How to Get to Himeji – From Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya
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.
[wp-google-maps lat="34.8278334752319" lon="134.691460132599" zoom="15" hidecontrols="false"]
Category: Himeji Japan
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
