I’m sure you’ve seen Himeji Castle featured on countless blog posts, pamphlets, and “must-visit” lists about Japan. If you’re anything like me, you might have been struck by the beauty of the castle, which left quite an impression on me—I never thought a castle that seemed straight out of a fairy tale or movie could even be real.

　I still remember first seeing Himeji Castle in my Japanese language learning textbook.
Sitting in my Japanese class back in college, I never once imagined I would actually have the opportunity to visit such an otherworldly beautiful place in person.
Such an elegant castle felt so far removed from my day-to-day life growing up in Los Angeles—and yet here I am.

After eight years of living in Japan, I finally had the chance not only to visit the castle, but also to share my experience with you here today.

About Himeji
First things first: what kind of place is Himeji?

Less than half an hour by shinkansen from Osaka, the city is actually quite accessible by train—you don’t need to get on a night bus,
rent a car, or spend too long getting there.

The city also has a mascot called “Shiromaruhime,” which translates roughly to “White Round Princess.” You can find her all around the city!

　While the city has over 500,000 residents, you’d honestly never know it, as the streets are so quiet and even seem eerily empty at night. All in all, the city struck me as a very calm, peaceful place.

　Once you get off the train and head toward the station exit, you’ll be greeted by a beautiful sight. The first thing you’ll see upon exiting Himeji Station is, in fact, Himeji Castle down the road. If you exit on the north side, there’s a viewing platform you can quickly pop up to for an even better view!

As you might expect, I made a beeline straight for the castle! You can either walk the 15–20 minutes from the station or take a quick cab ride to get there faster and save your legs for all the walking you’ll be doing on the castle grounds.

PLACE: Himeji City
Prefecture: Hyogo (Kansai region), a castle town facing the Seto Inland Sea.
Access (super easy day trip):
・From Shin-Osaka: Shinkansen ~28 min to JR Himeji Station.
・From Kobe (Sannomiya): JR ~40 min.
・From Kyoto: Shinkansen ~44 min / JR ~1 hr 25 min.
・From Tokyo: Shinkansen ~around 3 hr

Best strolling zone: Otemae-dori Avenue (the straight road from Himeji Station to the castle). It sets you up for that dramatic “castle reveal” as you walk.
Official travel guide: https://visit-himeji.com/en/

Introducing my Guide
Today, I was shown around by Mr. Moriwaki, who was extremely kind, and showed me all kinds of hidden details and shared stories about the castle itself, some of which I will be sharing below as well!

I know it may be cliché, but he really struck me as a sort of protector of Himeji Castle.
Watching his stance, and seeing how he repeatedly stopped to help people—whether with directions or physical assistance—he was awesome.

And so, we were off! Off to explore the castle I had only ever dreamed of visiting.

About the Castle
　Himeji Castle actually dates all the way back to 1333, when Akamatsu Norimura, a Japanese samurai of the Akamatsu clan, built a fort on top of Himeyama Hill. This was later expanded into a castle in 1346, and then developed even further at the beginning of the 17th century to include the main keep we still see today.

　Somewhat miraculously, the castle was never besieged and even survived World War II bombings with only minor damage. The castle continues to be carefully maintained, and the local community even hosts events on the castle grounds from time to time.

PLACE: Himeji Castle (姫路城 / “White Heron Castle”)

Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0012
Nickname: “White Heron Castle” for its bright white plaster walls and elegant silhouette.
Access:
・About a 15–20 min walk from JR Himeji Station via Otemae-dori.
・Or a quick bus/taxi from the station.
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:00 PM)
Closed: Dec 29–30 (plus occasional special closures—check ahead).
Admission:
・Adults: ¥1,000
・Elementary / JHS / HS students: ¥300
・Combo ticket (Castle + Koko-en Garden): Check the official website!
How long to budget: 1.5–2 hours for the castle interior + grounds if you’re not rushing.
Note: The city has announced a planned fee increase starting around spring 2026. So treat the prices above as current, but double-check before you go.
Official Website: https://www.himejicastle.jp/en/

Inside Himeji Castle
Most of the best viewing spots of the castle are actually from the castle grounds, which you can explore and walk around as you’re making your way towards the castle.
I was lucky to visit on a nice and sunny day. Check out this amazing shot I was able to grab of the Castle.

After getting your tickets and entering the castle, you’ll be asked to take your shoes off—which, as you probably know, is totally normal in Japanese culture but might not be the norm where you’re from.
So make sure you wear cute socks and shoes that aren’t too much of a pain to take off!

Inside, you’ll find a variety of historical items on display, as well as information about the castle itself.
Take a look, for example, at this model of the castle’s wooden framework. It’s incredible!

