Himeji Castle

Absolutely breathtaking! Himeji Castle is one of the most impressive historical sites I’ve ever visited. The architecture is beautiful and well-preserved, and the views from the top are worth the climb. There’s a lot of walking and stairs, so wear comfortable shoes. The grounds are peaceful and perfect for photos. If you’re in Japan, this is a must-see—it truly lives up to its reputation as the finest surviving example of Japanese castle architecture.

An amazing sight to see as long as you don't mind the exercise. This is a very extensive place to visit, there are multiple buildings in the compound that you can visit. There's a rather long walk down the area where female servants and ladies in waiting were housed that has some great information scattered around and relics for you to see but you will have to remove your shoes before entering. The main keep of the castle is fully open to all visitors and is a very interesting journey to take, you just have to keep in mind that this building is also without shoes and there are a lot of steep wooden stairs. So make sure your socks or feet covers are not too slippery. The entire experience can last roughly 60-90 minutes depending on how interested you are in all of the exhibits.

Visiting Himeji Castle was one of the highlights of our Japan trip. The moment we caught sight of its pristine white facade from a distance, I knew why it’s often called the “White Heron Castle.” It really does look like a bird taking flight—elegant, graceful, and commanding. We spent the afternoon slowly making our way up through the winding paths and gates, each section revealing a clever defensive design. Inside, the steep wooden staircases and narrow windows made me imagine what life must have been like for samurai stationed there centuries ago. The view from the top was rewarding, offering a full sweep of Himeji city. What stood out most to me was how well-preserved everything was. The timber beams, stone foundations, and little historical details made it feel very authentic, not like a polished museum but a real relic of the past. The grounds were peaceful too, with moats and gardens that made for a relaxing stroll after the climb. It’s an unforgettable place—if you’re in Japan, don’t skip this.

Took the shin from Iwakuni and it took about 2 hours. This is in very nice city with lots of places to shop. There are many festivals that take place here as well. The castle itself is huge and you can go inside. Throughout the walk they are constantly making sure you are hydrated and have drink machines to get water. You do have to take your shoes off so you might want to wear shoes with socks.

Amazing castle with well looked after internal and external grounds. Brilliant views from every angle. Well worth a visit. You get to walk all the way through every room of the castle, it takes you into another world where you can imagine what it was like for people who used it. The ow of people is very well managed with very clear signs on direction to allow you to experience everything and not have to figure out whether you have missed anything. It's over hour train ride from Osaka station and would recommend allowing for a couple of hours to walk through. Plus definitely worth a visit to the gardens next door.

Himeji Castle is an absolute must visit for lovers of history, architecture, or Japanese culture in general. It was an amazing experience getting to step back into history. Entering the main keep and climbing to the top floor was also a fun experience but be aware that the castle will get extremely hot during the summer and there are a lot of very steep stairs you will need to climb. On my visit, I saw many people struggling to get to the top. Also, you will be required to take your shoes off inside, so if you do not have socks on, you will need to walk barefoot. For English speakers, most signage also has English information or a QR code to bring up additional information on your phone.

Best castle of Japan, impressively huge. The whole city was developed around it, which is why from every floor of the castle you can see the Himeji station straight. It took us much more time to complete the visit than we expected. The last pic is of a park just opposite the castle's main gate. You can have a small picnic on the benches there. Right behind it is a ground where exhibitions take place. Do not buy the extra Zen garden ticket, it is totally outside the castle, and you may not be enthusiastic enough to visit it after the castle.

Absolutely amazing castle. Gorgeous views and the whole area is very well kept. Shoes are not permitted inside the castle but plastic bags are provided for carrying your shoes around. Both inside and outside of the castle are beautiful and have been maintained extremely well. Inside are various artifacts with information boards telling the history of the castle with English translations too. If you are in Osaka I definitely recommend this castle over Osaka castle. It's about an hour away by but it is very much worth the travel. Additionally there is a garden you can visit if you pay for the more expensive ticket. I highly recommend getting that ticket as the garden is incredible. Beautiful plant life and plenty of koi fish. Very serene and well taken care of. Anyone looking for an authentic Japanese castle experience should visit Himeji castle!

One of the high points in my last trip to Japan (both literally and metaphorically!) I knew about Himeji Castle since I was a high schooler and I saw it as a buildable wonder in Civilization 4 where I learned it was suppose to be one of the most beautiful castles in the world. For a long time I also thought it was the largest Japanese style castle but actually that's not true; Himeji Castle is in the top 10 biggest castles. However seeing it in person I can confirm its charm. Just walking from the train station to the castles grounds the castle sticks out in the sky like a cloud. It's just a very pretty, picturesque castle. Something important to note though, is the inside of the castle.... doesn't compare well to the outside. As you tour the grounds there are little plaques discussing the castles history, what rooms are used for and other details about the castle. But it gets pretty boring. The problem is each room is basically bare and the interior architecture is the same... wood floors and wood beams. The few rooms that weren't bare is the shrine at the very top and the armory but even those aren't extravagant. Suffice to say this castle was definitely used more for its "fort" qualities then say its "palace" qualities compared to the castle in Nijo castle. Regardless though its still a very pretty castle which gives the city a lot of personality. If your a fan of Japanese history or a castle fan around Kyoto I think its worth doing a day trip out here.... unless you aren't done seeing Kyoto already hahaha.

