Top Tourist Attractions in Himeji

Best Things To Do in Himeji, Japan

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THINGS TO DO

Himeji is relatively a small city with a large number of temples and prayer places. Its basic essence lies in its cultural and historical affluence which you can witness during your detour in this city. One of the best things to do in Himeji is going for sight seeing around the place. There are various museums and castles to check out and historical monuments to admire. Not only that, the city has a great number of parks that provides with the required greenery and charm.

  • Himeji Castle: The castle needs a specific mention here. It is one of the finest castles in Japan and is considered as a national treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the best surviving prototypical Japanese castle of Feudal period with around 83 buildings in place. Thanks to its brilliant architecture and great exteriors, it is also called as The White Heron Castle in Japan. It is better to take a day out or two to explore the place. The castle is huge with numerous gardens - including Kokoen Garden, dotting its premises. The history and culture of the place is what draws a lot of visitors here. Great place to come if one has great interests in learning the history of Japan and Feudal Era along with culture and architecture.

The city is also home to numerous museums and parks, all bespeaking the various period of Himeji’s legacy. Among all, the most famous museums are - Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History, Himeji Museum of Art and Japan Toy Museum. There are few other places like Senhime shrine, Engyoji temple and city zoo that are also a must visit here. Those who just want to understand the place and delve into the city culture must visit the parks like Himeji Central Park which is a great way to interact with locals and make friends. You can watch out the time for festivals and visit accordingly.

Below we have a list of things to do in Himeji and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Himeji getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Himeji with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Himeji

Here is the list of things to do in Himeji and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Himeji Castle

    4.6 (394 Votes)
    Himeji Castle

    Castle, Historical Site, Architecture

    Located in the Southern part of Hyogo is the beautiful city of Himeji with its spectacular buildings and breathtaking natural beauty. It is also the second largest city in Hyogo with cultural influences that are quite dynamic. If you are visiting Himeji, the first place you must go to is the Himeji Castle- its most popular tourist destination. Its importance can be understood by the fact that i...Read more

  2. Shoshazan Engyoji

    4.5 (115 Votes)
    Shoshazan Engyoji

    Religious Site, Temple

    One of the major things that makes Japan such an intriguing place is its enticing culture. The place is located in the Mount Shosha and is a temple complex that has a vast history, apparently one that dates 100 years back. The place is perched at the edge of Himeji City and is easily accessible from the city centre by bus. A mere 30 minutes ride and after that a small cable car ride will lead y...Read more

  3. Kokoen Garden

    4.4 (155 Votes)
    Kokoen Garden

    Garden

    Kokoen Garden is a large collection of Japanese Gardens that is located within the premises of Himeji Castle. There is a Japanese water garden, tea ceremony garden, evergreen garden , bamboo garden and flower garden. The place is one where you can flock to every season and will find something new to look and admire each time. Established in 1991, the place is a favoured destination of Japan&rsq...Read more

  4. Otemae Street

    Otemae Street

    Entertainment, Streets

    It is a unique place set against the background of Himeji Castle. Great for shopping stroll, the place stretches from 1.2 km of Himeji Station to the Castle. The road is well paved with tree lining the boulevards and also offers great views of the castle from there. There is a lot of opportunities for shutterbugs who come here to get some good clicks and enjoy the lovely vibes of the surroundin...Read more

  5. Taiyo Park

    3.7 (111 Votes)
    Taiyo Park

    Park

    It is a popular park located in the remote area of the city. Hence, it is best to hire a car and book one for return while visiting the place. Once you are here, you can check out the place as per the area. A recommendation would be starting from historic sites reproduction area and then further dwell towards the main entrance and castle area later. In the historic area, as the names suggest, y...Read more

  6. Himeji City Museum Of Art

    3.9 (129 Votes)
    Himeji City Museum Of Art

    Art Museum, Museum, Photo Gallery, Exhibition

    Located in a historic site of the city, overlooking the beautiful Himeji Castle, is the Himeji City Museum of Art. A beautiful red brick building renowned for its lovely design and unique concept. But, it is what’s inside which makes it even more alluring to tourists. The place was established in 1983 with an aim to encourage and appreciate various art works from all around the world. The...Read more

