How to Spend a Day in Himeji: A Perfect Stop Between Hiroshima and Osaka
If you’re traveling between Hiroshima and Osaka (or Kyoto), Himeji (姫路市) makes a perfect stopover, with its main attractions all within walking distance of the station. Home to Japan’s most spectacular original castle, it’s a city I like to stop in when I’m traveling between the Kansai region and Hiroshima.
Whether you only have a few hours or a full day to explore, I hope this guide and itinerary suggestion will help you make the most of your time in Himeji!
How to Get to Himeji
Getting to Himeji is quick and convenient, whether you're coming from Osaka or Kyoto, or from Hiroshima.
If you're traveling from Osaka, the fastest option is the shinkansen, which takes about 30 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (and costs ¥3,610). If you’re not using the JR Pass and looking for a more budget-friendly alternative, you can take a JR Special Rapid train on the Tokaido-Sanyo line, which takes around 1 hour from Osaka Station and costs ¥1,520.
From Kyoto, the shinkansen will get you to Himeji in about 45 minutes (for ¥5,600), while the Special Rapid Service takes approximately 90 minutes (for ¥2,310).
If you're coming from Hiroshima, the Shinkansen is the best choice, taking about 1 hour and costing ¥8,770.
A One-Day Itinerary to Explore Himeji
Arrive at Himeji Station and Store Your Luggage To Explore Stress-Free
Because I've always stopped in Himeji when traveling with family or friends making their first trip to Japan, Our group always had large suitcases, so the priority on arrival at Himeji station was to put them away. But don't worry, if you're in the same situation, traveling with suitcases in Himeji is no problem, as there are plenty of lockers around the station where you can store your luggage. You can find a map of the lockers around Himeji station here.
✨TRAVELY TIP: You can also go to a tourist information center nearby Himeji station, called Localprime Travel Lab（トラベルラボ), which offers an affordable and convenient luggage storage service, a useful option if you have extra-big suitcases that don’t fit in a locker for instance. The place also sells local products and you can ask for travel advices to the friendly staff.
Now it’s time to explore Himeji!
Walk to Himeji Castle along Otemae Street or Himeji's Shopping Arcades
As soon as you leave Himeji station, you'll find yourself facing Otemae-dori, Himeji's main street, at the end of which stands proudly Himeji Castle. To reach the castle entrance, you can either walk for about 20 minutes, or take a 10-minute local bus for ¥100.
An alternative path is to head right and pass through the shopping streets of Himeji, Miyuki dori (みゆき通り商店街) and Honmachi street.This covered arcade is full of little shops and eateries, and can be particularly convenient for shelter from the rain or in the heat of summer.
Depending on what time you arrive, you’ll have no problem to find a café for breakfast or a restaurant for lunch before heading off for the day's main visit, Himeji Castle. Among the food specialties to try in Himeji are almond bread, Himeji oden (oden eaten with ginger soy sauce) and anago (conger eel).
Visit Japan’s Largest Castle, Himeji-jo
Himeji Castle, also known as Himeji-jo (姫路城), is Japan’s largest and most spectacular original castle, earning it the nickname of Shirasagi-jo or "White Heron Castle" for its elegant white walls. It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and is one of the few castles in Japan that has remained intact for centuries, surviving wars, fires and earthquakes. Whenever I visit Himeji, I'm always amazed by the architecture and majestic scale of this castle.
The castle is open from 9am to 5pm (to 6pm in summer). Entrance costs ¥1,000 and for ¥1,050 you can get a combined ticket to visit the castle and the neighbouring Koko-en garden (my recommendation!). If you’d like you can listen to the audio guide for free or join a paid guided tour by professional English-speaking guides. You can find more information on Himeji Castle Website.
On sunny days, the view over the city of Himeji from the top is truly superb! Just be aware that you'll need to take off your shoes before entering the main keep and climb the steep, narrow wooden staircases to the top level of the 6-storey building, where you'll find a small shrine and can admire the magnificent view over the rooftops of the buildings, the castle grounds and the city of Himeji.
Kaze no Oka Flower Garden
Given the size of the castle and the castle park, you should allow at least two hours for its exploration.
Have a Relaxing Walk around Koko-en Garden
Photo by @bonjour.dora
After exploring Himeji Castle, those with a combined ticket can continue their journey at Koko-en Garden (好古園), a stunning Edo-period-style garden just next door. Koko-en consists of nine beautifully landscaped sections, each showcasing a different theme, from koi-filled ponds to tranquil bamboo groves. There are several spots from where you can admire beautiful views of the castle. For an additional fee, you can step into the traditional teahouse, Souju-an, where you can enjoy a cup of matcha and Japanese sweets while admiring the serene garden. There is also a restaurant where you can enjoy traditional Japanese set meals. Further information is available on the Koko-en Garden website.
