Himeji
From World travel guide
Himeji (姫路) is a small city at the western edge of the Kansai region of Japan with Japan's finest castle.
Contents |
Get in
By air
If you are coming from a far-away point in Japan, such as Sapporo, you can take an air flight into one of Osaka's two airports, then connect to the San'yo Shinkansen at Shin-Osaka station, or the JR shin-kaisoku (新快速) at Osaka station, for the journey to Himeji.
From February 2006, you can fly into Kobe's new airport instead, and make the rail connection there.
By train
Himeji is along the San'yo shinkansen line from Osaka and Kobe to Okayama and Hiroshima. The Hikari Rail Star offers frequent service to Himeji within the San'yo region, as do the all-stopping Kodama trains.
From Tokyo, one Nozomi train per hour runs through to Himeji, covering the journey in just over three hours (¥15710). If you have a Japan Rail Pass, there is also one Hikari train departing each hour, running through to Himeji, which you can take at no charge. Due to additional stops, the Hikari takes 3 hours and 40 minutes to reach Himeji from Tokyo.
An inexpensive method of reaching Himeji from within the Kansai region is to take one of the frequent shin-kaisoku commuter trains, which charges only the price of a local train. The ride takes 40 minutes from Kobe or one hour from Osaka.
Get around
It's easy enough to walk along Otemae-dōri from the station to the castle and back, but buses will also cover the distance in 5 minutes.
See
- Himeji Castle (姫路城 Himeji-jō). [1]. 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, earthquakes and firebombings. The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admission ¥600, open 9 AM to 4 PM daily; a free guided tour in English is included if a guide happens to be free (no reservations possible). The castle is an easy 10-minute walk north from the station.
Other points to visit in Himeji include:
- Koko-en, a beautiful walled garden just West of the castle
- Senhime Shrine, a little further West on the flank of Otokoyama, a small hill that provides excellent views of the castle and region (great place for taking pictures)
- Shoshazan and Engyo-ji Temple, a 30 minute bus ride from Himeji castle, with beautiful temples and great hiking
- Tegarayama, southwest of Himeji castle, with an aquarium and small amusement park.
Do
Himeji Castle is particularly striking (and crowded) in cherry blossom season in April, when all the trees planted in and around the castle burst into white splendor.
Most people visit only the Castle and the area between the castle and the station. However, the area around the castle is a great place for a refreshing walk or a picnic. 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.
Buy
Eat
As you exit the station facing the castle (North), the main shopping street 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.
Drink
- Tiger Pub, Uomachi-dori (a few blocks away from the station). The local gaijin (foreigners) bar.
Sleep
Most people visit Himeji as a day/half day trip. However, budget-conscious travelers should consider basing their travels out of this quiet city. The hotels are often great bargains and Himeji has ample restaurants. Since Himeji is on the Shinkansen line it's possible to hop on a train and be in Kyoto, Osaka, Okayama, or Hiroshima fairly quickly.
Get out
- To see Himeji's evil twin, the brooding black Crow Castle, hop on a train 50 kilometers west to Okayama.
External links
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