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

Alison Turjancik🎙🌸 @turjancikvoice - 2021-03-09: @CorvidQuill @jltwrites_ You’d have a hard time in Castles in Japan 😂 and most traditional homes. I had locals tell… https://t.co/gNR9fB1OaH
Güler Can @GlerCan43089671 - 2021-03-09: @PicPublic Wish you happy days dear PicPublic🌸🌸☀️🌸🌸
Fantastic Osaka’s Himeji Castle 🌸🌸🏰🌸🌸 https://t.co/dTtFYC0YM5
LeFebret @JacquesLeFebret - 2021-03-09: #JamesBond31DayChallenge Day 8
A #YOLT double bill here....

The Hotel New Otani in Tokyo which doubled for the Os… https://t.co/XDOIooT3jm
Srinatadia @srinatadia - 2021-03-09: 1986 book including Himeji Castle, Historic Monuments of Ancient Asian Civilizations. Facts
香車の香ちゃん @miocatmiomio - 2021-03-09: @madcrazyzombie1 @MVereshchagin @BrokenBridgeGXB @medtoja123 @Vampire4me @Greenfeather2 @PebbleGreen2… https://t.co/SBOG4lVDKy
Backpacker Indonesia @idbcpr - 2021-03-08: Himeji-jo is the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle ... - https://t.co/y7BtRWVYMR https://t.co/P1SHqx2Jxz
Castletourist @castletourist - 2021-03-08: 📷 Matsumoto Castle 🏯 (松本城, Matsumoto-jō), originally known as Fukashi Castle, is one of Japan’s premier historic ca… https://t.co/9AvEuMWyv7
Jennifer Bane @jenniferbane82 - 2021-03-08: Finally finished Himeji Castle!! https://t.co/S9k4GoZDwT
The Modern Monk @bookworm_monk - 2021-03-08: cherry blossom and Himeji Castle
👉Credits📸 - @wanderreisen.de
#nature https://t.co/tLofPAc3uL
Travel Blogger @TravelBloggerID - 2021-03-08: Himeji-jo is the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle ... - https://t.co/Gpt2zLD0hC https://t.co/AO9BqCGWZ9
🗻 AOZORA ANDY '21 (仮) 🌤 @AndyAozora - 2021-03-08: @estreasays I've been to Osaka Castle twice, when I was with my family we got there just before closing time so we… https://t.co/XhXPh2HKjV
Asianwebshops @asianwebshop - 2021-03-07: #discount #bestseller Aipin DIY 3D Puzzle Stainless Steel Model Kit Himeji Castle Silver Color… https://t.co/oRaORUZL4T
Look By MKS @moniquekawari - 2021-03-07: THE HIMEJI CASTLE IN JAPAN | LOOK BY MKS #throwback #shorts
👇👇👇
https://t.co/aaDRl189eh https://t.co/hF8gLUXrio
SOUKAMO @samSoukamo - 2021-03-07: It's Himeji-castle refurbished isn't it? I've been there twice. 1st visit, it was under constructing. https://t.co/CYn7BibPRo
Saru @marsh_wolf - 2021-03-07: Note that it will be SAKURA TIME

Current ideas:
-Fushimi Momoyama Castle
-Kyoto Botanical Garden
-Maruyama Park (f… https://t.co/FVoXjsYL0I
🐣 Nag @ehon_7465 - 2021-03-07: the princess of himeji castle https://t.co/luAHZVvKQ2
Rajiv Biswas @rajiv_biswas - 2021-03-06: #Japan
Springtime brings the spectacular season of cherry blossoms across Japan. #Himeji #Castle in #Hyogo Prefect… https://t.co/ls3GZ9Gtag
Ashutosh Rawal @AshutoshRawal13 - 2021-03-05: Himeji Castle is a highly popular cherry blossom spot during the short blooming season which usually falls in early… https://t.co/mQpGqNkZEn
Travelling Fans @Travellingfans7 - 2021-03-05: Cherry blossoms and castle in himeji, Japan.
...
#holiday2018 #travellingtime #may2019 #amazingtrip #nicetrip… https://t.co/d4UtH6plRv
Adrian Wootton OBE @aojwFL_BFC - 2021-03-04: @Academy_Arrow @SightSoundmag @jaspersharp Another great @SightSoundmag magazine and lovely article about Japanese… https://t.co/VhGPEF6En0
Yoshi @VSV_Japan - 2021-03-04: @Tails_155 Good to hear that! When cherry blossoms bloom, the area around Himeji castle becomes so beautiful. I wan… https://t.co/p4HyNqM173
テイルスレイナード 🏳️‍🌈 @Tails_155 - 2021-03-04: @VSV_Japan I've been to Himeji Castle!
Toys to Educate @toystoeducate - 2021-03-03: #educational #preparing Japan Himeji Castle Model Building Kit https://t.co/EhKydWEne3 https://t.co/Zm6jWiR399
Arturo Botticelli @kiss4emm - 2021-03-02: Himeji 🏰
Also called Shirasagijo (white heron castle).
Comprising a network of 83 rooms with advanced defensive sys… https://t.co/e3XCkj4puJ
GlobalNews @GlNonexistent - 2021-03-02: @jxpann Himeji Castle. One of my favorite places to visit!
Okki loves you @Okkilovesyou1 - 2021-03-02: @tamamolovesyou Well beside some stuff that i did in himeji castle during wars I havent commit anything bad
Qin Shi Duwang @QinShiDuwang - 2021-03-02: This halloween We are going to park Our full mechanical form on top of Himeji Castle, on top of Ozymandias' pyramid… https://t.co/MvW27JzEmR
yasuhiro🇯🇵🌏😺 @ky77733 - 2021-03-02: Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, is a wonderful city with the best castle in Japan. https://t.co/dHIvIrOVop
Jane Mann @PaintboxJane - 2021-03-01: @JakeTilson We were told about, and had a go on one, in Himeji Castle. A marvel!
Japan Shop @JapanItemShop3 - 2021-03-01: This is Himeji Castle!