Other Things to Do Nearby
If you’ve started your day early and have time for some more exploring, here are a few additional suggestions:
Visit one of the nearby museums, such as Himeji City Museum of Art (姫路市立美術館). Note that this museum is closed on Mondays.
Continue strolling through the nearby parks to admire Himeji Castle from different angles. This great article by Japan Guide provides a list of views of Himeji Castle from ten different spots across the city.
Taste Hyogo’s local sake, as the Harima region, which includes Himeji, is said to be the birthplace of Japanese sake). You can visit for instance Kokoromi, a standing sake bar next to Himeji station where can be found hundreds of varieties of sake from all across Hyogo prefecture.
Head Back to Himeji Station and Enjoy a Break at a Café Before Continuing Your Journey
Before catching your next train, you can take a moment like I did to unwind at one of the cozy cafés near Himeji Station before continuing your journey. Whether you’re in the mood for a rich Japanese-style coffee, a refreshing matcha latte, or a sweet treat, there are plenty of great spots to relax.
I stoped at a nearby kissaten, Cafe Santa Maria Nagomi (カフェサンタマリア 和み), and had chilled coffee jelly (コーヒーゼリー) to cool down from the Japanese summer heat before catching my train to Kyoto.
Other Suggestions Around Himeji
Take the Ropeway or Hike Up to Mt Shosha
Are you interested in staying longer in the area? I've always stopped off in Himeji between Hiroshima and Osaka/Kyoto, but next time I'd like to stay longer because there's one particular place I really want to visit near Himeji: it's Mount Shosha (書写山).
Mt. Shosha is a 371-meter tall mountain where is located Engyoji (円教寺), an atmospheric temple complex with a history of over 1000 years. Mount Shosha is frequently used as a filming location for historical movies and TV dramas. Parts of the Hollywood movie "The Last Samurai" were shot on this mountain for instance!
To get there, you can a bus from platform 10 of the North Exit of Himeji Station bound to "Mount Shosha Ropeway" (書写山ロープウェイ). The bus ride takes about 30 minutes and costs ¥320. You can then take the ropeway up the mountain (¥700 yen one way, ¥1200 round trip, every 15 minutes) or alternatively hike up the mountain in about 45-60 minutes.
To save a little money, a combined round-trip ticket, including return bus tickets between Himeji and Shosha stations and a ticket for the Shosha Ropeway, is sold at the Shinki Bus Himeji station information center (Q-Himeji 1st floor) for ¥1,700 (adult ticket).
Important: the ropeway is closed between January 20, 2025 to Sunday, March 23, 2025 due to regular maintenance. You can check the status of operation on the ropeway website.
Photo by @bonjour.dora
Photos by @bonjour.dora
I love hiking, ancient temples, cinema and viewpoints, so Mt Shosha is definitely on my Japan travel bucket list. I had recommended this destination to a friend for her trip to Himeji and she kindly shared some photos for my article.
One day I'll update this article with more detailed information and my own pictures once I've been there! But if you're lucky enough to get there before me thanks to this article, I'd love to hear about your experience, so I hope you'll leave a comment! 😊
Where to Stay around Himeji
I haven't yet spent a night in Himeji, but my friend did and warmly recommended Hotel Monterey Himeji. This superb hotel with large and comfortable rooms is located near the shinkansen station, with a magnificent view of the city and the castle. Breakfast is served on the highest floor and is a gigantic buffet with lots of local specialities. Free coffee is also available at any time of day. Although the sento isn't very big, it's a pleasure to have after a day of exploring. Moreover, because the hotel is also used for weddings, it has a bit of a “princess castle” atmosphere.
Looking for more accommodation options in Himeji? If you’d like to go off-the-beaten-path and stay in a traditional ryokan in the countryside, an interesting option is Yumoto Ueyama Ryokan. It's about a 35-minute drive from Himeji station (accessible by bus or taxi), and the ryokan also offers a free shuttle service once a day. Set in the middle of nature, with indoor and outdoor onsen baths, based on reviews, it looks like a very charming place to stay at.
Final Thoughts on Himeji
I’ve enjoyed visiting Himeji each time I’ve been. As you can see, you can certainly spend half a day or a whole day here, or even more if you also want to visit Mount Shosha.
Whether you're traveling between Hiroshima and Osaka or planning a dedicated visit, I'm sure a day in Himeji will leave you with unforgettable memories and eyes filled with wonder at its splendid castle.
Looking for other destinations in Hyogo Prefecture? You can read my article “A Day in Kobe: an Exciting Day Trip Itinerary from Osaka or Kyoto”.
Found this article helpful? Buy me a coffee. 😊
Want to stay in touch? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter (with latest articles, updates, travel tips and more...) delivered straight to your inbox. 📩
Some of the links in this Himeji Itinerary are affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. And if you do, thanks for your support! Purchasing through these links is a great way to support Travely Notes, as this helps with the costs of running my blog.
