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

Ethan Trewhitt @courtarro - 2020-04-05: Japan day 15: April 4, 2019. Venturing the farthest west our trip would take us, we visited and toured the beautifu… https://t.co/7YywkFRiXx
Lunaguava @Lunaguava - 2020-04-05: Ghosts of Himeji Castle - #archives #lp #travel https://t.co/eLlrwT61QN
𝑺𝒚𝒎𝒃𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 @LancerofLOUD - 2020-04-05: She had somehow forgotten that the whole Castle Cachtice/UGLY PYRAMID/Himeji Castle combination was still a thing.

Wishful forgetfulness.
Nyxi 🔥 @Maido_Nyxi - 2020-04-04: 3* Rider Liz?

And Castle-Csjete-Pyramid-Himeji-Castle comes crashing down https://t.co/0Mc1SLUvPv
Toys to Educate @toystoeducate - 2020-04-04: #kid #puzzles Japan Himeji Castle Model Building Kit https://t.co/EhKydWEne3 https://t.co/LDJeRBMbRO
そうめん @mr_soumen - 2020-04-04: himeji Castle now. https://t.co/r9BdxKco3A
レリシエル🐎Commission Closed!🐎 @RalicielRanting - 2020-04-04: บ้านป้า Granny’s House (Battle)

This is her house, yes, the one in Crete, guarding by Talos. But now Talos and her… https://t.co/YalGZjDnVW
Asian History @asianhistory - 2020-04-03: Japan's unique features - Hyogo’s Himeji-jo Castle

Impregnable Castle that is Japan’s First World Heritage Site… https://t.co/bjhH2QlvPg
Hime (Simping for Futaba and Kasumi at P5R) @NotNeetHime - 2020-04-03: 'Yes, I was the Lord of the Himeji Castle in Japan. I worked at first advising and controlling things from the shad… https://t.co/oCsOtEd24P
Hime (Withdrawal Syndrome Edition) @NotNeetHime - 2020-04-03: 'Yes, I was the Lord of the Himeji Castle in Japan. I worked at first advising and controlling things from the shad… https://t.co/oCsOtEd24P
Jack.k @jacknormie - 2020-04-03: @resilienthkgirl Himeji Castle is located in the western part of Japan and is worth visiting, it is 30 min from Osaka by bullet train
Kintoki Got Out Of Containment @Kintoki_Says - 2020-04-03: @NobukatsuSays ...I'm being informed that Himeji castle is actually in Hyogo. But still. Osaka is pretty nifty.
Sage Hawthorne @lawyerpwny - 2020-04-03: @tabbiewolf I'd want to tour some shrines and maybe see Himeji Castle.

And so much food.
🔶🔷Kaitlan🔶🔷 @kaitlandavis - 2020-04-03: @TomkoRyan We were flying into Osaka and were going to visit there, Hiroshima, Himeji Castle, Kyoto, Nara, Mt. Fuji… https://t.co/sJvFyzCjwt
Eric³ 💔 freckle season @ericthelemming - 2020-04-02: @LemaitreIsa ask any japanese person and they’ll almost certainly say himeji castle is the best one. you can spend… https://t.co/lso98nmZvr
Eric³ 💔 freckle season @ericthelemming - 2020-04-02: @LemaitreIsa no, it’s himeji castle
THE GATE🇯🇵 【Japan travel media】 @TheGateJapan - 2020-04-02: 【Himeji Castle】

It is Himeji Castle, which was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1993.

One of Japan's large… https://t.co/j2rpaQPJCT
Wonder Completed @CompletedWonder - 2020-04-02: Himeji Castle has been built in a faraway land!
charlie ∞ // #Fiesta @yyemj - 2020-04-02: @saerisseluv yeah! It's Himeji Castle.
Ancient History Encyclopedia @ahencyclopedia - 2020-04-01: Japan in Medieval Times #history #emperor_of_japan #himeji_castle
https://t.co/OxYNO5fuax
Marta M Gonzalez 마르타 Ich bin Ausländer @Jimena_1976 - 2020-04-01: As I was meant to be in 🇯🇵 this week, a little trip to memory lane: 2018, Himeji Castle & gardens #Japan #Himeji… https://t.co/EIEYcDbH2Q
Photo Japan @PhotoJapanNews - 2020-04-01: Beautiful cherry blossoms frame the iconic Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture: https://t.co/zajEiDuS5y
muchspider @muchspider1 - 2020-04-01: Check this post out! Super cool construction of Himeji castle in minecraft with detailed process shots and write up… https://t.co/5V7FpDSUwd
𝘛𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘰-𝘯𝘰-𝘔𝘢𝘦 「玉藻の前」 @CaskoMikon - 2020-04-01: UH OH DO WE HAVE TO CLIMB UP HIMEJI CASTLE AGAIN. https://t.co/37qqdwXFMY
JapanwiththeFam @Japanwiththefam - 2020-03-31: @TheRealJapan1 We love Himeji castle! Definitely our favourite!!
RobKendrew @rob_kendrew - 2020-03-31: @TheRealJapan1 @Japanwiththefam Yes it’s great, you’re right. You come out of the station and it’s like ...wow! H… https://t.co/5mESN4eI1V
The Real Japan @TheRealJapan1 - 2020-03-31: Tom Cruise and James Bond Filmed Here

I’ve been to Himeji several times, and of all the Japanese castles I’ve seen… https://t.co/tDyLlUfyk7
Miiree Mocholí @MiiReee3 - 2020-03-30: Share lockscreen, homescreen, last song listened to, 15th picture in gallery!

Lockscreen: ume flowers in Kitano t… https://t.co/FIXTfXHbKF
卐　明らめる　卐 @Elucidatus - 2020-03-30: Himeji castle 姫路城, Himeji, Hyōgo Japan.

Small, narrow entranceways between buildings ensured that invading samurai… https://t.co/h1AruYIWNI
卐　明らめる　卐 (STAY HOME) @Elucidatus - 2020-03-30: Himeji castle 姫路城, Himeji, Hyōgo Japan.

Small, narrow entranceways between buildings ensured that invading samurai… https://t.co/h1AruYIWNI
Michelle Parry-Slater in SHQ @MiPS1608 - 2020-03-29: @dougshaw1 Well, used to live in Japan and Jamie proposed there at Himeji Castle, so that's kinda my kids heritage too! #LoveJapan
Michelle Parry-Slater is in SHQ @MiPS1608 - 2020-03-29: @dougshaw1 Well, used to live in Japan and Jamie proposed there at Himeji Castle, so that's kinda my kids heritage too! #LoveJapan
🌹Maléfica🕊 @Male_malefica - 2020-03-29: Himeji Castle #Japan
It is one of the oldest structures in medieval Japan that still survives in good condition. B… https://t.co/cP9F8yTet7
Wonder Completed @CompletedWonder - 2020-03-28: Ramesses II has completed Himeji Castle
そうめん @mr_soumen - 2020-03-28: himeji Castle now. https://t.co/ssUnvaUEg0
🇯🇵 Yuji ✈️ @Yuji_Rich - 2020-03-28: #Himeji_Japan

Beautiful Cherry blossoms and
Himeji Castle https://t.co/nadkZpSFkw
Christian Clark @christianbclark - 2020-03-27: Japan's cherry blossom season famously begins in April and lasts for around two weeks. The best places to see the b… https://t.co/B4OoNACIg0
Hime (Simping for Futaba at P5R) @NotNeetHime - 2020-03-27: 'And thank you, Musashi-chan. I will be sure to take your offer, you... are a good friend that I wish to be friends… https://t.co/D3EiW8Vzry
Osakabehime (Hime for friends) @NotNeetHime - 2020-03-27: 'And thank you, Musashi-chan. I will be sure to take your offer, you... are a good friend that I wish to be friends… https://t.co/D3EiW8Vzry
Robyn Ravlich @RobynRavlich - 2020-03-27: Beautiful photos. Lorrie Granham has such an eye!
The elegant Himeji Castle, Himeji, Japan https://t.co/HE8PhaxBxn
saaaaawiiii___ @sunnyyyyyyyyyy_ - 2020-03-27: Before Outbreak ❄️ @ Himeji Castle https://t.co/dVl5aWGBU3