To get to Kyoto from Kansai Airport the best option is to take the Haruka airport express train. The trip is approximately 73 minutes long.
Photo from westjr.co.jp
Himeji, Japan is a small city in the Hyogo Prefecture. Himeji has a population of 535,371 people as of 2008. Himeji was originally a castle town which means all commerce and governance were administered through the Himeji Castle. The city is a favorite tourist destination for both local and foreign tourists, mostly due to the natural landscape, calm surroundings, and laid-back atmosphere. Himeji is also a popular weekend destination for residents of nearby Kobe and Osaka.
Much of the old architecture is still preserved in Himeji, Japan. The origins of the city date back to the 14th century. Back then, it was used as a fort before becoming the site of Himeji castle. The Himeji Castle expanded with the transition of dynasties until the 16th century. Since then, the affairs of Himeji have revolved around the castle until the end of the Meiji period.
Himeji Castle
Himeji, Japan is well known around the world for the grand Himeji Castle. This castle is considered Japan’s most beautiful castle because of its wide white facade and timeless architectural style.
The design of Himeji Castle is representative of the castle architecture during the peak of feudal Japan. The castle contains many architectural features that mostly serve as defensive cover for royalty living inside the castle. The Himeji Castle has washed walls, a tall foundation, and a large series of buildings joined together to complete the castle design. The Himeji Castle also has a room for weapons storage and launching pads for stone-dropping weapons.
The Himeji Castle is also popular because of the mysterious elements that continually thrill tourists. One of the most important elements behind the Himeji Castle is the collection of maze paths that lead to the main keep. The castle is surrounded by gates, high walls, and baileys that were built to contain oncoming attackers. The attackers had to go through a spiral maze filled with dead ends to prevent them from getting to the keep, while exposing them to stone throws during the approach. No one dared to attack Himeji Castle for fear of getting lost and trapped inside the maze.
Today, Himeji Castle serves as a symbol of Japanese art and a national treasure. The castle is one of UNESCO’s declared world heritage sites. A major renovation project is planned from 2009 to 2014 to preserve the Himeji Castle.
Other Sites In Himeji, Japan
Himeji has other attractive tourist spots besides the Himeji Castle. Many pilgrims visit the Shoshazan Engyon Ji, a small temple of the Tendai Sect. This picturesque temple is one of the settings of the popular Tom Cruise movie, The Last Samurai.
After visiting the temple, tourists can hike outdoors or bring their family to Himeji Central Park. The park is the only safari and amusement park in the Kansai region. The drive-through safari features large cats such as cheetahs, lions, and tigers. The safari also has a large collection of giraffes, bharals, bisons, and zebras. Elephants and white rhinoceroses also live in the Himeji Central Park. The park is the only aerial safari in Japan. After a date with the animals, children can play and enjoy the Child’s Farm, Kangaroo Park, amusement rides, ice park, and ice skating rink.
The Mount Seppiko range is a rock climbers heaven. This group of mountains has a maximum elevation of just over 3,000 feet with a wide range of peaks and troughs. The steep cliffs, magnificent views, and calm surroundings make it one of the most attractive rock climbing destinations in the Kansai area.
Getting To Himeji, Japan
Himeji, Japan is a city in the Hyogo Prefecture, located only a few miles away from Kobe and Osaka. To get to Himeji, you can take a flight and land in domestic airports in Kobe or Osaka. The nearest international airport from Himeji is Kansai International Airport. From the airport, you can ride the Bullet Train to Himeji. The train ride will take one hour from Kobe. You can also take a bus or a taxi to Himeji although the fare is more expensive.
Himeji, Japan is located along the Shinkansen line of the bullet train system. This line starts from Osaka, then to Kobe, and finally to Okayama and Hiroshima. You can also ride the train to Himeji from Tokyo. You should ask for a map of train routes and the schedule, so you can plan your trip and get to Himeji conveniently. Japan has an elaborate train system that can be very confusing for foreigners.
