Himeji & Kobe 🍃 | A Day Trip from Osaka — Himeji Castle, Kokoen Garden & Kobe Beef

Himeji & Kobe 🍃 | A Day Trip from Osaka — Himeji Castle, Kokoen Garden & Kobe Beef

Today, I’m traveling to Himeji and Kobe. It was my first time riding the Shinkansen, and it was quite spacious. After about 30 minutes, I arrived in Himeji. The weather was bad, and it started to rain. I was hungry, so I decided to go for lunch . On the way to Himeji Castle, I found an udon restaurant. Fortunately, there wasn’t much of a wait. The udon, named after the shop’s name, “menme,” seemed to be the main dish. I could see the owner making the noodles himself from outside. Now, I was really hungry, so I had to eat. There weren’t many Korean customers, but they kindly provided a Korean menu. I decided to try the shop’s main dish, the menme udon. The interior was quite small and cozy. You have to break the egg yolk and mix it well before eating. The rich bonito-flavored soy sauce broth and the chewy noodles were superb . After lunch, I needed coffee. They had lemonade coffee, which was unusual. I ordered a lemonade coffee and an iced latte. The iced latte, which was faithful to the basics, was really unique. Now, we head to Himeji Castle. Perhaps because it was the weekend, there were plenty of tourists even on a rainy day. Himeji Castle is said to be the most beautiful of Japan’s three great castles. It’s called the White Heron Castle because it resembles a white heron spreading its wings. Fortunately, the rain stopped for a moment. There are signs along the way, so just follow them. We headed toward the main keep. Along the castle walls, there are triangular and square holes. Called “sama,” there are reportedly 997 of these holes in Himeji Castle. They were used by archers and gunners to defend the castle. We continued along the path. Be careful not to hit your head here and there. The white color of Himeji Castle comes from the white plaster used to protect the walls from fire. The main keep is said to be the most well-preserved of all the castles designated as national treasures, earning it the distinction of being the most famous in Japan. A clear day would have made the pictures even more beautiful. Inside the main keep is an exhibition hall, with descriptions of weapons used by the feudal lords. There were also wooden blocks inscribed with what looked like Buddhist scriptures. The main keep has six floors, but the stairs are steep and narrow, making it difficult to navigate. It’s quite tiring, so I wouldn’t recommend it as a date spot. Inside the main keep, there were “sama” (guards) to protect the castle. All the windows were covered with nets like this. While I was inside the main keep, the weather seemed to clear up again (it didn’t). I spotted a bat hanging from a window. While I was taking pictures, someone smashed the window. Don’t hit them! There was also a model of the old Himeji Castle and surrounding landscape on display. Now that I’m done exploring the inside, I headed outside. Ikaku Watchtower: This watchtower is said to have a well that provided drinking water when the castle was under siege. We continue along the path. Okiku’s Well: It’s said that a maid named Okiku was falsely accused and thrown into the well, killing her. The well entrance is now protected by barbed wire and stone pillars. It’s scary, so I quickly descend. Follow the exit signs. There’s ongoing maintenance work next door. Now, let’s descend. Since I bought tickets to Himeji Castle and Kokoen, I planned to visit Kokoen. On the way out of Himeji Castle, I saw samurai in traditional garb. They took pictures with tourists and were very friendly. Most of them were elderly, and I found it quite impressive how proud they were of their work. Now, I entered Kokoen. It started to rain again. Kokoen is located right next to Himeji Castle, a five-minute walk away. Opening hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with last admission at 4:30 PM. Kokoen is comprised of nine themed gardens, covering approximately 33,000 square meters. This appears to be the exit. This is the entrance to a restaurant called “Kassui” inside the garden. It’s famous for its tendon (tempura rice bowl) and zarusoba (buckwheat noodles). (There’s usually a wait.) The first garden you encounter after passing through the beautiful corridor is the Oyashiki Garden, a recreation of an Edo-period samurai residence . Next up is Nae Garden. This is said to be a space for growing horticultural plants cultivated during the Edo period. Let’s move on to the next garden. There were tons of snails along the path. Let’s go to the Flowing Garden. This garden, along with the Deciduous Tree Garden, Pine Tree Garden, and Flower Garden, were all gathered together. Could it be a crow? ( I’m not an otaku, though. ) Now, let’s head out to Kokoen Garden. After walking a lot, I was craving something sweet. It was quite sweet and soft. The sun was setting. It was time to leave Himeji. A beautiful sunset was setting outside the train window on the way to Kobe. We arrived in Kobe. We went to see Harborland Park. The port city had a different feel. It’s said to be famous for its beautiful night view, making it a famous spot for confessions. ( But we were just guys. ) There was the Anpanman Children’s Museum. The lights at the Kobe Port Signal Tower also added to the night view. We also saw the trademark Mosaic Ferris Wheel. We headed to the Mosaic Shopping Mall right next door. There were a lot of people, but I didn’t see any Koreans. After enjoying the night view, we headed for dinner. On the way, we also looked at Japanese housing prices. It seems like buying a house isn’t easy in Japan either. Since I’m in Kobe, I have to eat Kobe beef. The menu didn’t have Korean. I’ll start with a cold beer. I’ll try the short ribs first. It’s best eaten with just salt. It melts in my mouth the moment I put it in. Next, I’ll eat it with sake. I’ll also try the popular beef tongue . The sirloin was also really delicious. After the day, I returned to Osaka. Dotonbori felt more crowded than Myeongdong in Korea. Since I’m in Osaka, I’ll go eat takoyaki. Are Osakans really good at flipping takoyaki? I’ll end the day with some delicious takoyaki. See you on my next trip.

A Quiet Day — Himeji & Kobe 🍃
White walls of Himeji Castle and the night sea of Kobe,
memories of autumn captured through light and sound.

This film is told only through quiet music and scenes.
Himeji Castle, Koko-en, Kobe Harborland,
and the gentle lights of the night —
I followed their silence.

If you’re visiting Osaka, take a day to explore Himeji and Kobe!

#himeji #kobe #japan #vlog #himejicastle #osaka
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📍 CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:30 Departure to Himeji
01:45 First meal — Himeji Menme Udon
03:15 Himeji Café ☕
03:58 Himeji Castle 🏯
08:35 Koko-en Garden
12:10 Drive to Kobe 🎆
14:31 Dinner — Kobe Beef 🍶
16:03 Osaka Night Streets 🌙
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🗺️ MAP & INFO
✶ PLACE
Menme Sanuki Udon めんめ
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XZpZdG7CsSm6PnM48

KUUHAKU COFFEE
https://maps.app.goo.gl/t6ScWL78ZK4GAmTe9

Himeji Castle 姫路城
https://maps.app.goo.gl/erUnnLB1ro511ciQ9

Koko-en Garden 好古園
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fPNHE3wek6RiRgTL6

Hishimeki-ya Kobe Station 黒毛和牛焼肉 犇屋 神戸駅前店
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yx1giTM3FKXY3VTp8