Background
World Heritage since
1993
Type of site
Cultural
Rebuilt as today
1601–1609
UNESCO calls it the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture: 83 buildings with advanced defences, built in wood with white plastered walls and layered roofs.
Known as the White Heron Castle, it began as a fort in 1333 and was rebuilt as a large complex by Ikeda Terumasa between 1601 and 1609. It has survived civil war, the Second World War and earthquakes.
- 1333First fort built on Himeyama hill
- 1581Toyotomi Hideyoshi adds a three-storey keep
- 1601–1609Rebuilt as a large complex by Ikeda Terumasa
- 1931Named a national treasure
- 1993Inscribed as World Heritage
Find Your Way Around
The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them
- 1Main KeepThe white keep, limited to 15,000 visitors a day.
- 2DefencesHighly developed defence systems from the start of the Shogun period.
- 3Koko-en GardenThe garden stop on the GoGo Kyoto day trip.
- 4Castle at NightThe keep lit up over the moat.
Know Before You Go
From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides
Last Entry an Hour Before Closing
Wikivoyage lists 9am to 5pm, later in summer. Closed 29 to 31 December.
15 Minutes From the Station
An easy walk north from Himeji station.
By Bullet Train
About 35 minutes from Osaka and an hour from Kyoto.
Come Early on Busy Days
Entry to the keep may have a wait.
A Day at the White Heron Castle
From the GoGo Himeji guide · Open the Himeji Guide ›
- 09:00Himeji Castle2.5 hrsThe keep, walls and gates.
- 20:00Himeji Castle at Night45 minThe white keep glowing over the moat.
Best Time to Visit
Best months: May, Oct. Rainy season Jun–Jul, Sep.
Typical highs
5°
J
7°
F
11°
M
17°
A
21°
M
25°
J
28°
J
29°
A
25°
S
20°
O
14°
N
8°
D
Best monthsRain: wettest Jul (205 mm), driest Feb (88 mm)
Climate: NASA POWER
Pair It With
Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 661 · Wikipedia: Himeji Castle · Wikivoyage: Himeji (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Himeji guide · UNESCO listing