Himeji Castle Full Day Course with Kokoen and Mount Shosha Engyoji

This is a rewarding one day course centered on the World Heritage Himeji Castle, whose pure white keep soars into the sky, along with the adjacent Japanese garden Kokoen and the ancient mountain temple Engyoji on Mount Shosha. The charm of Himeji is that you can enjoy both history and nature. A straight main avenue runs from the station to the castle, so the route is easy to follow. Himeji Castle was registered in 1993 as one of the very first World Cultural Heritage sites in Japan.

Course Route

9:00 Start at Himeji Station on the JR and Sanyo lines From Otemae Avenue in front of the station, Himeji Castle is visible straight ahead. 9:15 Walk along Otemae Avenue to Himeji Castle After about fifteen minutes along the zelkova lined avenue you reach the castle entrance. 9:30 Tour Himeji Castle The beautiful white plastered main keep stands about 46 meters tall. Take your time exploring the winding approach paths and the turrets. The castle opens from 9 in the morning to 5 in the evening, with last entry at 4, and closes only on December 29 and 30 at year end. Admission ranges from a few hundred yen up to the low thousands, and a combined ticket with Kokoen is also available. 11:30 Stroll the Japanese garden at Kokoen This is a circuit style garden just west of the castle, with nine gardens that each have a different mood. 12:30 Lunch in the former castle town Try the local conger eel dishes that Himeji is known for, or other regional food. 14:00 Travel to the Mount Shosha ropeway Take a bus from the north exit of Himeji Station to the base station and ride the ropeway up the mountain. 14:45 Visit Engyoji on Mount Shosha This is an ancient Tendai temple and the 27th stop on the Saigoku Thirty Three Kannon Pilgrimage. Walk the quiet mountain halls, including the grand Maniden, a filming location for the movie The Last Samurai, and the Daikodo. Founded in 966 by the monk Shoku, it was once known as the Hiei of the West. 16:30 Descend by ropeway to finish Close the day while breathing the clear mountain air.

Highlights

Among Japan surviving original keeps, Himeji Castle is especially well preserved, and its elegant form has earned it the nickname White Heron Castle. Kokoen is beautiful through the seasons and very photogenic. Engyoji is wrapped in deep woodland with a solemn atmosphere, and with its Maniden, Daikodo and one of the largest refectory halls in the country, it offers a calm contrast to the bustle of the town below.

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: Spring, when the cherry trees at the castle and Kokoen bloom, and autumn, when the trees turn color, are especially beautiful. Since the castle takes time to tour, entering in the 9 oclock hour right after opening helps you avoid the crowds.
• Avoiding crowds: During cherry blossom season and long holidays there can be a wait to enter the keep. Touring the castle first thing and heading to Mount Shosha in the afternoon is efficient.
• Time guide: Allow one and a half to two hours for Himeji Castle, about one hour for Kokoen, and about three hours for the Mount Shosha ropeway round trip and the Engyoji visit, and you can comfortably see it all in a day.
• Budget feel: Admission to Himeji Castle ranges from a few hundred yen to the low thousands, and even including a combined Kokoen ticket and the Mount Shosha ropeway fare, it stays within a day trip range.
• Real nearby spots: Kokoen just west of the castle and Engyoji on Mount Shosha, reached by bus and ropeway from the station, are the two main highlights of this course. Around the castle there are eateries serving dishes such as conger eel.

Access and Tips

The castle is within walking distance of Himeji Station and is clearly signposted. For Mount Shosha, take a bus from the north exit of the station to the ropeway station. The castle takes time to tour, so entering early helps you avoid the crowds.

A Quick Tip

Both the castle and Engyoji have many stairs and slopes, so comfortable shoes are essential. Allow extra time for Mount Shosha, including walking around the mountain halls, so you can visit at a relaxed pace. Himeji Castle opens until 5 in the evening with last entry at 4, so working back from that and touring the castle first is reassuring.