Himeji | Day Trip from Osaka | japan-guide.com

Learn more about Himeji: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3500.html

In this video we explore the spectacular Himeji Castle and the atmospheric temple complex of Shoshazan.

– Chapters –
00:00 Intro
01:42 Himeji Station
02:03 Himeji Castle
05:07 Kokoen
06:22 Travel to Shoshazan
06:36 Mount Shoshazan
10:09 Outro

– Video Credits –
Host & Narrator: Matt Evans
Videographer: Thomas Roennlund
Producers: Stefan Schauwecker

For more information about Japan:
https://www.japan-guide.com/

Any questions regarding your future trip to Japan? Feel free to ask a question in our question forum:
https://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quedisplay.html

This is Himeji. A small city in the western part  of Japan’s Kansai Region best known for Himeji   Castle, the best, the most magnificent  of Japan’s surviving historic castles. In this video, we’ll take a  daytrip from Osaka to share   our version of an ideal day of sightseeing here.

From atmospheric mountain  temples to exquisite gardens,   and of course a deep dive into  the many wonders of Himeji Castle. My name is Matt Evans, join me  on a one-day tour of Himeji City. Himeji makes for an easy day  trip from Osaka or Kyoto.

By shinkansen it can be reached in just 45 minutes  from Kyoto or 30 minutes from Osaka respectively.   By cheaper JR special rapid trains, the ride takes  90 minutes from Kyoto or 60 minutes from Osaka. Even cheaper are the direct  Hanshin and Sanyo railway trains,   which take about 90 minutes  from Osaka-Umeda Station.

We’ll start our trip in Osaka, with a ride  on the JR special rapid to Himeji Station From there, we’ll kick things off  with a visit to Himeji Castle,   before taking a detour into Koko-en, a beautiful  landscape garden just outside the castle walls.

Next, we’ll take a local bus and ropeway  to the top of Mount Shoshazan,where will   round off our time in Himeji by exploring  the peaceful temple complex of Engyoji. Finally we’ll take a bus back to  Himeji Station and end our trip there.

It’s time for the highlight of our day  and a visit inside Himeji Castle itself. Today, Japan boasts a great many reconstructed  castles but only 12 original surviving ones. Of these, Himeji is surely the most spectacular –  but what is it that sets it apart from the others?

Built throughout the country from Japan’s period  of warring states through to the late Edo Period,   castles played a significant role both  as fortresses in times of war and highly   visible status symbols in peacetime. Today, the  sites of thousands of former castles are known,  

But of these only around 100 still  have any remaining fortifications,   while just 12 have a main keep  dating back to the feudal period. While any of these are worth a visit today,   there are three reasons why Himeji Castle  stands head and shoulders above the rest…

First, there’s the unmatched level of  preservation. While most surviving castles   have lost many of their original structures  and been significantly reduced in size,   Himeji has kept its entire secondary circle  of defense, its maze-like approach and a   large number of buildings – giving visitors  an unparalleled sense of what it once was.

Second, there’s its large and complex  main keep.Where most castles center   on a single main tower, Himeji’s  branches into three interconnected   sub-keeps – forming an intricate and  highly distinctive cluster of towers. Finally, it’s the castle’s sheer beauty  – despite its size and complexity,  

The castle’s design is light and graceful,  earning it the nickname the “heron castle”. In 2015, a five-year program  of renovations was completed,   bringing it even closer to its  original spectacular appearance. On our way out of the castle, we make a right turn  into the beautiful landscape garden of Koko-en.

Built in 1992 on what was the  site of the lord’s residence,   the garden is divided into nine separate  spaces, each with its own individual theme Inside, visitors can explore a  series of miniature landscapes   based on styles popular in Japan’s Edo Period.

After exploring the gardens, we jump  on a local bus to mount Shoshazan So we’ve made it to the top of Mount  Shoshazan, home to a large, and really   atmospheric temple complex called Engyoji. Apart from its beautiful temple buildings,   its known for beeing relatively  free of modern infrastructure,  

Adding to the sense of peace and seclusion. The temple’s most importand buillding and a focus  for the many pilgrims who visit here is this,   the beautiful Maniden hall. Dedicated to Nyorai  Kannon and the temple’s founder, Shoku Shonin. Built over the edge of a steep hillside and  supported by hundreds of narrow wooden stilts,  

It’s sometimes compared to Kiyomizudera in Kyoto. The Maniden might be the main  building of the temple complex,   but for the many young monks who trained here,   it’s real beating heart of the temple was  these three halls, known as the Mitsunodo.

Just behind the three halls is another tranquil  spot – the temple’s inner sanctuary, or okunoin. Behind me is the Kaisando, or founder hall. The most important building in  this part of the temple complex. It’s a classical example of  mid-Edo period temple architecture,

With the roof supported by many many, highly  elaborate interlocking pieces of wood.  Another interesting detail  can be seen at the corners,   where a mythical beast can be seen  hunched over, supporting the roof. In fact, one is actually missing,   and legend has it but he run away  because he couldn’t support the weight.

Just a short walk from the Okunoin is  a fascinating spot that directly links   the history of Engyoji with that of Himeji Castle. Behind me is a small graveyard  belonging to the Sakakibara family. And right at the back, in  pride of place you can find two 

Heads of the family , who each in there own  time, served as lords of Himeji Castle.   And that’s our ideal day-trip to Himeji – thanks  for joining me. I hope you enjoyed this video,   and perhaps even have some new  ideas for your next visit to Japan.

For more information about this  trip or to watch another video,   click the links on the screen now,  or head over to japan-guide.com,   your comprehensive, up-to-date, travel  guide first-hand from Japan. Thanks for   watching, be sure to subscribe and click the  notification bell for more videos about Japan. Happy travels.