Himeji Castle & Japan’s Weirdest Village in 1 Day

Himeji Castle & Japan’s Weirdest Village in 1 Day

What the hell? What do castles and culture have to do with demons? Don’t know, but we’re about to find out and tell you all about it. Hi, I’m Sarah and I quit my highpaying job in Portugal to come all the way to Japan for a full year with my crazy partner in crime and cameraman, Vos. Himi is normally skipped in most itineraries. So, we’re here to show you why you must add it to your trip. Welcome to Himei. [Music] Your first impression of the city hits you right outside of the station. And it only gets better from here. Hey, right out of the train station. You can see the castle far away. But let’s be real. If you’re like us, castles come second and food comes first. So, our first two stops are for your stomach. The first place is Ki Kiti. This is an onigiri stand that opened just a few months ago when we were in Himeji, and it’s definitely worth it. All the oniis are made to order, and it has all types of combinations. So, if you’re a rice fan, this is for you. These were probably the best oniis I actually ate throughout the whole trip of Japan. [Music] [Music] But you know that no meal is complete without a sweet. So spot number two you can’t miss is this tayyaki stand here. Vashku want something sweet because Vashka is Vashku and I will just join in because I’m a good wife. Tayaki are so good. Especially the uncle ones. Red bean ones are so nice. You never want to eat it with me. Oh, but I’m the problem. I see you little redito. A big big plus is that these tiakis are made with rice flour. So, they’re actually gluten-free, which is very hard to find in Japan. So, yeah. Plus points. They had one that I never seen before with pistachio and strawberry. We didn’t try that one because I love my uncle. So, I ate a red bean and Vosko went for the cast, which he always goes for. And the little Tayakis had like a samurai sword. They were so adorable. So, yeah, the castle is obviously the star of Himei. Even if you try it, you couldn’t escape it. The white heron towers over everything. Inside is a full workout for climbing those stairs. And personally, I actually felt attacked by all the watch your head signs because I barely had to duck at all. But okay. And the reason why this is a must for your itinerary is very simple. It dates back to6009, survived pretty much everything that was thrown at it, and is one of the only original castles in Japan. You need to take your shoes off. Uh but yeah, we bought a ticket that is a combo ticket with the Heimeji Castle and the uh garden that is basically next to the castle. So, we’re going to the garden now, which is peaceful and scenic, and it’s absolutely part of the Himeji starter pack. It’s a perfect break before heading back into the city for some souvenir shopping. And this garden is also a culture gem. It’s one of nine edeto style gardens in Japan. The ticket for the garden itself is around 320 yen per adult. [Music] Once you’re hungry again, here’s a spot you need to add to your maps immediately, especially if you’re a meat fan. It has great prices, huge portions, and satisfaction guaranteed. I saw a place called Azumi, which serves Bosku’s favorite, yakiniku, which is grilling your own beef. So, here we are. [Music] But if you thought that he couldn’t get better, think again. Because just about 30 minutes by train from here, you’ll find a place that feels like stepping into a book of Japanese folklore. Oh, hi. Welcome to Fukusaki, the Yo-kai village. And today, our mission is to find all the Yo-kai in this village, plus to get the layered stamp. And we’re going to go by foot. So, it’s going to be a cardio day today. Wish us luck. The first thing you need to do when you come here is go to the information center because uh yeah, you can’t really film inside or do anything inside, but you don’t need to because you just need to use your eyes to see cool stuff. But there is a layered stamp. They give you a whole sheet of all the places you can get all the stamps, which of course are all Yo-kai places. First thing you see is a famous kapa coming to greet you and say, “Welcome to Fuksaki.” The information center has nice books about the yo-kai, about the history of yo-kai in Japanese folklore. Of course, here the kapa is maybe the most famous one, but you have oni, you have other yo-kai as well that you probably know. Here in Fukake, you don’t just read about yo-kai, you hunt for them. And the town has scattered 23 Yokai statues and benches all around its streets. And your mission is to find them all with us. [Music] So the next Yokai is literally at the entrance of this restaurant. There might be more than one location that has the same stamp. So just be careful with that. It’s very fun to see that Fukusaki, which is a very small town, is the birthplace of a folklorist called Kuno Yanagita. Often called the father of Japanese folklor. The entire Yo-kai project is the town’s way of celebrating him. Word of advice and something we