Take a special trip. You will not regret! Just know there's lots of stairs and hills to get to the top.

Definitely worth a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto. Personally, I wouldn't have felt it worth a trip from Tokyo if it was my only reason for the trip. We visited on a Thursday when the official crowd prediction was low. We arrived on the grounds around 10:15. By 10:45 they were limiting entrance into the castle because of crowd levels. The climb to the top is worth it if you're up to climbing a lot of stairs. There are a few posters with history details but most of what you're there for is to see the construction and the view. We visited 15 Aug and it was hot. The castle is not air conditioned (which is fine but I saw reviews online that said it was). Decent breeze blowing through but it's hot.

After a day's rest, we were reenergized to do more exploring. It was our last full day in Osaka, and we were planning to check out Himeji Castle. To get to Himeji from Osaka would take about an hour and a half via train and bus, a total of 3 hours roundtrip. Did we want to spend 3 hours on public transportation to go see Himeji Castle??? Or should we just spend the day in Osaka again and go to Osaka Castle instead? Not saying one is less than the other, but since we were short on time, we could only choose one. After some consideration, we decided Himeji Castle it was, and made the 1.5 hr trek out to Himeji. Himeji Castle is a UNESCO site and has undergone 3 major restoration efforts since it was first built. Walking inside of Himeji Castle, I was so in awe by the preservation of the integrity of Himeji Castle and that we got to appreciate 17th-century Japanese castle architecture in its entirety. Before entering the castle, you are required to remove your shoes. The staff on site will provide you with a plastic bag for your shoes, and you can take them with you as you explore the interior of the castle. Since it was a hot day, we only purchased tickets for the castle and not for the garden. Admission for the castle alone was 1,000¥ (about $7 USD) for adults and 300¥ (about $2 USD) for children. Admission for both the castle and the garden was barely an increase, at 1,050¥ (adults) and 360¥ (children). You should allocate about 1.5 to 2 hours for Himeji Castle, including time for pictures.

Himeji Castle / Himeji -- There are dozens upon dozens of samurai castles that have managed to survive over the centuries but only one that's designated a World Heritage Site. I've heard about the splendor of Himeji Castle since I was a child but had never been here until I decided Jamie W. and I should take the half-hour Shinkansen ride from Osaka to spend a half-day here. We met our guide Chiyuki at the train station and took the 15-minute walk down the shopping arcade on Otemae Street to get to Otemon Gate. The main castle keep gradually came into view, and it' was a majestic sight, beaming white from the plaster and amazingly untouched by war, earthquake, or fire. You can see why it's called the White Heron Castle. The surrounding grounds were free, and here we strolled a crafts market where local artists created their wares with precision and patience. Unfortunately we didn't have time to take in a kabuki show at the new theater they just built. Once we approached the castle itself, that was where we paid the admission, ¥1,000 for the castle only or ¥1,050 for the castle and the neighboring Kokoen Garden. The combination ticket was the way to go for sure, so don't lose it. There was quite a labyrinth path en route to the main keep, but Chiyuki made the time fly by with her idiosyncratic insight on the history down to the detail of the different geometric wall openings where the samurai shot their rifles at marauding invaders. We put plastic bags over our shoes once we entered the main keep. That was because it was made completely of wood, and we had six floors to tackle over increasingly steep wooden steps. The floors were left unfurnished with a small shrine set up on the top floor. The views were spectacular throughout. Once we exited and doffed our plastic bags, we entered the west bailey where the princess and ladies-in-waiting resided. We took in the surrounding moat and gardens, primarily to photograph different angles of the castle (photo: https://bit.ly/45Fqs83). It was clear that Chiyuki had done her homework, and I strongly suggest getting a guide of your own to provide the historical context that makes this castle so impressive. Although Osaka has a nice castle, it was totally worth the half-day trip from Osaka to come here. Size matters. RELATED - Exploring Japan? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2qrUBZo

Castle was beautiful! Lots of walking, climbing and down hill. It makes me really think of the people walking on the same floors, walking through the same corridors.

This is my second visit to Himeji and somehow never seems to disappoint. It's a beautiful castle. Just going around to understand its history is nice. Narrow stairways, hence please watch your head and body. I agree with the general consensus of reviews here, lots of great photo opportunities (this place is big enough that you can capture photos without showing how crowded it can be!). Overall Kel rating: 5/5 The good: big castle, lots of good photo opportunities. The decent: wish we had time for the garden but unable to complete as it was closed. The ugly: can be crowded.

A beautiful castle worth a visit if in the Kansai area. There's six floors and at the top you get a nice view of the surrounding area. It can be a bit strenuous for the elderly to get to the top since some of the steps are a bit steep. Shoes are not allowed inside, so the floors are a bit slippery with socks on.

https://www-city-himeji-lg-jp.j-server.com/LUCHIMEJIC/ns/tl.cgi/https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/castle/index.html?SLANG=ja&TLANG=en&XMODE=0&XCHARSET=utf-8&XJSID=0 Worth a visit to this built 16th century! Good air and view on top of this castle. Mind there are a lot of going up and down stairs.

