Himeji Castle

Information

Himeji Castle is the most magnificent of Japanese castles which survive in their original form. The castle is also known as "Shirasagi (White Heron) Castle" because of its white exterior and supposed resemblance to a bird taking flight. The castle's beautiful Tenshukaku donjon and complicated structure is an invaluable treasure that expresses the height of Japanese wood architecture techniques.
Although there have been a castle named Himeyama Castle here since 1346, today's Himeji Castle was built in 1580 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and enlarged some 30 years later by Ikeda Terumasa. Ikeda Terumasa was awarded the castle by Tokugawa Ieyasu for his help to defeat the Toyotomi armies in the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. In the following centuries the castle was home to 48 successive lords.
Himeji Castle has a five-story Tenshukaku main donjon and three smaller donjons, the entire structure being surrounded by moats and defensive walls punctuated with several forms of openings for firing guns and shooting arrows at attackers. The walls of the donjon also feature "Ishiotoshi" or openings that allowed defenders to pour boiling water or oil on to anyone that made it past the defensive slits and was thinking of scaling the walls.
Himeji Castle is designated as a National Treasure and registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site. The castle was extensively renovated in 2015 after five years of full-scale repair work.

Opening Hours

9:00 – 16:00
9:00 – 17:00 (April 27 - August 31)

Closed

December 29 - 30

Price / Entrance Fee

1,000 yen (General, Adult)
300 yen (Child)
Combination ticket with Koko-en Garden: 1,040 yen (General, Adult)
Combination ticket with Koko-en Garden: 360 yen (Child)

Access / Public Transport

15 minutes walk from JR Himeji Station

Address / Location

68, Hommachi, Himeji-shi, Hyogo, 670-0012

Tweets

Gally (The Drabby Simp) @NotGalaga - 2020-07-12: theories of the Yokai Osakabehime, but I'm lazy even with someone I love, just know there's the theory of her being… https://t.co/HdN40wgtdp
Wonder Completed @CompletedWonder - 2020-07-12: Himeji Castle has been built in a faraway land!
青い血 @HideyoshiAo1 - 2020-07-12: I've never been to Himeji. only castle I've seen with a keep while in Japan was Osaka castle. And while the keep is… https://t.co/UH0AXBFYdV
Aerish @aerishxing - 2020-07-11: Himeji castle feat. me and my weird sense of style 🤣 https://t.co/Dnf3pIyra8
Emilia is best girl. @glazedonutsu - 2020-07-11: Gonna predict Hyogo is gonna be Okki 100% cuz Himeji castle is the biggest tourist spot there
I wonder who’s it gon… https://t.co/f3f2COAy2c
Toys to Educate @toystoeducate - 2020-07-11: #baby #toddler Japan Himeji Castle Model Building Kit https://t.co/EhKydWEne3 https://t.co/yCdjo5tyag
issei @issxxi - 2020-07-11: The sunrise with Himeji castle.
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#hellofrom Himeji, Japan🇯🇵 @ 姫路城 https://t.co/pDsCwkLtj3
Bambino Boom @bambino_boom - 2020-07-10: #newbornbaby #girl Japan Himeji Castle Model Building Kit https://t.co/XWV6o8CEX9 https://t.co/vDZshRm5e1
Craig Hoffman @CraigHoffman11 - 2020-07-10: Craig-560 On More Than A Castle- Affordable Afternoon Bar Hopping In Himeji And 5 Superb Social Media Posts To Help… https://t.co/LyK11XZB7M
John Walton 🏳️‍🌈🇪🇺 @thatjohn - 2020-07-10: #Himeji Castle — one of the twelve remaining original castles of #Japan — is 💯 a #thatjohninjp bucket list destinat… https://t.co/eo9ScQcJDg
John Walton 🏳️‍🌈🇪🇺 @thatjohn - 2020-07-10: Always look out for the baffling tie-in local souvenirs in #Japan. Yes, that is Hello Kitty cuddling Himeji Castle.… https://t.co/IfMms0m3ua
Wondrous Paths 🗺❤🖼 @wondrouspaths - 2020-07-10: How to take a day trip to visit Himeji Castle https://t.co/gV2lHlP72u
Gerard T @gerard_t_ - 2020-07-09: @Redbreast_US Himeji Castle with the cherry blossom in full bloom https://t.co/PHCmDAP4EP
KPMG US Alumni @KPMGUSAlumni - 2020-07-09: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, retired partners Pedro and Ellen Goitia Embraced the Legacy while traveling to Hime… https://t.co/EEFi6DdfPx
Osakabehime (Hime for friends) @NotNeetHime - 2020-07-09: @therealelmelloi 'True, maybe I should try to her alone.'