The Shink Bus system operates an overnight transportation service from Tokyo to Himeji. The bus trip from Tokyo to Himeji is approximately 9 hours.
Shopping In Himeji, Japan
There are many shops in Himeji that sell local and exotic crafts or goods. Most of the shops are located along the route leading to the Himeji Castle. These shops sell assorted souvenirs. Himeji also has department stores that sell the usual Japanese fashion items and Japanese gadgetry.
The Festa is a shopping area located just below the Himeji Station. This area serves local residents and tourists arriving at the station. Festa has a large collection of women’s clothing and a library of English language books, magazines, and comics.
Animate is a popular anime and manga shop in Himeji. You can buy a large selection of materials that you can bring home to your anime-loving friends. Find DVDs, comics, collectors items, and anime souvenirs in Animate. You can also buy demos, anime soundtracks, and PC games in the shop.
Himeji, Japan has shops for budget shoppers and bargain hunters. Daiso is the largest 100-yen and under store in the city. Its three floors stock a gamut of goods including house wares, clothes, electronics, and food. You can also find a lot of novelty items worthy of show and tell to friends back home. Be prepared to fight the large crowds who regularly shop there. Getting in and out of the shop can be very inconvenient, although it can also become a fun and unique shopping experience.
The Japan Rail system is a conglomeration of six independent railways overseen by the Japan Railways Group. Millions of Japanese commuters and tourists use Japan Rail Passes each year to span the 12,400 miles between Hokkaido and Kyushu. The Japan Railways Group is largely responsible for dictating the Japan Rail Pass, the ticketing system used to regulate rail usage on this line. International tourists and Japanese nationals should understand the process of getting a Japan Rail Pass before trying to board a train.
The Japan Rail Pass is available to three distinct classes of riders including Japanese residents, Japanese nationals, and temporary visitors. Residents of Tokyo, Osaka, and other urban centers can purchase their Japan Rail Passes easily by heading to their local train stops. The Japan Rail Pass is available to returning Japanese nationals who are married to citizens of other countries and live overseas, as long as they can demonstrate Japanese heritage.
The temporary visitor distinction among Japan Rail Pass users is more nuanced than the other two classes. Non-Japanese tourists and visitors need to have their passport approved with temporary visitor stamps once they arrive at airports and train stations. Once the passport is approved for temporary visitor status, people interested in commuting can get plain or green Japan Rail Passes for 7, 14, or 21 day intervals. The user of the pass can get unlimited travel during the periods that the pass covers. The temporary visitor distinction is used by Japanese Rail authorities to track system usage as well as keep an eye on foreign travelers within Japan.
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The Japan Rail Pass is available for children and adults interested in riding coach and first-class or green cars. The Japan Railways Group offers ordinary passes to adults for 28,000 yen for seven days and 57,700 yen for 21 days. The green Japan Rail Pass is available between 37,000 yen for seven days and 79,000 yen for 21 days. Commuters can acquire ordinary and green Japan Rail Passes for seven, 14, and 21-day intervals with unlimited travel during these periods.
Travelers with Japan Rail Passes can access a majority of bullet and express trains run by Japan Railways Group. The lone exception to Japan Rail Pass accessibility is the NOZOMI trains that run on the Sanyo Shinkansen and Tokaido lines which are operated by a separate authority. The Japan Rail Pass allows commuters to board the Hikari, Kodama, and rapid trains on lines like Nagano, Yamagata, and Akita. Since Japan Railways Group runs hundreds of trains each day, the Japan Rail Pass is a bargain for frequent train users.
Japan Rail Pass holders are not limited to bullet and express trains after completing their purchases. The Japan Railways Group runs eight bus lines throughout Japan that are accessible with a Japan Rail Pass including the JR Bus Kanto, JR Shikoku Bus, and the West Japan JR Bus. The Japan Rail Pass is also valid for the Japan Railways-run Miyajima Ferry that carries passengers from Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima. Long-range commuters investing in Japan Rail Passes can piece together their daily trips among bullet trains, buses, and ferries without worrying about daily fares.