Beautiful Edo period castle, Himeji Castle in Himeji, Japan. It is the only white colored facade castle in Japan and it is very impressive looking. The combined entry fee along with a ticket to the gardens located outside the castle is 1,100 Japanese yen. The tour of the castle was hard due to the fact that it weather was hot so the tour was a bit rough. Much of the castle tour in side the castle itself was scaling stairs without shoes (mandatory shoe removal for walking indoors)- they provided a plastic bag to carry your shoes around. The inside of the castle was ventilated by open portals which allowed cool air into the rooms. The castle also had replicas of different types of samurai armor and weapons. The gardens which were about 300 meters from the outside entrance to the castle. The tour of the gardens were very nice, lots of beautiful scenery, waterfalls, koi filled lake, bonsai trees, Japanese maple trees among other flowers and plants.

This is clearly one of THE most authentic and beautifully located castles in Japan. The corridor wooden floor creaks not because it's old, but because it's their "burglar alarm"! It warns the general that ninjas have penetrated the grounds. Be on guard, troop! Located in Himeji City, this is a very easy stop when taking the train from Kyoto to Hiroshima. It's basically a "must-see must stop" destination unless you travel in that area often. If you stay in Kobe, then it's even closer. You can either walk from Himeji train station through which you can enjoy the city atmosphere, or hop on the public bus and then walk 5 minutes from the bus stop. Budget some time there. You do not want to rush through this one. Read up on its history. For 1000 yen, book the English guided tour if you prefer. Aaahhh, I can still smell the wooden floor.....

I've been here close to 10 times here. This is the most authentic castle it can be in Japan. It is super well maintained and you can have genuine historical & cultural experience here. Whole journey takes at least an hour(minus queueing time) if you are planning to go thru all buildings and go up to the top of the main tower. Personally I recommend to give yourself 2 hours because it requires climbing up hills and stairs a lot. While you're trekking up to the main tower, you might get frustrated with all these winding routes with no shortcuts. This is exactly the purpose of this infrastructure - to delay enemies entering. Just pace yourself, don't rush. Pay attention to surroundings - even to the walls. You'll notice some strategical implements such as little holes to drop rocks and shoot arrows from. Maybe getting guide or audio sets might help you to visualize what it was like back then. Anyways, this is awesome place. But brace yourself for big crowd and long queue.

I'm on the fence about Himeji Castle. Beautiful? Sure. Worth the trek/effort? Not really. My thoughts... I was on vacay in Kyoto (I live near Tokyo) in Nov 2018 so I figured I'm as close as I'd probably get so why not jump on the train and see Himeji? It's a couple hours each way and around Yen 2000-2500 each way (USD 18-23). I confess, I didn't bother going inside -- I've been to/seen enough castles throughout Europe -- that the interiors are basically the same. I did walk all the way around the castle and got some fantastic shots from behind and to the northwest. Honestly, Himeji is beautiful but so are Osaka, Odawara, and Matsumoto castles. And they all look quite similar in style/color. So, half day of travel to check Himeji Castle off my list. Done. Worth it? No, it didn't stand out above the other Japanese castles. In fact, I liked Osaka's castle better. And hundreds more in France and Germany. So, if you're going to be down near Himeji, by all means go and see it. On the other hand, if you're going to be able to see Osaka, Odawara, and/or Matsumoto, they're just as nice without the huge crowds (yes, those are the only four Japanese castles I've seen thus far).

This was my 2nd or 3rd time to the Castle and it never failed to amaze me each time. This time, however, we were very lucky to have come when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. It made the magnificent castle even more beautiful. Admission is 1000Y. The castle is easily accessible via Shinkansen. Once you get off at the station, it is about a 15 minutes walk to the castle ground. You will see the castle right in front of you once you exit the station. My advice is to get here right when it opens as it will be extremely crowded once people start pouring in. The interior isn't very spacious; therefore, the less people there are in the castle, the better experience you'll have. I wanted to point out that the stairs to get to each floor were very narrow and steep. I saw a couple of people having a hard time climbing up/down. If you are visiting the Kansai area and have at least a half day to spare, I'd highly recommend visiting this castle. It is a World Heritage and a national treasure of Japan.