learned the hard way. So, please don’t try to walk to all of them. We severely underestimated the time it takes. The last one was like in the middle of nowhere like the rest. But yeah, well, right now we’re in the middle of nowhere. I can’t believe we are in the middle of nowhere trying to find demons. And these ones are just like in the middle of nowhere. Like these are completely off. And instead, you can rent one of those little electric cars or a bike. They’re cheap, they’re fun, and it saves you hours of walking. [Music] Many of the cafes with yo-kai benches or restaurants also sell little snacks or sweets. themed after the creatures. So, it’s a perfect excuse to rest and recharge. Just grabbed a nice coffee because here is a second stamp. For example, this one is not like on the side of the statue. It’s like inside the store. Next yokai is one at a family market. So, we’re going to grab something to eat there. Yeah, because I’m starving. Sarah supposedly saw in the map that there’s a combini. Yeah, we are walking for more than an an hour at this point. Uh Yokai Yokai. Yeah, this one is ugly as. Also, make sure that you check out in all the tourist information centers or even the convenis like the Lawson Family Mark for any Yokai merch, including the amazing gacha pawns. Fuksaki’s Yokai benches are, like we said, scattered in front of cafes, shops, and restaurants. So, don’t be shy to go inside and ask locals about it, especially for the stamps. So, apparently, you need to enter the restaurant to ask for the stem. Sarah, so cute. Show us the stamp. It’s almost finished, right? A few moments later. So Sarah apparently stemped. I stamped it upside down. I’m so sad. I’ll try to solve it, though. I’ll do my best. Locals told us actually during our time here that they sometimes treat the yo-kai like mascots. Kids even give them names or seasonal decorations. It’s really fun. [Music] Some of the most famous yo-kai in this town are for sure the Capadu Gataro and Gadu. They are water dwelling tricksters from Kuno Yanagita’s childhood tales. Legend says that these two once frightened kids near the Ishikawa River but regretted it so much that they showed up at Yanagita’s home to apologize. Lonely he had passed away. So Gato turned to stone and Gajiro still resurfaces now and then waiting. Fun fact that we actually uncovered. Kapa like Gajiro and Gataro are actually obsessed with cucumbers. In fact, cucumber sushi rolls are still called kapamaki in Japan. [Music] This one was probably Vashku’s favorite, the oni bench. It’s a fierce demon, redskinned, carrying a cannibal, selfieing with a smartphone. So, it blends the ancient myth with modern humor. [Music] In modern Japan, you’ll see them handing out candy during Setsubon, scaring kids in a fun way rather than terrorizing villages. Making my way downtown, walking fast. [Music] This place is called Tsuzi Kawayama Park where a mechanical Yokai Gajiro pops up out of the pond at regular intervals. Kataro stands on shore frozen. Gajito, meanwhile, lurks beneath the pond surface, rising on the hour like clockwork from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Near this Kappa, you also have a flying tangu. The long-nosed tricksters were blamed for making people get lost in the mountain. In Fuksaki, though, one hangs upside down from hut with a doyaki snack in hand. So, they’re actually super fun. Our final yo-kai. Since we didn’t rent a car, we weren’t able to see all the yokai. But hopefully you’ll learn something with this video and your experience will be much different. And that’s it. Bye. [Music]

Discover a day trip from Osaka you won’t want to miss! We explored the iconic Himeji Castle, wandering through its stunning architecture and historic grounds, and indulged in some delicious local food along the way. Every corner of Himeji is full of history and charm, making it a must-see for anyone visiting the region.

The adventure continues with a surprise detour to the mysterious Yokai Village in Fukusaki. Full of quirky statues and strange, folklore-inspired sights, this hidden gem adds a fun and unexpected twist to any itinerary. It’s the kind of place that leaves you curious and amazed at every turn.

Whether you’re planning a trip to Japan or just love exploring castles, culture, and offbeat destinations, this video gives you a full itinerary packed with history, local flavors, and the weirdly wonderful. If you’re looking for a unique day trip idea near Osaka, Himeji and the Yokai Village should definitely be on your list.

If you find this video helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share so more travelers can enjoy the magic of Himeji & Fukusaki!
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0:00 – Welcome!
0:29 – First steps in Himeji: Food!
2:27 – Himeji Castle
3:18 – Koko-en Garden
3:44 – Dinner in Himeji
4:20 – Special Place?
4:51 – Fist steps in Fukusaki
5:31 – Yokai
6:22 – How to get around?
6:58 – More Yokai
11:27 – Last Yokai

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