You will receive a free quarterly E-mail Newsletter! Ryokan & Restaurants in Hyogo which are English-friendly. Guided Tours Available by volunteers in Hyogo Translation Service is also available. Himeji Castle Area / Around Himeji City Himeji Castle Area [Himeji Castle] Himeji Castle, built in the early 17th century, represents the highest achievement in Japanese castle architecture. Designated as a national treasure in 1931, the castle was registered on the World Heritage list in 1993 as the first cultural site in Japan. The registration occurred because the castle has kept its original design at the time of construction, such as turrets, stone walls, gates, and moats, which still survive today. The main castle keep (Dai-tenshu) connected with three small keeps (Ko-tenshu) linked by passage turrets (Watari yagura) remains perfectly in their original forms. Because of its elegant appearance totally covered with white plaster includes castle keeps and turrets, the castle has been compared to a white bird flying off to the sky. Its famous nickname is Shirasagi-jo or White Heron Castle. Open: 9:00 – 17:00 (last admission 16:00 Closed hour is extended for 1 hour in June – August.) Admission: ¥600 for Adult, ¥200 for Child. Closed: December 29 – 30 Access: 15 minute walk from JR Himeji Station. TEL:079-285-1146 The Top of This Page [Kokoen] Kokoen, one of the leisure spots in Himeji City, is composed of nine various sized Japanese traditional gardens in the chisen-kaiyu style (strolling landscape gardens) on the former site where a mansion of the Himeji Lord and his men’s samurai houses existed in the Edo Period. Visitors can enjoy seasonal changes in the gardens such as, Oyashiki-no-niwa (The Garden of the Lord mansion) filmed as a location including the pond with carps swimming, Tsukiyama-chisen-no niwa (The garden with a mound and pond) including Rinsentei, a thatched arbor, and Nagare-no-hira-niwa (flat landscaped garden) with flowers blooming along the stream. Green tea is served in Shouju-an, or the tea room, designed by Sennososhitsu, a tea master of the Ura school to visitors for an additional charge. Open: 9:00 – 17:00 (Closed hour is extended for 1 hour in June-August.) Admission: ¥300 for Adult. Closed: December 29 – January 1 Access: 15 minute walk from JR Himeji Station. Take City or Shinki Bus from JR Himeji Station to Himejijo Kokoen-mae. TEL:079-289-4120 The Top of This Page [Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History] The museum features the history of Hyogo and Himeji Castle. People’s life from the ancient to modern times is on display in the section of “History of Himeji”. Information on castle collected from all over the country is available at the section of “castle and town”. Along with these permanent exhibitions, you can watch various videos and try on twelve-layered court kimono and samurai armor. The noted architect Kenzo Tange designed this museum. Open: 10:00 – 17:00 Admission: ¥200 for Adult (Extra charge will be required for special exhibition). Closed:Mondays (Tuesday when monday is a national holiday) Access: Take Shinki Bus at JR Himeji Station to Hakubutsukan-mae. TEL:079-288-9011 The Top of This Page [Himeji City Museum of Art] The beautiful red-brick building built in the Meiji Period is being used as a museum. The collection features paintings ranging from local artists to those by modern Belgium artists like Paul Delvaux, Rene Magritte and others. The museum also holds special exhibitions of work by local artists. The forecourt with its view of Himeji Castle offers citizens a place to relax. Open: 10:00 – 17:00 Admission: ¥200 /Adult (Extra charge will be required for special exhibition) Closed:Mondays(Tuesday when monday is a national holiday) Access: Take Shinki Bus at JR Himeji Station to Kokuritsu Byoin / Bijutsukan-mae. TEL:079-222-2288 The Top of This Page [Himeji City Museum of Literature] The region called Harima is centered on Himeji City. On display are materials and works of local literati. The north building features Harima Mandara showing the cultural climate of Harima (60 meters long and 7 meters high corridor). Through the corridor, you will find panel displays and reproduced studies of Himeji natives, Tetsuro Watsuji a philosopher, Rinzo Shiina a novelist and others. The south building has a special room in memory of Ryotaro Shiba, a noted author, displaying his works and life. The noted architect Tadao Ando designed the museum. Open: 10:00 – 17:00 Admission: ¥300 for Adult. Closed: Mondays (Tuesday when monday is a national holiday) December 25 – January 5 Access: Take City Bus at JR Himeji Station to Ichinohashi Bungakukan-mae. TEL:079-293-8228 The Top of This Page [Sightseeing Loop Bus / Bicycle Service] Sightseeing Loop Bus Tourist Loop