I've been wanting to come here ever since it reopened 3 years ago (the main keep went under restoration from 2009-2015). I had the opportunity to come to Japan with my daughter this spring, so of course I made sure to put this on our itinerary! I heard that the main keep closes depending on the crowd, and that numbered tickets were given out first thing in the morning. We were coming from Osaka so I woke my daughter up bright and early to get here right when it opened at 9:00a (about a 40-minute ride on the bullet train from Shin-Osaka). The castle was already visible from Himeji station's north exit (aka Himeji Castle exit), but I was concerned about the time so my daughter and I ended up taking the loop bus there (adult 100yen, child *6yrs to 6th grade* 50yen). With some morning traffic, the ride took a bit longer so it didn't really make a difference between the bus and walking, lol (we walked back to the station, which took about 20 minutes, plus additional time browsing through stores). Admission was 1000yen for adults and 300yen for children (elementary/junior/high school students). We came on a Tuesday at the end of March, which to my surprise, was not crowded yet, so we were able to leisurely stroll into the main keep. Woohoo. Something to keep in mind - just like other castles and castle grounds in Japan, walking up to the main keep was somewhat steep, and the stairs inside the main keep (six floors) were even steeper (had to take shoes off and carry around in bag). The main keep is obviously the main attraction here, but the entire enclosure is large and beautiful, from the detailed structures to the vast amount of white walls. There are 21 gates total! Owners have changed a number of times, which include notables such as Kuroda Kambei and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. One of the gates was featured in a popular samurai drama from the 80s/90s. What is not to be in awe? Although we lucked out with the main keep, it does get crowded on weekends, and crazy busy during Japanese holidays including New Year's week, spring (around end of March to beginning of April), Golden Week (around first week of May), and Obon season (mid July and/or August).

This is a beautiful castle and you can enjoy the view of the building and grounds. However, to really appreciate the history and military significance you should pay the extra 1000 yen (about $9) for the guided English tour. It is well worth it. That is on top of the 1000 yen admittance fee. Bring bottled water. Also you have to remove your shoes in the castle so have good socks. Be prepared to walk a lot and climb many stairs.

Himeji castle is also known as White Egret Castle (Shirasagijo) for its elegant, white appearance, is considered Japan's most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well preserved, complex castle grounds. The castle is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. Unlike many other Japanese castles, it was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives to this day as one of the country's twelve original castles. It was registered in 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan. Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, Himeji Castle is considered one of Japan's three premier castles As soon as you get off the JR Himeji station, you won't miss this magnificent castle. So white and grand, I stood by the station for a while to enjoy the view. Unfortunately I didn't arrive at Himeji before they were closed, I only got to visit at night when they were beautifully illuminated for perfect night photo opportunity. I would have loved to have an opportunity to go inside. Just another fact, Himeji is a sister city with Phoenix. We have a very strong tie with Himeji through cultural exchange programs. A quick shinkansen ride from Osaka, definitely recommend visiting here if your travel brings you to Osaka area.

TLDR; A well preserved castle with a lot of steep stairs so it's not great for older people. A lot of Sakura trees around the castle too! We specifically made a stop in Himeji on our way to Tokyo because of how beautiful it was supposed to look when the Sakura trees started to bloom. Unfortunately, we came too early and didn't experience that but the castle was really cool to walk around in. I won't spoil much but it is 6 stories of steep stairs all the way to the top. There's no furniture or decorations inside but they managed to keep the structure the same through various methods of restoration. Each story does have informational placards scattered around so you can learn more about the structure and its different functions. Each room is open air as well so it actually felt colder inside than it did outside. Besides the main tower, you can walk through other buildings that surround the keep as well. For an extra 40 yen, you can walk through Kokoen Garden. Overall, we took about 3 hours for both the castle and the garden. We definitely would've spent more time if the trees were blossoming. Definitely recommend visiting if you have the time!

Definitely worth the climb! It was pretty easy to get here. I used my 7 day JR pass I got and it takes about 40 mins if you take it from Kyoto. The climb to the top is pretty breathtaking and you get to see in the inside of the building in is original architecture. I thought some castles had modernized and added elevators and stuff which isn't bad but crawling on your legs and arms to get up to this castle made the experience all the more memorable. The white castles feel like you're entering some Miyazaki castle in the sky kind of thing. And the stone paths leading up to it felt like a mecca to hopefully something good and view of Kobe was definitely worth the climb. Looking down you can see the fortress and various ways the caste was protected. I recommend spending 2 hours here that will also encompass the climb and to truly get the beautiful view of Kobe!

It is a must-go! My husband and I were there a couple years ago, but it was under construction. We went back in November 2016 in the morning, and it wasn't as crowded as we imagined (the crowd started to come right after us). The main castle was actually really interesting, however, you have to claim many steep stairs. I'd say it's a must-go for anyone traveling in the Osaka area! Oh btw, there are a bunch of stray cats by the entrance too. If you are into cats, you might walk around the garden to see them.