https://t.co/65zzfOQXiO https://t.co/LMlr9TQHYk
Sasanarx @Wa66rpg - 2021-03-01: Himeji Castle Minecraft Map https://t.co/5xMlch7Kfp
Walk a While with Me @walkawhilewith - 2021-03-01: In my opinion, the three best castles in Japan are Himeji Castle, Osaka Castle, and Matsumoto Castle. What are your… https://t.co/upNPQSPzP7
Wataru Hayashi🔬 @DraWataru - 2021-03-01: @100cia_ @EGalueMozo @Borregocovid19 No, it's Himeji castle, which was chosen to be one of the first world heritage sites in Japan in 1993.
_karui_hato》 @karui_nya - 2021-03-01: Matsumoto Castle, originally known as Fukashi Castle, is one of Japan's premier historic castles, along with Himeji… https://t.co/J473IqpkhM
Mark Willard 😷🇭🇰 @MarkWillard85 - 2021-02-28: @TCJaalin I know nothing about Pokémon, but most of the inspiration for the pavilion comes from the Kansai region o… https://t.co/GkOL25dR9l
Cruel Andy's Thesis @CruelAndyThesis - 2021-02-27: @CatTheSpade I don't want to buy anything else in the shop because that means farming more of this event that is so… https://t.co/atgP3zcaxx
Oleg Benesch @OlegBenesch - 2021-02-27: Here's another shot of the Harbin ice castle. I suppose Himeji Castle would be the most obvious model for a Japanes… https://t.co/aUEK71XrCU
Tunod D. Denrub @TunodDenrub - 2021-02-27: @Chris_X_200 @Gozutrucker69 Not quite accurate. Her singing is actually really good, but she's under a curse that r… https://t.co/Q6RFNTQkni
Sean Gold @SeanGoldPhotos - 2021-02-25: On this day last year, after going to Fushimi Inari and then to Himeji, and then to Osaka aquarium, I ended my long… https://t.co/rqW5atWzfj
Rhonda Krause @TravelYesPlease - 2021-02-24: Himeji Castle- A National Treasure of Japan https://t.co/ur8dIgnkWZ #Asia #travel #ttot https://t.co/ExCGdUVQWp
Ricky Burnett (Code R3DKNIGHT) @RickyInJapan - 2021-02-24: A lovely walk after work around the back of Himeji Castle. #himeji #castle #r3dknight https://t.co/Q2mQXb4vLI
Ricky Burnett (Code R3DKNIGHT) @RickyInJapan - 2021-02-24: Himeji. Took a little walk behind the castle. Nice path and cycle lane set up. Lots of space #R3DKNIGHT #HIMEJI… https://t.co/hSwYVY2F5x
Ricky Burnett (Code R3DKNIGHT) @RickyInJapan - 2021-02-24: Himeji. Took a little walk behind the castle. No blooming trees yet but I did find a flower. #R3DKNIGHT #HIMEJI… https://t.co/uMf4IfSPFN
Ricky Burnett (Code R3DKNIGHT) @RickyInJapan - 2021-02-24: I need to come back later to see the beautiful plum trees. I looked over the fence and saw one. Maybe I will buy a… https://t.co/YM2ivzFF5J
Sasanarx @Wa66rpg - 2021-02-24: @DAI99154750 Very impressive! I once built the main castle of Himeji Castle, but I don't know the real structure.
52 Weeks Later 52WL ¦ Dee ¦ Japan ‣ Writing ‣ QA @52WeeksLater - 2021-02-23: 4 Popular Himeji Hotels and Ryokan - Perfect for Sightseeing in Japan's Famous Castle Town! https://t.co/ONnz0TC35A https://t.co/2wNKbtRytf
Eastern Story @MyEasternStory - 2021-02-23: 🌸 Japan Cherry Blossom 2021 Forecast: When & Where To See Sakura in Japan 🌸🇯🇵🗾

Some of The best places to see the… https://t.co/08HMDbCwQl