Himeji | Day Trip from Osaka | japan-guide.com
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- Опубліковано 26 чер 2024
- Learn more about Himeji: www.japan-guide.com/e/e3500.html
In this video we explore the spectacular Himeji Castle and the atmospheric temple complex of Shoshazan.
This video was filmed in mid-September 2023.
- Chapters -
00:00 Intro
01:42 Himeji Station
02:03 Himeji Castle
05:07 Kokoen
06:22 Travel to Shoshazan
06:36 Mount Shoshazan
10:09 Outro
- Video Credits -
Host & Narrator: Matt Evans
Videographer: Thomas Roennlund
Producers: Stefan Schauwecker
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A note on Himeji Castle: yes, the staircases inside are as steep as they look here, so you will need to be in good physical condition to navigate them. Visiting the city was one of the highlights of my trip to Japan a few years back.
Now I am very much more convinced I’ll go to Himeji castle > Osaka castle in October
Do both, they are both worth it! :)
Visited Himeji, just got out of the train station after taking the very quick shinkansen from Osaka, and I just got wow'ed immediately.
Just visited Himeji two weeks ago during my trip to Osaka. Truly a magnificent castle. The tour was enhanced by the free volunteer tour guide on-hand (shoutout to Hideyo! Excellent knowledge!). The town's surrounds were great, too! There were very little foot traffic as we visited during the middle of the week. Would go back in a heartbeat. 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵
Thanks for sharing your experience! How and where to connect with these volunteer guides ?
@@bassical howdy, the volunteer guides were hanging around after the ticket gates. It may be luck of the draw/subject to "first come, first serve" but Hideyo (Japanese and English-speaking) and another gentleman guide (Japanese and also Chinese-speaking) were available at the time of our attendance. Keep a lookout for them, otherwise it doesn't hurt to enquire at the ticket-booth.
@@unsungzerooo Got it. Once again, thanks so much for your sharing - this is really helpful. Looking forward to Himeiji
@@bassical you're very welcome! Wishing I was back in Japan! 🥲 Ps: try a standing sushi bar outside Himeji Station called Totoro. There's a line up but after seeing and trying their selection, you won't regret going there 😉 Enjoy your trip!
Awesome tip man. There are often lots of these retired volunteers at the sites and their knowledge is amazing. Can really take the experience from being "I saw this cool building"...to... "I saw this cool building and here's 20 awesome stories about it."
I was there (Himeji, visited the castle and Kokoen garden) in summer 2007, I still remember it to this day. Truly amazing, must be experienced in person 100%
I also remember amazing ramen noodles local from the region 😋
on our trip to japan himeji was one of our best high lights when we go back we will be sure to visit once again, dont miss out in the best castle in japan
It really is one of the best castles in Japan! Hope you will get to visit it again soon :)
I highly recommend himeji castle! I have visited it twice, and it always amazes me. It is beautiful!
Unlike other castles that are just reconstructions, Himeji is an original castle.
By the way, i always use japan-guide only when planning trips to japan. The site is so reliable and comprehensive 🙂
Tip: always wear socks when visitng temples and castles because they will make you take your shoes off. They provide plastic bags at entrances to carry your shoes in
Thanks for always showcasing lesser known attractions. I've been to Himeji several times but have never heard of Shoshazan. The temple looks so peaceful! Will make it a point to visit the next time I'm there😊
Thank you so much for watching and for the nice comment! The temple is indeed a great addition when visiting Himeji!
I went there last weekend but unfortunately the ropeway is closed due to maintenance until March 13. 😅
It was one of our highlights back then on our honeymoon :)
Thx for sharing this video
Been there in 2001.. loved it. Its the castle from 1980s tv shogun series
I visited Himeji Castle years ago, before the more recent renovation, and I found it spectacular! I will definitely visit again if I’m ever back in Japan. I didn’t take time to visit the Kokoen Gardens, so I would include that on any future visit. Himeji has several museums that are also worth a visit.
The renovation made it look even more spectacular than it already was. Hope you will get to visit again some time soon!
I love himeiji!
Didn't know about that temple though, so definitely want to go back and look!
Great video. Went to Himeji Castle and the garden for the first time exactly a week ago. Himeji was 1000円 and if you want to go to Kokoen Garden it was only an extra 50円as of this post.
My suggestion, go as early as possible. I went around 10:30am (last Saturday) and the PA system went off every 30mins or so announcing the castle was at maximum capacity and overcrowding (only 1.5hrs after its 9am opening time). Since Himeji isn’t modernized like some other large castles, Kumamoto or Osaka for example (with elevators), Himeji is all walking through the six floors which causes long queues. Like waiting in line at an amusement park. One floor transition we waited over 30mins.
