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

Caprice Royal @MonCapriceRoyal - 2018-12-18: Himeji Castle - GaijinPot Travel https://t.co/xA3nRpFh50
Manuel Duarte @Manueleukaos - 2018-12-18: @Cafetime_cat Himeji it's a beatiful castle also. 🏯
Thanks Japan.com @thxjpn - 2018-12-18: I think many Japanese people imagine Himeji castle when they get asked about Japanese castles. However, Osaka castl… https://t.co/qhGLfVKRRf
bee @rubierose - 2018-12-18: Not a sight you see everyday .. A crow on a bike 😅

#crow #bike #himeji #japan #canonm10 #latepostasusual @ Himeji… https://t.co/nn9zs1d12n
blue cat @Cafetime_cat - 2018-12-18: @Manueleukaos Thank you so much!!!!!!😊😊😊😊😊
I am happy to hear that you like Himeji castle as a Japanese!!!!!!
Reall… https://t.co/BFQEC9NPEC
とらっどじゃぱん @trad_jpn - 2018-12-18: Himeji Castle is a National Treasure, and in 1993 it was placed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. 1/2 #gogakuru #English
至誠而不動者未之有也卍 @Elucidatus - 2018-12-18: Himeji castle 姫路城, Himeji, Hyōgo Japan.

Small, narrow entranceways between buildings ensured that invading samurai… https://t.co/r9ivOx5oWj
𝒱𝒶𝓁𝑒𝓇𝒾𝑒 𝒥𝑜𝓎𝒸𝑒 𝒴. 𝒢𝑜 @vjg_503 - 2018-12-18: Exercise exercise... #himejicastle @ Himeji Castle 姬路城 https://t.co/B0zH2os9bs
Positive Vibes Quotes @1bestHappy - 2018-12-17: lifeisverybeautiful:Cherry Blossoms, Himeji Castle, Japan... https://t.co/wnBUAL154J
Masanobu Nakamura @MasanobuNkmr - 2018-12-16: I took some photos of Himeji castle today.
It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1993, which was the first… https://t.co/w91kRzsE69
Traveler @UnrestrictedTrv - 2018-12-16: Samurai warrior watching over the Himeji Castle gates @ Himeji Castle 姬路城 https://t.co/lEx75hZMdx
BRB TTYL @davygreenberg - 2018-12-15: Castle in the Sky ☁️ @ Himeji Castle https://t.co/RAfSdPeMXk
Thanks Japan.com @thxjpn - 2018-12-15: I think many Japanese people imagine Himeji castle when they get asked about Japanese castles. However, Osaka castl… https://t.co/FadqdLa03R
Homer Noone @HomerNoone - 2018-12-14: @DucksUnder The Lucky Landing components are awesome! The upgrade is inspired by Himeji Castle. I wanted to see som… https://t.co/J8kZzbgohC
Matt Griffith @ItsMattGriffith - 2018-12-14: Himeji Castle is a hilltop Japanese castle complex located in the city of Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan. It's the finest su… https://t.co/9Py61GieUG
Zellart Modern Arts @ZellartCo - 2018-12-14: Himeji Castle, also called the white Heron castle, Japan №3035 Ready to Hang Canvas Print USD 59.99… https://t.co/FD4ho7DZ1a
Kiyoko | Footsteps of a Dreamer @Footstepdreamer - 2018-12-13: Day Trip to Himeji Castle from Osaka or Kyoto -- Things to do in HImeji and how to get there.
https://t.co/K1DKPuwg1e
Media4Math @media4math - 2018-12-13: VIDEO: Geometry Applications: Angles and Planes. Explore the properties of angles and planes in the context of thes… https://t.co/e9zTgGUWUA
Pinky @Pinkzenjoy - 2018-12-13: @dealchecker Hoping to see this view at Himeji Castle next March. :) #DCTravChat @wheresshellyii
Thee Irish Guy @TheeIrishGuy - 2018-12-13: First stop on our trip around Japan was Himeji Castle. It was pretty cool to see an old school japanese castle. The… https://t.co/zbH1Jc1qhC
Japan Travel @JapanTravel - 2018-12-12: Himeji is famed for its pristine castle, but did you know that the city is also known for its delicious sake and ru… https://t.co/LTT4OEVktN
Thanks Japan.com @thxjpn - 2018-12-12: I think many Japanese people imagine Himeji castle when they get asked about Japanese castles. However, Osaka castl… https://t.co/WhNvGGlnAG
bee @rubierose - 2018-12-12: Will you take the path before you?

#stairs #stone #himeji #japan #solotravel #RedMi5plus… https://t.co/iVhrbLByFL
bee @rubierose - 2018-12-12: Will you take the path before you?

#stairs #stone #himeji #japan #solotravel #RedMi5plus… https://t.co/iVhrbLByFL
Andrew @and_hamm - 2018-12-11: Missing Himeji City in Japan. The duality of old and new is in abundance in beautiful old cities like this. .
.
.… https://t.co/yUTODwKLhF
Claire Murphy @clairicles - 2018-12-11: I promise, I’m trying to avoid #travelspam but all of Japan is ridiculous. This is the view from Himeji Castle. @ H… https://t.co/0rYOYsdRed
Deborah Mioranza 💞 (デボラちゃん) ✌😚💋 😃😄😊 @Heartilly89 - 2018-12-11: I saw that!💓
Himeji Castle💖🗾🏯 is so wondeful!!! 💞😍💞 @HydeOfficial_ 😊😳🙊🙈💓
🇯🇵<~🏃🏻‍♀🏃🏻‍♀🏃🏻‍♀<~🇮🇹 https://t.co/PcArKETGo8
Dr. Ken Schneck @DrKenSchneck - 2018-12-11: Today’s adventure took us to 2 hours outside of Osaka to Himeji Castle. It. Was. Stunning. Really and truly breatht… https://t.co/2EfJBnRb9D
Kirsten @Kirstenann2009 - 2018-12-11: Secrets of Japan's Most Beautiful and Haunted Castle https://t.co/TVwPnR8GwM
Nippon.com @nippon_en - 2018-12-11: Japan’s first World Cultural Heritage sites, including Himeji Castle, were registered 25 years ago today. https://t.co/lpYXfQZpgg