Himeji Castle is a nice half day trip from Kyoto or Osaka. You'll pass through kobe on your way there (which makes a great lunch or dinner spot!) The castle can get very very crowded so get here as early as possible and probably not on a weekend. The park around the castle is also very scenic and great for pictures. If you do decide to go inside the castle, be warned that there are a lot of very steep stairs (which wouldn't have been too bad normally but), because of how crowded it is, you'll end up waiting A LOT and moving very very slow. Lost of old retirees like to visit these famous UNESCO sites apparently and nothing is japan is very elevator friendly :P

Himeji Castle stands as one of Japan's most prominent icons in the Chugoku region. It's the country's largest castle where the entire city seems to have developed around this one attraction. Is it worth a visit? It most certainly is, but I'd be weary about actually moving around the castle. The castle grounds is a defining feature of the park. Located a short 20 minute walk from the JR station, you get a grand view of the castle in the background admiring it from a large grassy area. On a sunny day, the views are spectacular and the white castle cascades prominently amongst the blue sky. To actually enter the castle and walk around will set you back ¥1000, but if you choose to come during a large national holiday like New Year's Day, then you'll have free entry. Seeing the castle itself is an experience, but going through it is another. Bring shoes that can be slipped off easily because you will be expected to remove them before ascending up the narrow staircases. It's cool to step inside this castle, but be mindful that the steps are steep and it may be difficult for someone with mobility issues to comfortably move around the castle. You're forced to move forward and follow the route which can take up to 40 minutes depending on the foot traffic in front. I'd recommend admiring the castle outside perhaps with a picnic on a nice day. No need to actually pay the entrance fee unless you need to see it "since you're already there." Regardless, you'll be able to snap some really amazing photos of this giant.

What a beautiful castle! It's a little bit hard for old people to go to the top. But it's worth it. I parked at the parking lot near the tiny zoo. Some parts were under construction. So I had to walk for a way too long time. I recommend checking their homepage before arrival.

I took this as a half-day trip from Kyoto. I had the JR pass and it was very easy to get onto a Shinkansen towards Himeji. A one-way ride is approximately 40 minutes. Once you get out of Himeji station, it's about a 15 minute walk to the entrance of Himeji castle. We paid a fee of 1,040 yen that included the entrance to the castle along with the next door Koko-en Gardens. The castle grounds itself is really nice. They do a good job of streamlining all the tourists who come through so that everyone goes through in an orderly manner and gets to see all parts of the castle. Much of the castle's exhibits are about how the castle has been renovated throughout the years. There are also gorgeous views of the city the the castle grounds from the higher floors. Just be careful of your head if you are tall (or even just short/average, like me), because the stairs are narrow and the doorways can be short. Besides the main tour of the castle, you are also free to walk around the castle grounds and through one of the long corridors. I would allow at least 2-3 hours to properly see all the parts of the castle. I loved my visit here and would highly recommend it!

A beautiful castle, you can see it right when you step out of the train station. It's about a 20 minute walk from the station to the castle gates. This very white castle is very pretty from the outside. The inside is bare so you can enjoy its inner structures. It has 5 floors and is quite a climb to get to the top. On a hot day, it's not very pleasant, but you can cool off by the windows because it's very breezy. The lower floors are large and spacious in terms of castle goes. Since it's very popular, the castle is quite crowded with tourists so the stairs had lines for them. While I enjoyed the castle, it's definitely not my favorite. I would have liked to be able to explore on my own without all the ropes guiding me on a route. Still, it's worth a visit to the castle if you're in the area since it's one of the most popular ones in Japan. It is exceptionally beautiful from the outside.

The white Heron of all Castle: Himeji Castle. After visiting several castle around Japan, Himeji Castle is still my favorite. Historically speaking, this is one of the few castles in Japan which has never been destroyed by war. It's the same since the day it was built. Of course they have to do some renovation to remove rotten woods and other parts. I've only visited the inside of the castle once but whenever I'm in Himeji area, I never fail to visit the outer part and see the castle from afar. It's an amazing work of art and beautiful. It underwent a 4-year renovation and early this year , around March it has finally open and it's all so white again that it shines

An absolutely stunning castle with very impressive views. It's definitely a one of a kind experience and walking through the castle and grounds you could imagine what it was like to walk around back then. A must visit if you are nearby.

This cultural marvel is not to be missed! Himeji Castle is one of the few original castles in Japan that was not destroyed by WWII, fires nor by the Meiji Restoration's push to modernize. Everything about the history of this place, I will leave to Google to enlighten. I will focus on my travel tips. How to get here: it is really really really far from Osaka. Will take you a good 90 to 120 minutes to get here by train. Took the Hashin line at Umeda - remember to ride the Limited express, otherwise your trip will be much longer. Himeji is the end of the line. There is a shuttle bus just outside the station for 100¥. It arrives every 30 minutes. Discounts: Showing your Kansai One Pass card gets you a discount too. Tour guide: price of admission includes a free tour guide (based on availability). These are volunteers. Our guide was Mitsuko San - she was so knowledgeable about the castle and told great stories about how the passage ways were designed to confuse invaders. We learned so much from her and are grateful. We took about 120 minutes to thoroughly explore. Time of day: Go earlier and on a weekday to beat he crowd. That way your experience is unhurried. Overall: this is one of my top 3 places in Kansai.

Look- it's a great castle, but the stairs are really tough, especially if you are tall and have to bend over coming down. These are tiny stairs- do not attempt if you have any kind of disability. Also, do NOT go here on hot days. It is seriously miserable in the heat. We were there on a day when there were heat warnings (they kept urging people to drink water). If you went in the fall or spring, I'm sure it's great- but do NOT do it on a hot summer day. I thought I would die there. On the plus side, near the gift shop, near the entrance, there's a nice court with benches and vending machines- lots of drinks. Also, the gift shop has fantastic air conditioning. On the other side of the park is a small zoo.

