Himeji Castle

Fantastic experience. Beautiful and impressive to see such a massive wooden castle. Just know they close at 4pm. If you want to get in/close, get a ticket in advance and you will have a great experience. We were there during the Himeji festival and it was a lot of fun. Make sure to check out the gardens next door too - absolutely beautiful!

Walking through this castle, which has been so well preserved, is just incredible. An attraction that is well worth the steps (even with a baby strapped to your front!). The view from the top is amazing, but so is imagining all the people who have walked these halls for 1000’s of years. As with everything in Japan, it is so well organised. If you're travelling with a baby, there is a space to leave your stroller that is manned by security. And if you have a large nappy bag for only ¥100, you can store it in a coin locker.

It takes about 20 minutes on foot from Himeji Station to the castle, and you can already see the massive, majestic structure from the station. Before heading to the main keep, I explored the castle walls. Inside, there was a fascinating three-story wooden corridor, and its design and scale were impressive. The main keep itself was striking — unlike the village-protecting enclosures seen in Korea or China, it felt more like a Western-style fortress. Yet, instead of stone, the fact that they built a seven-story structure entirely in wood was remarkable. The building narrows as it rises, and with no elevator, visitors must climb narrow wooden stairs, which can be inconvenient when crowded. Overall, it was a very impressive site and definitely worth visiting.

Breathtakingly beautiful, even in the rain! Standing in front of Himeji Castle (the White Heron Castle) is an unforgettable experience. It was drizzling when we visited, but the overcast skies and light rain didn't take away from its beauty at all—if anything, the mist made the massive white structure look even more atmospheric, dramatic, and historic. The surrounding gardens and stone walls are magnificent. Pro Tip: I highly recommend arriving early to beat the main crowds, as the pathways inside the keep can get quite narrow. When you enter the main castle tower, they will give you a plastic bag to put your shoes in because you have to carry them with you and explore the entire castle barefoot (or in socks). The original wooden floors are beautiful but can be quite cold and slippery, so wearing a good pair of thick socks is a smart move! It is easily one of the most impressive, well-preserved castles in all of Japan. Don't let a little rain deter you from visiting! 🏯🌧️✨

Extremely impressive original castle, with its sheer size up close and its beautiful architecture. We did a daytrip from Osaka and spent around 2 hours exploring the castle grounds. We arrived around 9.30 on a weekday morning and there wasn't much crowd yet. The castle interior is also very impressive and organised to cater for large crowds. The stairs are quite steep so visitors have to be careful. The interior is also all original so there's a constant magical feeling of the rich history surrounding us. There's a pretty nice view of the city on the very top floor of the castle but most have wiring protection, which could be annoying if you're trying to photograph the city in different angles, but it's still possible to get some good unobstructed shots. Definitely worth a long distance daytrip from Osaka. Even if you're not into history, the architecture and vibe of this castle is worth the trip. Big crowds started to form when we left so it's recommended to come as early as possible.