Himeji Castle and other Japan Things to Do Tips

Himeji Castle is a famous castle in Himeji, also called the white heron castle. Because of its elegant and fragile looks it is called a ´female´ castle.

The present castle was built from 1601 to 1609 by Terumasa Ikeda. It has never been damaged by wars or other disasters. And it still stands there after 400 years.
In 1993, Himeji Castle was registered on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Admission fees:
600 Yen - children: 200 Yen
English guided tours are free, but not always availlable as this is done by volunteers.

Opening times:
9:00am -4:00pm or 5:00pm (june to august)

More pics:
in our Himeji castle travelogue or see the virtualtour on the website of the castle.

Learn more?
A great site about japanese castles is Guide to Japanese Castles by Eric Obershaw:
http://jcastle.info/castle/himeji.html

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Directions: Himeji is easily reached by train from Osaka, the castle is located in the centre of Himeji city. From the trainstation just straight ahead.
Website: http://www.himeji-castle.gr.jp/index/English/index.html

This castle is a Japanese national treasure. Building began in 1504. It is called a ´male castle´ because of it masculair structure, opposite to the ´female castle´ with a elegant structure

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Address: Matsumoto
Directions: Matsumoto is in Nagano prefecture
Website: http://www.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp/

The Golden Pavillon in Kyoto, also known as Kinkakuji. This temple is built by the third Ashikaga shogun, Yoshimitsu(1358-1408).
It first was a house, but he ordered it to become a temple after his death.
It burnt down in 1950 and the present building is a copy. The entire building is covered in goldleaf and is extremely beautifull to see in the right sunlight.
opening times:
every day: 9:00-17:00
More pics: on our Kyoto page.

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Directions: bus 12 or 59 to Kinkaku-ji-mae, or bus 101, 204, 205 to Kinkaku-ji-michi.

This park, dedicated to the victims of the A-bomb in 1945, makes one think about the meaning of live.
In this park you can find the childrens peace monument, where everybody is invited to donate their origami cranes; the eternal flame, a Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims and the Peace Memorial Museum .

More about this park at our Hiroshima page.

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Website: http://www.hiroshima-is.ac.jp/Hiroshima/historic.htm

The Aso vulcano is an active vulcano. About two million years ago there was an eruption on the central part of Kyusyu island, which then sank. At present there are five mountains in the center of caldera valley, and one of them is active.

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Directions: Near Kumamoto

Nara is a city filled with temples in a park like environment. Deer are roaming the streets.

Nara is near to Kyoto. Therefor we put more pics of Nara in a travelogue at our Kyoto-fu page.

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Directions: Nara can be easily reached from Kyoto by train.
Website: http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/index.html

Visit the Asakusa temple in Tokyo. It is said to be the oldest temple in Japan. Maybe it is maybe not, but it sure is one of the most visited. Japnese as well as foreign tourists flock to this temple with its big red lantern.

The commercial stands in the street leading to the temple are proove of the huge amount of visitors.

So if you don´t like crowds, find another temple in Tokyo.

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Address: Asakusa, Tokyo

You will find this fish in every pond you see. The Koi are very beautifull coloured.
Contrairy to the believes the fish didn´t originate in Japan but in China. Koi were introduced to Japan with the invading Chinese approximately 200 BC. The koi is a sort of carp. Carps have always ben a part of the asian culture.
The koi we know today (the multi colored ones) were developed in Japan and were only recognised during the 19th Century.

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Go to Mt Fuji when there are no clouds. Otherwise you end up just like us with only a picture of a signpost with a painted Mt Fuji and the date.

Mt Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan measuring 3,776 meters. It is a vulcano, the lastest reuption was in 1707.

Mt Fuji is referred to as Fuji-san by the japanese stating its important role.

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In spring it looks like entire Japan is coloring pink. You will find cherryblossom trees in bloom everywhere. It is a japanese tradition to go and see this beauty, that last so short. They often have a drink or bite to eat under the blossoming trees.
The sakura can be seen in different places on different times. Depending on the climate of the part of Japan you are visiting. Just ask in advance if you are in time. The major tourist spots like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka should be in begin april.
But we strongly recommend you visit the small village of Takato in Nagano ken. This village is in the mountains and therefor it is colder and the trees are in bloom later. The peak is around april 20, when 1500 cherryblossom trees are supposed to be in full bloom. It are all trees of the same species, which mean they are in full bloom together coloring Takato completely pink.

More on our Takato page, and if you can read japanese on the website below.

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Directions: Takato is in Nagano ken, south of Matsumoto, 10 kilometers east of Ina.
Website: http://www.town.takato.nagano.jp/