Hime opened a space on her kotatsu and Go-chan went ther… https://t.co/Jz0SlPDh6B
Chag @Chag_HH - 2020-07-08: I got a canvas print of my Himeji Castle photo today. This really is a mediocre photo that has been edited beyond r… https://t.co/o7AWbmAncA
Japan Community @japancommunity - 2020-07-08: Matsumoto Castle, 松本城 is one of Japan's premier historic castles, along with Himeji and Kumamoto castles

It's also… https://t.co/INliSsv8gi
Starflyer @starflyerjp - 2020-07-08: @ten_tendon Was it a business mission? Did you have time to visit Himeji Castle?
Virtual Trip to Japan @VurtualTrip_jpn - 2020-07-08: world heritage.
Himeji castle!
Be careful of steep stairs！

#worldheritage
#japan
#hyogo
#castle
#trip
#travel… https://t.co/KBUSNFTK5R
Virtual Trip to Japan🇯🇵 @VurtualTrip_jpn - 2020-07-08: world heritage.
Himeji castle!
Be careful of steep stairs！

#worldheritage
#japan
#hyogo
#castle
#trip
#travel… https://t.co/KBUSNFTK5R
Vurtual Trip to Japan @VurtualTrip_jpn - 2020-07-08: world heritage.
Himeji castle!
Be careful of steep stairs！

#worldheritage
#japan
#hyogo
#castle
#trip
#travel… https://t.co/KBUSNFTK5R
rtcmanga @rtcmanga - 2020-07-08: Gifu Castle in Japan! Check out the video: https://t.co/cBwy1w7q4O #castle #nagoya #japan #fortress #asia #tokyo… https://t.co/bXQcU9Lp6k
rtcmanga @rtcmanga - 2020-07-08: NAGOYA CASTLE - GIFU CASTLE - HIMEJI CASTLE https://t.co/cBwy1w7q4O
加奈 @StevestonSocial - 2020-07-07: @joerogan Truly believe Go Rin no Sho. After my father got me into Kendo, I think I’ve visited all the castles he’s… https://t.co/quMiQaSsJT
Remind𓃠 @remind_aimile - 2020-07-06: @Phuvakorn_Foucs This beautiful garden is called 'Kokoen' and is located near Himeji Castle.🏯
If you have the oppor… https://t.co/lztdcLRKH8
Crispin Bottomley @notl419 - 2020-07-05: Two years today ago I was in @himejijc Japan for the @jcileaders academy. These members of @JCIEurope - @jciestonia… https://t.co/Bsx03ifHfT
Osakabehime (Hime for friends) @NotNeetHime - 2020-07-05: She went to the place that she lived a Goddess enshrined there and where she met Musashi-chan, both the male and fe… https://t.co/0CvTqN6FZD
Osakabehime (Hime for friends) @NotNeetHime - 2020-07-05: To a little journey, I went to Himeji Castle and also got one of my swords back https://t.co/QXpPjoLxKr
Osakabehime (Hime for friends) @NotNeetHime - 2020-07-05: To think about life.

About the future.

And also about the fond memories she made.

But most importantly, she want… https://t.co/gbNm5iezdJ
Osakabehime (Hime for friends) @NotNeetHime - 2020-07-05: Yes, he's a student from the holy masamune-chan.

He spent some time with hide-chan, but he never actually went to… https://t.co/HSuqyDR9ij
Saad Asad @Saad_163_ - 2020-07-05: Fun Fact: Himeji Castle’s winding paths make it very hard to navigate even for tourists. A 130 m path to the keep f… https://t.co/TB8l7drhkJ
Saad Asad @Saad_163_ - 2020-07-05: Japanese Castle also had multiple gates to slow down enemy progress as more time would be taken to break every sing… https://t.co/NfcyGSqpOJ
Scubarob @Scubarob5 - 2020-07-05: https://t.co/UILERiPhOt presents: Himeji Castle’s Fascinating Feudal History
See https://t.co/FdVDquaa6o for more https://t.co/ZJPQPfMaRr
Sofa着ぐ @Sofa_Kig - 2020-07-05: 'Some say [Himeji Castle] looks like a heron taking flight. Which is bollocks, because it's a castle.' - Chris Broad
maS @Choripleto - 2020-07-05: The Himeji Castle and five story pagoda nanoblock are absolutely unreal. I want these so bad, they dont even take m… https://t.co/UY9jFasaCc
nicht mehr englisch- Ich bin Europäer Stephen @stephen501 - 2020-07-05: From @AbroadInJapan 'Why Himeji is Japan's Greatest Castle' (9 mins 40 secs in) is this dish. Whatever it is, I wan… https://t.co/76CMp7ccV7
🐿️ぷりっりん🌬️🎋*･ﾟﾟ🍉🎐 @Sweet_honey_che - 2020-07-05: Good night 🏯🌕
【Nostalgic Himeji Castle 🖤】 https://t.co/o7l9z5cG0G