The larges castle in Japan and its white. Worth the visit to see it. Going inside & climbing up was a bit disappointing so no need to do that. Taking photos and walking around the outside - great! Go inside - pass.

1000 JPY per person. Get the combo ticket instead for Himeji castle and Koko-en Gardens for 1040 JPY. The gardens were built recently and aren't a cultural or UNESCO site or anything, but are really pretty and well maintained. Easily accessible via Osaka station via Shinkansen (30min) or JR Special Rapid line (50min) with the JR pass. 15min walk from the station to the castle entrance. Come early because going up the castle floors can get really congested as there is only one small wooden staircase up and one down. The exterior of the castle is beautiful with the white walls, but the inside is empty, dark, and wooden. I think the highlights were the things outside of the castle like the story of Okiku's well and the West Bailey where you can see the living quarters of the princess.

Major bucket list item checked off! There's an app for that! My husband and I have wanted to visit Himeji-jo (Himeji Castle) since before we started coming to Japan with the Manjiro Summit in 2007. We've been to many castles in the meantime. It's actually a good thing that we waited, because they did a massive restoration and the roof tiles are white again. It's so beautiful! Since we had been looking forward to this so much, we bought the castle and garden ticket, signed up for a tour in English, and did some exploring on our own. We got there between the two English tours, so we spent a lot of time in the very reasonably priced gift shop near the entrance, including a $13 Shiromaruhime plushie! Shiromaruhime is a white ball with Himeji Castle on her head. She's the mascot for the castle and is amazingly cute. I bought a t-shirt of her in the shops across the street at the intersection. They had American sizes and sample shirts. There's an app for that! There's a Himeji Castle app (it mentions it in the English handout), you click the Self-Guided Tour, and look for signs that say AR (augmented reality). Some have videos that you can download, some let you look through the walls to see how the castle was put together, and some let you look out onto Himeji as it was many years ago. There are also 3 photo "items" that you can download (frame, Shiromaruhime, and samurai armor). The AR by the well says "Look up!" You look up and there's an obake (ghost) of the lady who died in the well. Yipe! The castle tour takes you up lots of stairs, so be able to walk up 6 stories (while carrying your shoes in a provided plastic bag). There is a lovely view of the city from the top! Once you start, you're committed, because the entire castle is one way only. It was cool inside, even when it was 85 degrees Fahrenheit outside. We wore moisture wicking clothes. At the end of the English tour, we got to take pictures with fun outfits. We walked through the princess' wing where we saw a video on the restoration. There's a small gift shop on your way out. I think it's a little more expensive than the one outside the entrance.

The castle is beautiful even at a cloudy and somewhat cold autumn day. So don't be discouraged not to go there just because it isn't spring or summer. The inside of the castle does not have any interesting decor, furniture or special details that are worth seeing. So if the queues to enter into the castle are very long I would recommend skipping that bit. Especially if you're there late autumn or during the winter as there is no electric lighting inside the castle, so the very few details that are there are hard to see and even harder to take a picture of. You will Also have to climb very steep stairs if you wish to enter the different levels of the castle. That being said I would absolutely recommend to go see the castle and its surrounding courtyards! This is not a castle you want to miss out having looked at and walked around.

Himeji Castle is splendid. It is majestic and marvellous and often compared to a bird (heron) opening its wings and taking flight. I have to admit that I prefer Matsumoto Castle to Himeji, but that is not to take away from this castle in any way. Himeji castle has recently undergone a restoration and is shiny and bright again. As part of the restoration and repairs the authorities have removed the exhibits and displays within. I like that. The castle itself is the star here now. If visiting by train the castle is immediately visible as one steps out from the train station. A large boulevard leads to the castle grounds. There were two tourist bureaus en route and... both were closed lol. To make the employees' life even more easy no hours were posted on their doors either. Anyway, never mind... walk up to the castle grounds, buy your ticket (if entering) and contend with the crowds/enjoy the magnificence. Please note that unlike many other castles in Japan (Odawara Castle, Nagoya Castle, Osaka Castle and more) Himejijo is an original castle and not a contemporary remake. It is beautiful indeed. It will take your breath away. However, because this is an bona fide historical wonder the inside is cramped and there is a lot of climbing required within. If that sounds difficult then simply enjoy and adore the castle from outside. To enter the entrance fee is around $10 CDN. For a little more one gets admission to the adjoined Japanese garden. The garden is fantastic, large, so Japanese and offers an authentic tea ceremony for a fee for those who are interested. Visiting the castle requires an hour at least. Add another hour if you visit the gardens. A princess' quarter is to the side and available to everyone. The original quarters of the lord is gone now, but original artifacts and a well with a sinister reputation are in the courtyard where the residence used to be. A professional photographer is available just past the entrance gate. When I was there a game of human shoji (Japanese chess) was in progress with a cast of samurai as chess pieces. I am not sure what the story line was, but the commanders (players) were bombastic and fun to watch for a few minutes. There were more locals enjoying the human chess piece than anywhere else. The castle itself was packed with tourists of course. A volunteer guide named Ken was there as a free English guide. The sea is visible from the castle's top floor. On the way back or walking to the train station feel free to go around the main boulevard to the parallel streets or arcades for dining options and local shopping. Himeji's specialty is unagi eels. Go past the train station for a couple of shrines and temples. Spending the night at Himeji allows one to see the castle gloriously lit up. The castle is also host to the seasonal light show so check the schedule. The castle is open from 9:00 to 5:00 and the last admission is at 4:00. The garden allows entry until 4:30. Himejijo is a unique piece of history and work of art. It is as simple as that.

This is definitely a must see attraction if you're visiting the Osaka area. Himeji can be reached by Shinkansen from Shin Osaka to Himeji station in about 40 minutes and then it is a leisurely 15 minute stroll to the castle grounds. If you decide to pay a few dollars to enter the castle grounds and get to the top then be prepared to spare at least another hour depending on the queues. My tip is to get there relatively early in the morning before most people and tourist buses visit. With restoration work only completed in March 2015, there is renewed interest in this attraction. I probably missed out on the cherry blossoms by a few weeks which I would dare say make the Himeji castle grounds that little bit more special to walk around! One thing they neglect to tell you is that the walk up to the castle (once in the paid area) can be quite steep so if you're with the frail and elderly - please take plenty of water and allow plenty of time. The internals of the castle are quite barren as all weapons and ornaments have been removed over the years but it is quite interesting to see how they built and reinforced the castle to defend against potential attackers. As you get closer to the top, the internals become tighter and watch your head when going up and down the stairs. There are signs but I still saw plenty of people bashing low clearances with their foreheads. Once you've had enough and head back towards Himeji station or the city, stop directly across the road from the castle grounds and get a soft serve cone that come in about 20 different flavors!

We heard this is the biggest castle in Japan so we HAD to visit and it was GORGEOUS! Just simply breathtaking!! My husband and I made a pit stop here on the way to Hiroshima around 6AM. We loved being there so early because no one else was there and we pretty much had the place to ourselves to take photos. Although the castle was not open to enter, you could still roam around the castle. Highly recommended!!

No need to review, just go there! Well, this castle is one of the best not only in Japan, also in the world. Of course the main castle tower is very beautiful and after 2015 clean-up, it is really white. The castle park is very large and you need at least 2 hours to go around. I don't have many words to explain how great and wonderful this castle is. If you have a chance to visit Himeji, don't miss this castle!!!

I hate to be a spoil sport about this castle because it is very beautiful... from the outside... I have lived in Japan and Europe, so I've seen quite a few castles... As a few of the other folks have warned, this castle is not be to seen on hot days or holidays because the crowds are overwhelming. The climb is dangerous for anyone not in good physical shape anytime or carrying infants and is simply not worth the effort. I am surprised that they don't have to evacuate more folks from the tour. There are few displays and views from the narrow windows. Instead admire the castle from the outside and go see the Princess hallways which are just as beautiful to walk through and don't have a lot of steps

Great great travel experience here. Came here with my dad in summer 2017 because this is on his bucket list. At age 72, he walked up to the top without any problem. The stairs are steep so be careful while walking up and down. The inside and outside are original and stunning. We were all glad that we came :)

I've been to this castle twice (though 10 years apart) and its been a pretty cool experience. The first time I went 10 yrs ago half the place was under renovation and repair, and this time just small sections were. They are definitely spending some serious cash to keep this place an attraction. There is lots to see and its pretty interesting. There are English maps, brochures and English guided tours too. I've seen lots of people talking about how crowded with visitor it is. I've never experienced that, both of my visits were in the off season. I could wander around the place with free reign and barely saw other people. I tell you what, people back in the time when the castle was active must have been some tough ass people because that place gets COLD in January (my first visit) and going up and down the stairs is downright treacherous. I wonder if a leading cause of death back then was falling down severely steep and narrow stairs!? How do old people manage it? Anyway, my advice if you are crowd averse is go in the offseason. If you go when the weather is nice, kids are off school, sakura season, you will encounter huge crowds. This place isn't just an attraction with foreigners, it is also very popular for Japanese to visit. Lots of people visiting (but then, if you've spent much time in Japan at all, you should be used to lots of people wherever you go!) This castle is worth a visit.

Situated in between Hiroshima and Osaka, it makes a great day trip and is a 15 min walk from Himeji station. This castle recently opened on 3/27/15 after years of renovation, so being able to see this castle yesterday amidst a sea of cherry blossoms was breathtaking. Because of the sheer mass number of people ( esp during cherry blossom season) they limited the attendance to the first 16,000 that day. We arrived at the castle ~ 1:30 PM and were given a numbered ticket and stood in line for 30 min before being able to go inside the castle. Before entering the main castle tower you are required to remove your shoes and keep them with you using a plastic bag they provide. Tips/random info: - Lots of lines so be prepared to wait both outside and inside the castle - The interior of the castle is very barren with no furnishings. Lots of narrow stairs and low ceilings. The main attraction inside is the view from the top outside small windows. - There is no bathroom for you to use once inside the main tower - Once inside the main tower it took us 1-1.5 hours to go up to the top and back down - Closing times vary by season so plan accordingly and check the website! Yesterday the castle closed at 4pm.