Due to this, it took over three hours give or take. I didn’t leave until after 3ish in the afternoon and I entered in the morning. This includes the side castle wall corridor, the castle itself, and open for the first time to the public, ‘The West Keep’ (the smaller looking castle next to the main one). If it wasn’t for the wall corridor and the west keep + no crowds, you can see the entirety in about an hour to 1.5hrs tops.
Out of all the major castles I’ve visited over the years, Himeji is the largest in terms of what you walk through and see. Probably my favorite so far, but never again if crowded.
To not make this comment any longer, I will say the garden next door is an A+ experience as well.
Thanks for the details. Do you think weekdays will be as busy as weekends? Also, my visit is in early November so not sure if that would be as busy as the Sakura season?
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! Did you go on Feb 24? There was a national holiday on that weekend, which could explain why it was so crowded.
I was there last Spring, the castle and gardens. The best was the view from the sixth floor of the city from the Castle.
The view really is amazing!
I visited Himeji castle twice. I love it. This video is well done in a compact way and I like it.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the information. I plan to visit in 3 weeks!
Have a great time there!
Very nice, thank you Japan guide
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the video. Looks fantastic. You've inspired me to include this in my upcoming trip. Cheers!
Thank you for your really nice comment! Glad to hear the video inspired you, and hope you will have a great trip!
@@japanguide thank you and btw I loved your style of narration. Kudos!
Thank you so much! 😊😊
very good narration
Thank you so much!
I've done everything on this list in autumn
I've got to get to Himiji. This is very motivating. In fact that map at 2:52 is very motivating. I would love to squeeze them all in. ...and Mt Shoshazan...I hadn't even heard of it...thank you so much guys!!!
Himeji is definitely worth the visit! Hope you will get to squeeze all the spots on your future visit. Glad that the video inspired you to discover some of these places :) And as always thank you for your nice comment!😀
Truly, Himeji city was an amazing place! I traveled there last December for my2nd. time.
This time, my first destination was Mt. Shosha Engyoji temple, so I bought a
Mt. Shosha Ropeway Package Ticket. I rode the ropeway in the morning, and the view from
the window was breathtaking. If you can walk to Engyoji temple, the route along the walk can make you feel peaceful. When I finished from the top of the mountain,
I hopped on the local bus and went back to Himeji Castle. I truly recommend this route
"Mt. Shosha Ropeway ⇒ Engyoji temple ⇒ Himeji Castle" too.
Let's try it!
Thanks for this channel’s videos. It might be useful to say when they were filmed, since surely it makes a difference during what season you visit.
Thank you very much! That is a good point indeed. This one we filmed in September last year.
I visited the castle twice and I was stunned by its heavenly beauty. Shame I missed the cherry blossom when I visited there. 😊
That was pretty much our day there. We skipped the garden though. The visit up the mountain was very atmospheric as it was covered in mist. A monk showed me a golden Buddha and we rang the bell too. It was a great day. My boys got a kick out of seeing a location from a film we recently enjoyed.
Shoshazan is indeed atmospheric! hope you had a great trip! : D
how long would you plan for the castle and the gardens? 2-3 hours?
What fire protection measures are there at these historical buildings? Given Japan’s history of fires, I would hope that some sort of at-the-ready sprinklers or other measures are in place.
Japanese castles are so beautiful. I wonder if they sell assembable miniatures.
I like Himeji, it's the best preserved castle (most are recreations) in Japan and it is beautiful but I'd say better from the outside.
The inside of the keep, impressive as it is, is not the best experience since you're funnelled through with lots of other visitors and the design of an Edo period keep has a slight issue; it gets smaller towards the top. Fine on the bottom floor, horrible on the top, and you have to navigate the steep stairs in big crowds during busy periods.
The grounds are lovely, and you could skip the keep if that doesn't sound appealing.
Hello Matt!
Hi!
Was this filmed days ago? Wow it's warm already?
We filmed this one last September, it was still pretty warm at that moment.
Wonderful video. But would you recommend living in Himeji as an expat?
Thank you so much for your comment! Unfortunately none of us at japan-guide.com have lived in Himeji, so we won't be able to confirm 100%..
It’s even closer from Kobe . A short train ride
Himeji or Nara?
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How IN THE WORLD were you able to visit mount Shosa without mentioning this is where the Last Samurai was filmed???
Good point! We do mention it on our Mount Shosha page: www.japan-guide.com/e/e3503.html
too short and lazily made video for such a place...