If living in Japan, the easiest way to purchase a Japan Rail Pass is to acquire an official pass at authorized dealers within Japan, however, for those individuals that are seeking a temporary visitor’s pass, it will be necessary for you to purchase a voucher while you are outside of the country. It is imperative that you purchase your pass before your arrival otherwise you will not be able to get one when you have already entered the country. Residents can acquire Japan Rail Passes at Japan Railways Group counters and machines within the country’s bus and train stations. The Japan Rail Pass is getting easier to acquire as stand-alone dispensers become more sophisticated.
Vacationers and business travelers planning trips to Japan can also acquire Japan Rail Pass vouchers outside Japan. These vouchers can be turned in to a Japan Railways Group counter for an equivalent seven, 14, or 21-day Japan Rail Pass. The Japan Railways Group maintains offices in New York City and Paris, along with authorized brokers in major cities worldwide to facilitate Japan Rail Pass purchases. The Japan Rail Pass voucher has a three-month expiration date from purchase, forcing travelers to buy their vouchers close to departure dates to get the best value for their money. Voucher holders must pass the same passport standards to reach temporary visitor and Japanese national status as travelers with Japan Rail Passes.
The Japan Railways Group maintains a fairly strict refund policy when it comes to Japan Rail Passes. The Japan Rail Pass cannot be turned into counters and machines for refunds after the first conductor’s stamp is applied. Japan Rail Pass holders can get a full refund minus a handling fee if they return their passes before the first stamp is applied. Foreign travelers can get refunds on their Japan Rail Pass vouchers within one year of purchase in case travel plans fall apart. The Japan Railways Group applies handling and processing fees to every refund, which requires some conversion in the minds of travelers trying to get their money back in home currencies.
Japan Rail Pass holders should prepare themselves for the quick action at their departure and arrival stations. At every station, one will find turnstiles which are incapable of reading the rail pass so visitors must move through the counter entrance/exit to have their rail pass examined by staff that are at the location to ensure that all Japan Rail Passes are valid and current. Regional and long-distance trains feature conductors who will check Japan Rail Passes once passengers are seated. These conductors can be relied upon to answer questions about upcoming stops, sleeper car accommodations, and other basic information about the Japan Rail system. Japan train stations also ask passengers to show their Japan Rail Passes after exiting to keep train stops free from non-ticketed visitors.
The vast network of Japan Rail lines from Kyushu to Hokkaido requires a great deal of planning by travelers. International visitors and tourists with Japan Rail Passes should traverse heavily-traveled urban areas like Tokyo with an eye toward daily traffic patterns. The crush of humanity on Japan Rail trains in the early morning and late afternoon can restrict space for baggage and large groups who have not planned properly. Japan Rail Passes should be used mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and late night when possible to ease space restrictions.
The city of Himeji, Japan in Hyogo Prefecture is a popular tourist destination for travelers worldwide. This city of 535,571 residents houses the Himeji Castle, a massive castle and estate built in 1333 that is one of a handful of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visitors to Himeji from Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya look for the serenity of country living as they take trains, planes, and buses into the region. Himeji, Japan is easily accessible to visitors from Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya familiar with the regions transportation infrastructure.
Tokyo acts as the hub for millions of tourists and business travelers worldwide searching Japan’s numerous sites. The Narita International Airport in Tokyo is the perfect launching point for a trip to Himeji. The airports North and South Wings handle flights from Turkish Airlines, Air Canada, and dozens of other international carriers. Japan Railways Group operates its Sanyo line through Tokyo and Himeji on its way to stations in southwest Japan. The NOZOMI train running from Tokyo to Himeji costs 15,700 yen and cuts the travel time to three hours by eliminating frequent stops. The NOZOMI train is exempt from Japan Rail Passes, so travelers must acquire individual passes for this trip.
Travelers who are looking for more affordable fare from Tokyo to Himeji can use the Hikami train on the Sanyo line. The Hikami is one of many railways that are applicable under the Japan Rail Pass, making it the best option for travelers investing in one, two, or three-week passes. The trip from Tokyo to Himeji aboard the Hikami takes three hours and 40 minutes to complete, as the train stops several times at regional stations.