Japanese architecture is always fascinating, and though the castle has been renovated over the years, it’s still mind-boggling to me how it can stand so strong and tall while being made primarily from wood.
Pillars like this, crafted from a single tree, are some of the main support columns that help hold up the entire structure.

My amazement only grew as I made my way up through the castle, which for some reason feels much bigger—or at least taller—when you’re climbing it from the inside than it looks from the outside.
Once you reach the top floor, you can enjoy a full 360° view of Himeji City through the castle windows. What a delight!

The only thing you’ll want to watch out for, however, is your head!! I mean, just look at all these signs!

If you ask me, having such low ceilings might be the most effective defense against any invaders attempting to take over the castle—because even with all the warning signs, I still managed to hit my head a few too many times.
Some Castle Secrets
During the castle visit, my guide also pointed out a few funny details. For example, this board is one of the original wooden planks used in the castle, still left here for you to see

Or this series of stones that actually looks like a face!

All in all, there are a TON of details about the castle to learn. If you have a chance to visit with a guide, I’m sure that would make for a really fulfilling experience as well.

Personally, I have to point out how much I love that, even though there is absolutely no need to decorate something like a fire extinguisher, they still took the time to build a specially crafted wooden frame around a bright red extinguisher,
or change the color of an emergency door, for example. All these little touches help make the space just a bit more beautiful.

Gosh I love Japan…

A Tiny Café Break Before Koko-en
　By the time I stepped back outside, slightly humbled by the castle’s low ceilings (and my own tendency to bonk my head), I was ready for a quiet reset.
Instead of rushing straight to Koko-en, I took a short walk from the castle area to a little upstairs spot called Cafe Kotonaki—the kind of café you’d miss if you weren’t looking for it,
tucked into a charming building right near the castle grounds.
It ended up being the perfect “in-between” stop: calm, minimal, and refreshing in a way that matched Himeji’s slower pace.
I ordered a veggie-forward lunch plate built around local, seasonal produce, and it was exactly what I needed after all that stair-climbing and exploring—light but satisfying.
It was a great refresher so my body could finally exhale for a second after so much travelling! If you time it right (it’s a small space), it’s an ideal refuel before continuing on to the gardens.

Practical note: It’s only a few minutes from the castle area, and a doable walk from JR Himeji Station as well—just keep in mind it’s closed on Wednesdays.
If you want the full food-focused details (and more vegan picks in Himeji), I wrote it up separately here.

好古園 (Kokoen Garden)
　Last on my list was Kokoen Garden, right by the castle. This place was… honestly the perfect calm exhale after Himeji’s scale—a traditional Japanese strolling garden made up of nine separate,
walled mini-gardens (pond, tea garden, bamboo, pines, seasonal flowers, etc.), all designed to feel like you’ve slipped back into Edo-period Japan, with Himeji Castle towering in the background as borrowed scenery.

What makes it even cooler is that it’s not just “a nice garden.” It was opened in 1992 for Himeji’s 100th city anniversary and built on the actual ruins of the castle lord’s West Residence and surrounding samurai homes,
so you’re literally walking through a restored slice of the old castle town. You’ll definitely feel a little bit like a samurai wandering through these ancient-looking streets.

　If you have the time, I would definitely make space in your schedule to stop by this garden after you visit Himeji Castle.
Just keep in mind both the castle and the garden close fairly early, so you’ll want to make sure to leave enough time to fully enjoy both.
I’m sure the garden is beautiful to visit no matter the season, though I hear visiting around November when the autumn foliage is at its peak is a great time to stop by.

PLACE: Koko-en Garden (好古園), Himeji
Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0012 (right next to Himeji Castle)
Access:

　・About 15–20 min walk from JR Himeji Station.
　・Bus option: From Himeji Station North Exit → get off at “Himeji Castle Otemon-mae” → 5 min walk.

Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM)
Seasonal extension: Late April to Aug 31, hours often extend to 6:00 PM (last entry 5:30 PM).
Closed: Dec 29–30.
Admission (Check the official website for latest price) :
　・Adults: ¥310
　・Elementary–High school students: ¥150
　・Combo ticket with Himeji Castle is available :
Official Website: https://www.himeji-machishin.jp/ryokka/kokoen/en/

Summary
All in all, I’m super glad I finally had the chance to visit Himeji and its famous castle.
I can definitely see the hype, and while there may be fewer nearby spots to visit compared to Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, it’s absolutely worth making a quick trip to Himeji if your schedule allows for it.

My only regret is not having taken my family and friends there yet, even though they’ve already visited Japan a few times.
I’m personally really looking forward to my next opportunity to visit Himeji City and see what new magical charm is still waiting for me to discover.

Until next time!