Himeji Castle

兵庫県

The White Heron Castle built by Hideyoshi and Ikeda Terumasa — Japan's most beautiful surviving keep, World Heritage

Founded

1346

Type

Castle

Visited

Want to go

Access

About 20 min walk from JR Himeji Station

兵庫県姫路市本町

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Info

Castle

Founded 1346

680 years

Overview

Himeji Castle ('White Heron Castle'), begun 1346 and completed by Ikeda Terumasa in the early Edo period, is a National Treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site — Japan's most celebrated castle. Surviving the Edo period entirely intact, it rises along the avenue from Himeji Station as an unmatched example of original castle architecture.

Origins

Founded in 1346 when Akamatsu Sadanori, military governor of Harima, built a fortification on Himeyama. In the 1550s Kuroda Shigetaka and Mototaka expanded it to a medieval castle; their heir, Kuroda Kanbei, was born here. In 1580 Hashiba Hideyoshi seized the castle as a base for his western campaig…

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Visiting Information

Hours

Gates open 9:00 AM; entry accepted 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (grounds close 5:00 PM). Hours vary seasonally. Closed December 29–30.

Admission

General (age 18+, non-residents) ¥2,500; Himeji City residents (18+) ¥1,000; under 18 free. Combined ticket with Kokoen Garden: ¥2,600. (Revised March 2026)

As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.

Also Worth Visiting

Koko-en Garden

A 1992 stroll garden built on the castle's former west estate for the 400th anniversary — nine gardens using the castle as borrowed scenery

Founded 1893 — a gokoku shrine enshrining some 57,000 war dead from western Harima, set against Himeji Castle

443m

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