How to Travel to Japan’s Himeji Castle

How to Travel to Japan’s Himeji Castle, start by taking a train from Osaka or Kyoto to Himeji Station. From there, it’s a short walk to the castle grounds, where you can explore the iconic fortress and its surrounding gardens at your leisure.

How to Travel to Japan’s Himeji Castle

How to Travel to Japan’s Himeji Castle The largest medieval Samurai castle in Japan, Himeji Castle (also called Himeji-jo) is undoubtedly one of the most stylish and picturesque locations in the whole nation.

Even from other parts of Japan, this place is well worth a visit because of its amazing history and design. It is simple to take a day excursion to Himeji Castle from neighboring locations like Kobe, Osaka, or Kyoto.

This travel guide will cover all the information you need to know before you go, including directions to Himeji Castle from Osaka, Kyoto, or Tokyo!

History Of Himeji Castle

The construction of Himeji-jo began in the 1300s, and Samurai leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi continued to expand it further in the 1600s.

The Himeji-jo complex formerly housed thousands of soldiers, and the castle came dangerously close to disappearing several times over the course of history. Bombs dropped by the Allies on the castle during World War II did not detonate. It also withstood a significant seismic event in the 1990s.

Currently recognized as a National Treasure of Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Himeji-jo welcomes over 3 million visitors annually.

Now is a FANTASTIC time to visit the castle, as it has undergone five years of repair work and is finally visible without a ton of scaffolding on the main keep.

Himeji Castle Japan: What To Expect

It’s simple to take a day trip to Himeji from adjacent cities like Osaka or Kyoto.

This massive fortress complex spans almost 240 hectares (600 acres), is around 60 meters (200 feet) tall, and features numerous medieval defensive gates and walls.

Seeing the castle from a distance makes it seem much more magnificent.

It’s easy to get lost in the vast and varied regions of the castle complex, but that’s all part of the pleasure.

There is a six-story main keep that you may climb to the top of to get a better perspective of the city below through the bow-and-arrow openings.

Aside from the castle, there are some excellent eateries and souvenir stores that are definitely worth visiting.

Entrance Fees

• Adults: ¥1000 ($7 USD)
• Kids: ¥300

Visiting Hours

• Normal Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
• Summer Hours: 9 AM – 6 PM

One hour before to closing is the last time entries can be made.

All year long, the castle is open, with the exception of December 28 and 29. It is not possible to book tickets in advance.

How To Get To Himeji Castle Japan

By rail is the most convenient way to go to Himeji. This is a rather easy process because of Japan’s fantastic rail system.

You can open Google Maps with the precise routes by clicking on the links below if the directions below don’t make sense to you. There is no reason for speculation.

From Tokyo

Although it is technically feasible to get to Himeji Castle from Tokyo in a day, I would not advise it due to the nearly eight hours of travel time and the high cost of the tickets. The one-way trip costs ¥15,120 ($105 USD) and takes approximately 3.5 hours.

It’s best, if at all feasible, to visit Himeji from a nearby location, such as Kyoto or Osaka (details below).

From Kyoto

• Shinkansen: The Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen connects Himeji and Kyoto. Depending on the train, the trip from Kyoto Station to Himeji Station will take between 45 and 60 minutes. The cost is ¥4,750 ($33 USD) one trip.
• JR Special Rapid Train: It will take approximately 90 minutes for this train to get from Kyoto Station to Himeji Station. The cost is ¥2,270 ($16 USD) one way.

From Osaka

• Shinkansen: The Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen connects Osaka with Himeji. It will take approximately thirty minutes to get from Shin-Osaka Station to Himeji Station. The cost is ¥3,220 ($22 USD) one way.
• JR Special Rapid Train: It will take around one hour to travel by rail from Osaka Station to Himeji Station. The cost is ¥1490 ($10.50 USD) one way.

It will only take you fifteen minutes to walk to the castle door once you get off Himeji Station. Happy journeys!

Best Time To Visit

Late March to mid-April are the busiest times of year to visit Himeji Castle, with the first week of April being particularly busy due to cherry blossom season. The first week of May, known as Golden Week, is particularly hectic due to the holidays. Personally, I think the castle is fantastic in any month of the year,

so visit when there aren’t many people there! When we visited in January, the entire castle was largely ours. You will need to arrive early in the morning to obtain tickets if you visit during

the busiest time of year as there is no option to book them in advance. On the official Himeji Castle website, you can find useful calendars that indicate the busiest days of the year as well as a congestion prediction that includes the anticipated number of visitors.