Himeji

The day started out rather bleak. The low white clouds again hugged the skyline as I started out and pondered the need from an umbrella.

Apartment View

We headed down to the local station and embarked on the hour and bit trip south to Himeji, arguably the most popular and beautiful castle in Japan.

Juso Station

We grabbed the Hankyu line south into Kobe and changed onto the JR at Sannomiya for a long ride out. After exiting the Central North gate, we headed to an Information booth to grab local maps in Japanese and begin the walk down the main strip towards the castle grounds. Another information shop offered free bicycle rentals but only 2 remained and there was 4 of us. Baby J wasnt the sharing kind so we continued on foot across the road to the castle. The castle loomed larger and larger as we wandered through the parklands outside its gates.

Himeji Castle (Garden View)

The entrance fee was \600 and we had left ourselves only a few hours to wander through its gardens, support buildings and the castle proper.

Inside the Castle Gates

The castle appears 5 levels tall but infact it has 6 levels and a basement.

Himeji Castle

Many of the exteria walls protecting the grounds contain round, cicle, square or triangle portholes used for firing arrows, muskets or boil oil on foes.

Castle grounds walkway

Perhaps due to the late hour, by the time we arrived inside, we were alone. We wandered through the walkways in eerie silence, with the occasion squeak of floorboards or distant crew cry accompaning us.

Inside the Castle

At last we hit the top,and catching our breath after multiple staircases, we turned our gaze outside the castle and across the city of Himeji

View of Himeji from 6th floor of the Castle