The scenic route from Tokyo to Himeji may not be a major attraction for travelers looking to rest up before their arrival. The Shinki Bus Company runs an overnight route from Tokyo to Himeji daily that costs 9,450 yen one way and 17,000 yen round trip. Passengers can sleep, complete some work, and speak with their friends during the eight-hour ride from Tokyo to Himeji. Since the route is run once a day, passengers should arrive at least an hour before departure to ensure passage aboard the Shinki bus.
The Chubu Centrair International Airport and Nagoya Airfield in Nagoya are additional hubs for visitors heading to Himeji. International travelers aboard Lufthansa, Finnair, and Northwest Airlines fly over the blue waters of Ise Bay on their way to Nagoya. The city’s two million residents and millions of additional travelers use these airports each year to reach destinations throughout central Japan. The best way to reach Himeji from Nagoya is to use the Kintetsu route to reach stops through the Hyogo Prefecture. The Japan Railways Group also runs its Tokaido Shinkasen through Nagoya on its way to Himeji. Travelers can expect to spend about two hours aboard the train with various stops along the way. The Nagoya Station is a 50-story, 4.8 million square-foot rail depot that is used by more than a million people each day, making it an attraction in its own right.
The journey from Osaka to Himeji starts at either Kansai International Airport or Osaka International Airport for most travelers. Kansai International Airport is located in the middle of Osaka Bay and handles the regions international flights from carriers like Alitalia, EVA Air, and KLM. Osaka International Airport is a central point for bus, train, and commuter rail lines cutting through central Japan from the rest of the country along with domestic carriers like JAL Express and Ibex Airlines. The cheapest option for travelers heading to Himeji from Kansai International Airport is the various bus lines running between the two cities several times each day. The Osaka-Himeji bus route from Osaka International takes about 60 minutes to complete and fare runs 1,700 yen as of March 2009, while the Himeji route from Kansai costs 3,000 yen.
The Special Rapid commuter rail (Shin-kaisoku) is a quicker option for visitors heading from Osaka to Himeji. The Shin-kaisoku costs 1,450 yen to board and speeds from Kansai International Airport to Himeji’s train station in a mere 57 minutes. The commuter rail may not feature the comfortable seats of a bus, but this option is ideal for travelers running behind schedule who need to reach Himeji immediately. The Shin-kaisoku runs out of Kansai International Airport throughout the day so early and late arrivals do not need to wait hours to reach their destination.
If you do not have a Japan Rail Pass, you can take local railways like the Hanshin and Sanyo to get from Osaka to Himeji. These rail lines cost about 1,250 yen to board and travel at much slower speeds than the Shin-kaisoku and bullet trains. Travelers aboard Hanshin or Sanyo cars can expect their trips from Osaka to Himeji to last 90 minutes. The deliberate routes of local railways in Osaka and Himeji are ideal for tourists who want to soak in the beauty of central Japan from the comfort of train seats.
Travelers should coordinate their bus, train, and plane trips into the region with operating hours for Himeji’s attractions. The Himeji Castle is only open from 9am to 5pm during the summer, which means that travelers should plan their trips in the early morning to ensure prompt arrival. Your travel plans may be complicated with seasonal events like the Cherry Blossom Viewing Party, Yukata Matsurai, and Oshiro Matsurai that lead to traffic congestion in Himeji. If you plan to eschew the ten-minute walk from train station to Himeji castle, you will need to buy a bus ticket from the city’s transit station.
The jumble of bus, train, and plane connections to Himeji from Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya can be confusing for travelers. Travelers may be confused by distinctions between rail routes that are eligible for Japan Rail Passes and routes run by local and regional authorities. The difficult balance of affordability, speed, and comfort between Himeji and its regional neighbors can paralyze inexperienced travelers. The key for a comfortable, safe, and affordable trip from Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya to Himeji is to plan well ahead of your trip.