Himeji Castle stands as the finest original castle in Japan. Brilliant white walls and layered roofs rise above the city, untouched by war, earthquake, or fire. The surrounding gardens shift with the seasons. Below the castle, the city moves at a pace that lets you actually look up.
What Himeji is known for
Top-rated in Himeji
Himeji Castle
4.6castle
UNESCO World Heritage castle in Hyōgo, the largest surviving wooden keep complex in Japan; nicknamed White Heron for its white plaster exterior.
Himeji Castle Garden Koko-en
4.5castle
Nine Edo-style gardens beside Himeji Castle, overlooked by most visitors heading to the main keep.
Engyōji
4.5temple
Founded in 966, this large Buddhist temple complex sits on a mountaintop surrounded by forest.
Jikidō (Refectory)
4.4temple
Linking the Daikōdō (Great Lecture Hall) with the Jōgyōdō (Circumambulatory Hall), the Jikidō (Refectory) forms the west axis of the Three Halls (Mitsu no Dō) of Engyōji.
Otemon Gate and Sakuramon Bridge
4.4landmark
Otemon Gate is the main entrance to Himeji Castle.
Nada Fighting
4.5culture
October 'fighting festival' at Matsubara Hachiman Shrine in Himeji where teams slam portable shrines together.
Mt. Seppiko
4.5nature
Vertical rocky crags north of Himeji attracting rock climbers across Kansai, one of Kinki's 100 Famous Mountains.
Hishi (Water Chestnut) Gate
4.6landmark
This elegant gatehouse serves as the castle’s main entrance and was used by its lords and their high-ranking retainers and guests.