Himeji Castle
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Himeji Jo (1993); National Treasure · Himeji, Hyogo
The finest surviving feudal castle in Japan, a complex of white plastered walls and tiered roofs on a hill above the city of Himeji, known as the White Heron for its shape and colour. The main keep dates from 1609 and has never been destroyed by war, earthquake or fire, surviving even the bombing of the city in 1945, which makes it one of only a handful of original castle keeps left in the country. It became one of Japan's first World Heritage Sites in 1993 and is a National Treasure. The approach winds through a maze of gates, baileys and walls designed to confuse attackers, and the six-storey keep is climbed by steep wooden stairs, in socks, to a view over the city. A major restoration completed in 2015 left the plaster brilliantly white. Beside the castle, Koko-en is a set of reconstructed Edo-period gardens. Himeji is on the bullet train line, a short trip from Osaka, Kobe or Kyoto, and is best in cherry blossom season, when the grounds are full. Entry fees for visitors from outside the city have been changed; check the current price.
68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo, 670-0012, Japan
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The structure: open daily except for a day or two at year end, from about 9 am to 5 pm, with a later close of about 6 pm in summer; last entry is about an hour before closing, and entry to the main keep may stop earlier on busy days. In cherry blossom season numbered or timed entry to the keep may be used, and the keep can close to new entries while the grounds stay open. Koko-en keeps similar hours. The outer grounds are free and the castle is floodlit at night. Confirm hours and current fees before going.