From Osaka to Himeji Castle
Best way to get from Osaka to Himeji is to catch Shinkansen Hikari 495 from ShinOsaka to Himeji which takes 29 minutes. Lockers are available at Himeji Station early in the morning, however if you do decide to only do a day tour in Himeji and then go to Kyoto then the lockers at ShinOsaka may also prove handy.
Admission into Himeji Castle including the nearby garden (Koko-en) is 720Yen.
The castle is a short walk up the main street from Himeji station. Bicycles are available for hire for free at the information booth at the station.
Personally the castle itself is not really all that interesting, however that being said I much prefer food & shopping over gardens and buildings, so perhaps if you are interested in the cultural differences of how western and eastern castles were built this may prove fun for you.
As you face the castle from the station you’re looking North. The best view is from Otokoyama, a small hill to the West.
The tourist guides suggest that you allocate ½ a day to see Himeji. We managed to walk around the castle, up through the many steps to the top, back down, and around the nearby Koko-en garden in 2.5 hours.
We even had time to stop by the nearby café for a bite to eat before picking up our luggage and catching the Shinkansen Hikari Railstar 565 to Hiroshima.
Whilst it was good to see this famous tourist site, it wasn’t as grand as what I had expected. Perhaps it was the proximity of the Castle to the city itself which made it such a non-event. Worth seeing as a first timer, but if you don’t have the time it is something you can skip on your trip.