  7. Himeji City Aquarium

    3.9 (67 Votes)
    Himeji City Aquarium

    Aquarium, Entertainment

    Himeji City Aquarium is one of the few aquariums of the Himeji city. Since it is located atop a mountain, it is also called as an ‘aquarium on the mountain’ where people go with their family to spend some quality time together. The aquarium has many marine and aquatic animals. While some of them are only for seeing, other can be touched or played with. Stroll through the place and c...Read more

  8. Hiromine Shrine

    4.3 (174 Votes)
    Hiromine Shrine

    Religious Site

    Hiromine shrine is located in the north of Himeji city near Mt. Hiromine and has a long history attached to it. Many believe the shrine was originally established in 733 on a ridge by Makibi Kibi, a scholar in the respect of Susanowo-no-mikoto the first God in Japanese culture who came to reside in the place. The shrine lies up on the mountains, so it might be a hike for some, not strenuous tho...Read more

  9. Castle Garden

    4 (98 Votes)
    Castle Garden

    Entertainment

    It is one of the most frequented gardens in Himeji. Also known as Sunken Garden, it is located just in front of Himeji Station and differs a lot in comparision to its traditional counterparts. The garden is made of solid cement and has been designed to provide it with a modern feel. One can fairly call it creative, given how interestingly the space has been used. It is divided into multiple lev...Read more

  10. Hyogo Prefectural Museum Of History

    3.9 (34 Votes)
    Hyogo Prefectural Museum Of History

    Museum

    It is one of the unique museums in the city. The architecture is made up of modern glass and has a concrete design that is very innovative and creative. The museum was crafted by a famous Japanese architect Tange Kenzo in 2007 and stands upon the ruins of former castle of Himeji. Coming here is like walk down the path of Japanese history with every event vividly dancing in front of one’s ...Read more

  11. Tegarayama Central Park

    4 (71 Votes)
    Tegarayama Central Park

    Botanical Garden, Green House

    It is a handmade botanical garden established in Handrisan Mountain Park, in the heart of the city. The place comprises of two large and small greenhouses with a vast variety of flora and plants in its lap. There are about 1500 species of 120 different families of plants from all temperament. Talk about tropical or subtropical, or western run and carnivorous ones, you will get it all here. Thou...Read more

  12. Egret Himeji

    3.6 (61 Votes)
    Egret Himeji

    Convention Center

    It is a well frequented convention center which is known for providing beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding area. From the fifth floor of the rooftop observation deck, you can see the famous Himeji Castle! Many people in fact come here to just click its picture and observe the view. Great for family visits and a light shopping rendezvous where after one can relax in its viking lounge si...Read more

  13. Japan Toy Museum

    4.1 (22 Votes)
    Japan Toy Museum

    Museum

    Drive a little towards the north of the city, about ten kilometers away, and you will come across this little yet intriguing toy museums that is cosily nestled amidst its rural surrounding. The Japan Toy Museum is a renowned place in the country known for its beautiful castle. Divided in six traditional warehouses, all decked with tasteful folkcraft interiors, it accommodates a huge collection ...Read more

  14. Himeji City Zoo

    3.7 (77 Votes)
    Himeji City Zoo

    Zoo

    Located in the Hyogo Prefecture of the city, the zoo is settled at the base of Himeji castle and is one of the busiest place in the city. Yes, the place literally see hundreds of visitors everyday and is also considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is decked in old style, reminiscing of the architecture that were in fashion years ago. Established in 1951, the zoo is home to a range of anima...Read more

  15. Himeji City Museum Of Literature

    4.2 (23 Votes)
    Himeji City Museum Of Literature

    Museum, Architecture

    The beautiful complex was designed and built by Pritzker Prize winner Tadao Ando who built it during 1998- 1991. The place is home to a total of three buildings out of which one is entirely traditional with a Japanese garden in it. The other two are fairly modern and represents the designer’s signature style he is known for. The place is open for tourists, though it is among the less visi...Read more
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  • Hi, I would like to visit an onsen hotel in Himeji which offers mixed outdoor onsens. Will you be able to give some recommendations?

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    • The hotels like Dormy Inn, Himeji Castle, Yumenoi are some of the good hotels in Himeji with onsens you would like to stay at.

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