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

James 🏳️‍🌈 @submanifold - 2019-04-21: Himeji castle is beautiful, and was not expecting to enjoy it quite so much. https://t.co/4HjuilWAZT
PaulM @MurphyPaul79 - 2019-04-21: @Raygmorris Thanks G Ray! Himeji has another wonderful castle that I’d love to see, but not sure I have enough time on this trip 🙁
iSEKAI Group Co., Ltd. @IsekaiL - 2019-04-21: Cherry Blossom at Himeji Castle – Hyogo Prefecture https://t.co/abiYn7mVZk https://t.co/e0JpzPupoq
ちごすけ ⇄ Tigo @VAeggAS - 2019-04-21: Climactic Battle⚔

I took pictures in the museum near Himeji castle. Himeji has a lot of best shooting spots. I rec… https://t.co/f6i2uR3v0q
🌸 alex 🌸 @ailiacchi - 2019-04-21: [sekiro voice] i wanna climb himeji castle
🌸 alex 🌸 @ailiacchi - 2019-04-21: ahh former students of mine are volunteer guides at himeji castle and all the photos they're uploading are so pretty https://t.co/EyZAp2jsLW
Dr. George Yagi Jr. @gyagi_jr - 2019-04-20: Himeji Castle is a true survivor, and even escaped damage during the Second World War. #Himeji #HimejiCastle #Japan… https://t.co/RkRneVfJB7
Dr. George Yagi Jr. @gyagi_jr - 2019-04-20: The symbol of the samurai at Himeji Castle. #Sakura #CherryBlossom #Himeji #HimejiCastle #Japan #Japanese #Samurai… https://t.co/woCW4qQrtR
MarekMن 🇵🇱 🇩🇪 @MarekMusnicki - 2019-04-20: @smilexgratitude @CodyWolfeMusic btw, Himeji Castle, that is not so far from your place, isn't it?
le Voyage Gourmand @voyagegourmand - 2019-04-20: Restorations on the castle of the white heron are finished! We can finally see the castle in it's full glory #japan… https://t.co/4h18cFKLjG
Christian Zetzsche @zedmaster84 - 2019-04-19: Visited a world heritage site today and got to see my first @FoEmpires legendary building in person. Find below… https://t.co/9h1AJ3C6tz
Monkey Buckles @Monkey_Buckles - 2019-04-19: Pretty close to having an actual plan for the next Japan trip:
Arrive in Japan June 4th
Tokyo 5th-8th including BOS… https://t.co/18fnbfrQRc
S. J. Pajonas @spajonas - 2019-04-19: Built in 1333, Himeji Castle in Japan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 #Japan https://t.co/uFbLdrqbK9
ShinoBeginners @SHINOBEGINNERS - 2019-04-19: 【Samurai Terumasa Ikeda and the Ninja】
Since being renovated by Terumasa, Himeji Castle has remained intact to this… https://t.co/Bv6pvFQKy6
The 3.2 Shooter / Loriene P @3point2shooter - 2019-04-19: Hikone castle in winter 🏯

