The Best Castle in Japan: Himeji Castle 姫路城

Japan’s Culture of Castles

For such a small country, Japan is literally drowning in castles. Throughout the island, nearly every city has a massive fortress to call their own.

Centuries ago, when the power of the emperor waned, the island nation of Japan fell into a period of warring states. Each ruler and city had its own castle to defend their claim of the island. Even after unification, these towering castles continued to be a symbol of power and authority in Japan.

As Japan entered the modern era many of these ornate palaces were torn down. In the eyes of the progressives, these castles served as nothing more than a relic of the past. The destruction of World War II also took its toll on the many historic fortresses on the island.

Today, only a handful of original castles remain standing in Japan. Many of the other towers and palaces found in the country are mere replicas. Despite the loss of some of Japan’s most historic sites, practically every town in the country is centered around a looming castle.

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Picking Just One Castle

As a tourist in Japan, you already well know that traveling throughout the country comes with a hefty price tag. Therefore, it is unthinkable to pay entrance fees to the hundreds of castles you are sure to come across while exploring Japan.

It is usually free to roam around the base of the castles are explore the moats and walls. Eventually, you will find that curiosity will overwhelm you, and you just can’t quite resist not taking a peek into one of the elaborate castles which dot Japan.

Rather than shelling out fistfuls of Yen every time you come across a castle, you may elect just to pay to enter only the best of what Japan has to offer. If you were to just choose one of the castles of Japan to enter, it would have to be Himeji Castle. One of Japan’s largest and most well preserved historical castles!

Wanting to see a bit more of rural Japan? Why not visit the farmhouses of Shirakawa-go?

How To Get To Himeji Castle

As you may already know, the trains in Japan are a model of both efficiency and speed that the rest of the world should take note of. Just because riding the ways is the best way to get around, does not mean they are always cheap.

The most popular way to visit Himeji Castle is on a day trip from either Osaka or Kyoto. A mere 1.5 hours from Shin-Osaka will cost a whopping 3,220 Yen (30 USD) for an unreserved seat. While this is the cheapest option to get to buy a ticket in Japan to Himeji, the JR Pass will have you riding the rails for free. After paying a flat rate for the pass outside of the country, you will have free reign of all of Japan for an allotted amount of time. This is especially handy if you are planning to see as much of Japan as possible in a short amount of time.

After arriving at Himeji Station it is a straight shot from Otemae-Dori Street to the castle.

Entering Himeji Castle

As you come rolling down Otemae-Dori Street on a bus or hoofing the 1km on the sidewalk, the view of the towering Himeji Castle will reveal itself. While some of the other castles around Japan are nothing more than a singular keep perched on the top of pyramid-like walls, the intricacy of the various grand halls and palace is awe-inspiring.

Out of all the castles you may have visited in Japan, Himeji Castle is one of the few where you feel as if you were stepping back into an old Akira Kurosawa samurai movie. As you walk up the winding paths with the high white walls on either side, it is easy to imagine thousands of katana-wielding soldiers rushing the fortress.

One of the first things you will notice about the Himeji Castle is its nearly blinding appearance. Himeji roughly translates to “White Heron Castle” and it is easy to see why. It even got to a point that when repairs were being made to the castle, locals complained about the castle being “too white”.

You can enter the castle for 1,000 Yen (10 USD).

Traveling during the winter to Japan? You won’t want to miss the snow in Hida Takayama!

Day Trip to Himeji Castle

Unfortunately, the illusion of walking the steps of centuries-old samurai ends the second you step inside of Himeji Castle. While the surrounding gardens, deep moats, massive stone walls, and ornate keeps transport you to an ancient bygone era, the interior of the castle is incredibly bare.

It is understandable that one would not want to keep priceless artifacts inside a towering white matchbox. Although, you would think there would be something to try and recreate what Himeji Castle may have looked like in its heyday. Like wrapping a cardboard box with shiny wrapping paper, the interior of the White Heron Castle will leave you empty.

As you climb the ever-narrowing steep staircase to the top of Himeji Castle, you are given a breathtaking view of the modern city which encircles the fortress. Other than the crawl on all fours to the summit of Himeji Castle, there isn’t a whole lot to see within the walls of the ancient keep.

Traveling to Himeji Castle is an excellent day-trip from Osaka. The exterior of the fortress and the labyrinth-like walls are more than enough to make you glad you took the trip from the very second you step off the train. Other than the castle you will also find the famous Kokoen Gardens nearby (included in the price of the ticket for 1,040 Yen) and Mount Shosha a mere 30 minutes drive from the train station.

Compared with most of the other castles you are bound to see in Japan, Himeji Castle is by far the most impressive and immersive. Although the interior of this once proud palace has been gutted, you can still almost hear the Shogun’s consort shifting their feet against the polished wood while wandering the halls of Himeji Castle.