills in 1346, it was enlarged gradually during the following centuries and now has over 30 turrets and dozens of other buildings around the main castle in the form of a protective spiral. The main castle has 7 floors and tourists can climb all the way to the top floor. The panorama view is well worth the climb. However, you need strong knees and nerves: steep narrow stairs and a crowd to induce a panick attack... what if a fire broke while the place was full of tourists?

Admission: 600 Yen
Hours: Daily 9:00 to 16:00 (until 17:00 from June to August).
Closed December 29-31.

This is the most impressive of Japan's medieval castles and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has all the classic features of a Japanese fortress - a cunning arrangement of massive stone walls and a wide moat protecting the central 'donjon' (keep). It really does look formidable. The great thing about Himeji-jo is it is nearly all original, having never been attacked in feudal Japan or damaged by bombs in WW2.
Visitors can explore the magnificent 6-storey donjon with more interesting defensive features and climb the steep stairs (almost ladders) to the top floor room. For anybody who knows the Musashi story it was here that he fights the ghost of Lord Hideyori Toyotomi. It's quite atmospheric.

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Climbing up 5 storeys using narrow wooden staircases to reach the top of the main tower is rewarding. You get a panoramic view of the whole of Himeji city. From the south side, you can see the main street, Otomae street leading to JR Himeji Station where the outer moad of the castle once existed.

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The castle had formidable defences. There were openings in the castle wall for shooting arrows and firing cannons at potential enemies. Should anyone attempt to scale the walls of the castle, boiling water or oil was poured down narrow slit openings.

Princess Sen was the eldest daughter of the second shogun in the Tokugawa government who married Tadatoki Honda, the son of Lord Tadamasa Honda. The couple spent blissful days in the west bailey building.