Tiny in comparison to Himeji and Osaka castle, but it is an all original structure. One… https://t.co/Lp0rg0dY2g
Alejandro Gonzalez @aggonzo326 - 2019-04-18: Chances Himeji Castle burns down next so I can get Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice for free? https://t.co/JNKfoHgGPu
Christian Zetzsche @zedmaster84 - 2019-04-18: @BunnyTokyoJP Doing Kanazawa and Tokyo this time, as I sadly only have a week due to work. Might go to Himeji just to see the castle 🤔
Danielle Towne @danitowne - 2019-04-18: The many faces of Himeji Castle (nicknamed White Egret Castle for its brilliant white exterior). #himejicastle… https://t.co/4Aa14zDIqN
Elephants In Japan @japanelephants - 2019-04-18: @tamukichi58 You are right, it is a very old and outdated zoo. Himeko the elephant also lives here. The zoo has pre… https://t.co/2z5xldC4eo
Lieutenant. Crystal Jones @JonesLieutenant - 2019-04-18: Spring Himeji Castle https://t.co/zfhRk3n7L0
Mirror's Shadow 🖤 @Mirrors_Shadows - 2019-04-18: Oh, I love Himeji castle. It's beautiful in Spring, but always a beauty to behold. https://t.co/7pGcAtMvUg
ShinoBeginners @SHINOBEGINNERS - 2019-04-18: 【Warlord Terumasa Ikeda and the Ninja】
(Himeji Castle was built by Terumasa)
Visitors can try various ninja experie… https://t.co/3cC3n7uD8G
followjapan_fj @FollowJapan_fj - 2019-04-18: Expired film anyone? Expired FUJIFILM anyone? Double whammy here - 🇯🇵 represent. Sakura, Himeji castle ftw. (Fu… https://t.co/WvHCL8v8ar
ruki @ 🇯🇵 4/8-4/23 @sugarstarsky - 2019-04-18: Walking towards Himeji Castle https://t.co/Z2auJ0QkAz
Anthony Element OAM @observationpt - 2019-04-17: @phbarratt I agree, Paul.
I'd feel the same way if Himeji Castle in Japan or the Great Mosque in Cordoba were destroyed.
Bearhugger @Bearhuggerus - 2019-04-17: I've returned to modeling, and finally finished the Himeji Castle https://t.co/8tvh8155cm
Carsten Grüttner @bikeload - 2019-04-17: Himeji - When I visited Himeji in 2014, the castle was going through a 6 year full-scale restoration and was comple… https://t.co/L30HiqQKe1
Enjoy Nature 🌻+☀️=💛 @EnjoyNature - 2019-04-17: Japanese cherry blossom or sakura trees garden at Himeji castle in Japan🇯🇵

#Travel #Nature #Art #Photography… https://t.co/NW79w1oFiN
Jackie Rzeczkowski @wackyjax - 2019-04-17: Notre Dame rebuilt in 5 years?! That's how long it took to repair Himeji Castle's existing roof.… https://t.co/prjwnRN9HR
Leifendeth @Leifendeth - 2019-04-17: @thelessdead80 Sounds beautiful! I did some exploring in Japan in 2012, but the farthest south I went was Himeji ca… https://t.co/gintQMGnFi
Photos Travel and Food @PhotosTravelan1 - 2019-04-17: Himeji castle park is amazing during Sakura Season
#sakura #japanesegarden #himeji #japan #travel #travelblogger… https://t.co/GwCWJxiGnb
tensionrush@もすッ‼うふふ @tensionrush - 2019-04-17: I'm still laughing to myself a little that I did not get carded when purchasing 18+ doujin at Tora. But when I need… https://t.co/xaT8Gd9Vow
ヤン @jan_verhave - 2019-04-17: @EngUtatane That is quite normal. I didn’t know Himeji castle or Senso-ji 2 years ago.
Affordable World @AffordableWTour - 2019-04-16: Gorgeous views! This majestic structure is Himeji Castle in #Japan. Have you experienced Japan with us yet?… https://t.co/SWyaIq5Nnp
Classrooms Without Walls @CWW_HHS - 2019-04-16: CWW visits Himeji Castle 🏯 and climbed all 500 steps to the 🔝the view and history of this historical site we’ll che… https://t.co/vuRjtc6l3r
HobokenHSClassof2020 @HobokenHs - 2019-04-16: Our Junior Miracle arriving at Himeji Castle this afternoon for a beautiful tour and sightseeing of its surrounding… https://t.co/1zr0cbmIyj
Kawaii Katherine @Ftw_Katherine - 2019-04-16: Look up any given world wonder or cultural heritage site. Almost all have been destroyed at some point except for H… https://t.co/kMpHFMbaPp
Paul Donohoe @Donohoe_P - 2019-04-16: @Josiensor Sugoi! Don't forget Kamakura, Nara and Himeji-castle. (Not many people go to Kanazawa btw)