What to know
Himeji (姫路) is renowned for its magnificent castle, Himeji Castle, widely regarded as Japan's finest and most beautifully preserved feudal fortress. The castle is a designated National Treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
With a population of about half a million, Himeji is Hyogo Prefecture's second-largest city after Kobe. It lies less than an hour from Osaka or Kyoto by train and is a convenient stop on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, for instance when traveling from Tokyo or Kyoto to Hiroshima.