Bus Around the Castle Details: Call Himeji Tourist Information Center TEL:079-285-3792 Tourism Navi-Port TEL:079-287-3658 Days of Service: Saturday, Sunday and holidays except from December 29 to December 31 and January 1 to January 3. Hours of Service: 9:00 – 17:00 (every 15 – 30 minutes) 27 services a day. Fare: ¥100 for Adult, ¥50 for Child (One-day pass: ¥300 for Adult, ¥150 for Child) One-day pass holders can receive a 20% discount on entry at Himeji Castle, Koko-en, as well as for the permanent exhibitions at the Himeji City Museum of Art and Himeji City Museum of Literature. Bicycle Rental Service Tourist Information Center Rental Hours: 9:00 – 16:00 (Bikes must be returned by 6 p.m.) Free (Required information must be filled in application forms.) Application Place: Himeji Tourist Information Center (In JR Himeji Station) Rental Place: Western part of JR Himeji Station Chika Churinjo (underground bicycle parking lot), Ote-mae Chika Churinjo (underground bicycle parking lot) The Top of This Page [Engyoji Temple on Mt. Shosha] Engyoji Temple, once one of the three training centers of the Tendai sect, is nestled in a peaceful mountain and has many important cultural buildings and statues. Founded in A.D. 966 by Shoku, a holy Buddhist priest, the temple is noted as a pilgrimage site. Visitors can see the Maniden, the main building halfway up the mountain; the Daikodo, the great auditorium; the forty meters long Jikido, both a priests training center and a boarding house; and the Kaizando, supported by four statues made by Hidari Jingoro, a famous sculptor. Another must is the grave of Mikinosuke, an adopted son of Musashi Miyamoto. Admission: (Donation for maintaining the temple) ¥300 (The service of Shoshazan Ropeway is 8:30 – 18:00 on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. – 19:00 on Sundays and holidays. The service can be changed according to seasons. The fare is ¥500 for one-way and ¥900 for a round trip. 4 minute tour.) Access:Take City Bus at JR Himeji Station bound for Shosha Ropeway and get off at the final destination. TEL:079-266-3327 The Top of This Page [Shosha Art & Craft Museum] The black tiled roof and red pillars of the museum make a beautiful contrast with the bamboo greenery. Nostalgic fork toys and traditional craftworks, as well as examples of calligraphy and painted potteries by the former head priest of Todaiji Temple, Kosho Shimizu, a native of Himeji, are on display. About 300 Buddha images made by Kosho at local potteries have warm atmosphere with expressive faces. Demonstration of making Himeji specialties such as, tops and papier-mache are performed. Visitors can paint and color these specialties. Open: 10:00 – 17:00 Admission: ¥300 for Adult. Closed: Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a national holiday) December 25 – January 5 Access:Take City Bus at JR Himeji Station bound for Shosha Ropeway and get off at the final destination. TEL:079-267-0301 The Top of This Page [Himeji Central Park] The Himeji Central Park has a safari and an amusement park. Cheetahs and lions as well as plant eating animals are in a natural state in Drive-through Safari Zone in an area forty-eight times larger than Koshien Kyujo, a famous ballpark. You will be overwhelmed by powerful wild animals at short range. You can feed elephants and ride a pony in Walking Safari Zone. Bungee jumping, free falling, and a roller coaster are popular among the visitors. You can enjoy yourself here all the year round, swimming in the pool in summer and skating on the rink in winter. Open: 10:00 - 17:00 Amusement Park 10:00 – 17:00 Safari Park 10:00 – 16:30 (Open hours can be changed according to seasons and days of the week) Admission:Adult ¥2900,Elementary School Student ¥1700,Child(3-6years old): ¥1000 Closed: Wednesdays (Amusement Park will be closed on Thursdays depending on seasons. Safari Park is open everyday.) Open everyday during year end and new year holidays and spring, summer, and winter holidays. Access:Take Shinki Bus at JR Himeji Station to Himeji Central Park. TEL:079-264-1611 The Top of This Page [Hoshinoko Yakata (Children's Seminar House)] The noted architect, Tadao Ando, designed the building or Himeji Municipal Accomodation and Facilities Center (Child’s seminar House), which has a telescope of 90 cm through which you can observe the stars while staying overnight. (reservation required) Open 9:00 – 17:00 Closed the second Wednesdays except August and December. December 28 – January 4 Take Shinki Bus at JR Himeji Station to Hoshinoko Yakata. TEL:079-267-3050 The Top of This Page Hyogo Tourism Association Hyogo Prefectural Government Bldg. No.1,5-10-1 Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan Postal Code:650-8567 Tel:078-361-7661 Fax:078-361-7662 e-mail: