DAY1 START!
Access to Hyogo
JR Kobe Line
Osaka Station
Approximately 1 hour
JR Kobe Line
Himeji Station
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Treasure, is just an hour and a half from Osaka. Its graceful white plaster walls have earned it the name “White Heron Castle,” and it is regarded as the supreme masterpiece of Japanese wooden castle architecture. Not only can you tour the castle, but with nighttime illuminations and stunning views of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, this castle is full of things to see and do.
Provided by: Himeji City
5minutes on foot
Koko-en Garden
This Japanese garden comes as a ticket package with Himeji Castle. Designed to incorporate Himeji Castle into the scenery, the garden is also famous as a filming location for period dramas and historical epics. A gentle stream winds through the grounds, where a tea house and restaurant steeped in traditional Japanese charm invite visitors to relax and savor the elegant surroundings.
1 hour 45 minutes by car
Teppanyaki Icho, Hotel Nikko Osaka (Lunch)
This upscale teppanyaki restaurant is located inside Hotel Nikko Osaka. The house specialty is premium Japanese Black wagyu steak, served as teppanyaki with French-inspired flair. Courses range from a reasonable weekday-only lunch to a premium lunch that pairs perfectly with wine.
1 hour 30 minutes by car
Shoshazan Engyoji Temple
An ancient Tendai Buddhist temple known as the “Mount Hiei of the West.” It served as a filming location for the movie The Last Samurai and is home to must-see treasures, from a main hall built on a dramatic cliffside stage reminiscent of Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto to a collection of Buddhist statues designated as Important Cultural Properties. You can also try your hand at copying sutras and Zen meditation for a moment of inner peace in the sublime atmosphere of the temple.
5 minutes by car
Yumenoian Yuyake Koyake
This countryside resort draws its waters from the Himeji Yumesaki River hot spring, which wells forth in the secluded depths of Himeji. Every room at this sophisticated inn for adults comes with an open-air bath, inviting you to leave the everyday behind and simply unwind. Private guest rooms, quality hot springs, and creative cuisine crafted from local ingredients will nourish both the body and the mind.