The castles main keep reopens on the 27th of May. Really cool seeing the internal architecture and defense systems. Fortunately it wasn't too packed in the winter. I'd recommend finding a volunteer tour guide in the front. Otherwise a lot of the history doesn't make sense. They stand by the entrance and are free. A must see when in Japan. You can skip all the other temples to see this one.

Himeji Castle underwent extensive renovation with the project finishing in mid 2015. So right now, the castle looks brand new. It is stunningly beautiful and the grounds are immaculately kept. There are many other castles in Japan that have similar architecture, but many are replicas built on top of the original destroyed castle. This one is original. Moreso, this is one of the few historic sites of its type that lets you inside and climb all the way up to the top. It's a claustrophobic clusterf**k up there once on the top floor with almost no way to move around. After enough madness, the staff fixed the issue by not letting any more visitors up to the top floor until it had emptied. I think for the super cheap price of $9 (1000 Yen), it was well worth the visit.

There was no way I was missing this when I was so close. It turned out that we visited just a week after the end of a very long restoration project, so between peak tourist season and the "new" nature of the restored complex, lines were very long. I think we arrived about 9 and were able to get right in, but when we left, admission to the central keep was a multi-hour wait. The castle itself is incredible - the building is absolutely gleaming white (it was brilliant white even on a cloudy day when I was there, in the direct sun it must truly be a sight) and is spotless inside and out, with scattered exhibits in both Japanese and English throughout. You can actually climb all the way to the top of the castle - I'm consistently surprised at the amount of access allowed to old buildings and cultural treasures like this, but it makes the visits that much more worth while. For visitors in the spring, the dense cherry trees make the approach and the complex grounds really beautiful. Don't concentrate just on the main keep, as there are other things to see on the castle ground, particularly the long outbuildings with good exhibits covering the life of Princess Sen. I would say this is a must visit if you are visiting the Kansai region - even from more distant, but especially from Kobe and Osaka, it's a very short shinkansen trip (and a completely tolerable "regular" train trip, if you don't want to spring for a shinkansen ticket) and for those staying in Kyoto like me, it's easy to do this in the morning and then spend an evening in Kobe or Osaka on the way back. It's also extremely convenient from the Himeji station, just a short walk up a main street. The castle looms over the city, you're not going to get lost on the way. So no excuses!

Omg! I would just enjoy this castle from the outside. It is an original and newly renovated castle but we did not feel like it was worth ¥1000 entrance fee. We came during the golden week and it was super crowded. There were long queus everywhere and when we finally got inside the castle there were very limited exhibits inside and mostly empty halls. The steps can be steep for those with limited mobility and children. Without a doubt it is beautiful but personally we thought we were better off adoring it from the outside and just reading about its history. Perhaps its the timing that we got wrong but still.

Lovely stop over between Hiroshima and Kyoto. We left Hiroshima around 11, spent a couple hours wandering around Mimeji and the Castle was one of the highlights. The circuit takes about 1.5 hours and requires so reasonably steep stairs. The castle interior was fascinating to me, and the views were amazing from the windows. The site is well organized and the staff were friendly and helpful.

2 stars!?! For a castle that has stood for roughly 400-700 years!? Don't get me wrong... It's pretty, it's a short trip from Kyoto, you should definitely see it... from the outside! I went around noon on a Thursday. The place was a zoo. It took about 2 hours (estimated wait: 1 hour) to go through the bland brown and white interior. Ok, maybe it was my fault for not being there right when it opened but the lines were like Disneyland without the rides. At least with some other historical sites the interiors are interesting! But... nope, not here. Also, be warned, once you're inside the wait's not over! You SHOULD see Himeji Castle, just from the outside.

We took a half-day trip from Osaka, taking the shinkansen took about half an hour, to see Himeji Castle. We also took a taxi to and from the castle as it saved us time waiting for the bus and since there were four of us, it would've cost about the same as taking the bus. When you get to the rail station, you can see the castle in the distance and when you finally get beyond the castle walls, what a sight! It took a bit of walking to get to the castle itself and then many steep stairs to climb within the castle itself. Like a prior review said, there isn't much to see inside the castle itself but what there is to see is very interesting, like where they stored the weapons and also the trap doors. And of course, there are great views of the city below. It was fun walking up and down the stairs, although someone with bad knees might not enjoy it. This is in contrast to Osaka Castle, where you take an elevator up, then walk back down through the exhibits. After we got out of the castle, we took many more photos of the exterior of the castle, then back to the rail station, and a quick trip back to Osaka.

Arrive 30 min before opening. The crowds get huge. A great UNESCO heritage site to visit and learn about Japan's history and architecture. You must take your shoes off and be willing to walk 6 flights of narrow stairs. Plastic bags provided for your shoes. The site is huge. Plan at least 3 hours.