Himeji 姫路
Japan’s top feudal-era castle
The reason for dropping in to Himeji, is to see its magnificent castle, both a national treasure and a world heritage site, Japan’s best preserved feudal castle.
Known as ‘White Heron Castle’ (Shirasagi-jō), due to its elegant white appearance, it was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives as one of the country's twelve original castles.
Completed in 1609, it is made up of over 80 buildings that are connected by a series of gates and winding paths.
The castle is an easy walk, about 15mins (1km) down Otemae-dōri Street from Himeji Station - a stop on the shinkansen line, 35mins west of Osaka and an hour east of Hiroshima.