Things to do in Himeji

No. 3 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Hyogo Prefecture

Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle is a castle located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It is also known as Egret Castle due to its white exterior walls. Together with Kumamoto Castle and Matsumoto Castle, it is called the three famous cities in Japan. Due to its high degree of preservation, it is known as the No. 1 Castle in Japan and the first National Treasure Castle in Japan to be registered as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Himeji Castle is located in the center of Himeji and is the main symbol of the city. Many period dramas and movies are also filmed here. Himeji Castle is located in the southern traffic hub of Hyogo Prefecture, with elegant style and many historical sites. It is a historical city in Japan. The castle consists of 83 buildings, it has a highly developed defense system and elaborate guards. Castles also contribute to our understanding of Japanese feudal culture that began during the Shogunate era.

Koko-en Garden

Koko-en Garden is a Japanese garden located in Himeji Park (Himeji Castle) in Himeji, built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the city's municipal administration. Koko-en Garden is named after the Kokodo, a feudal school of the Sakai clan that existed near the garden entrance since the Edo period. The garden consists of nine distinct garden areas, including the Oyashiki-no-Niwa, Cha-no-Niwa, Tsukiyama-Chisen-no-Niwa, Matsu-no-Niwa, Natsuki-no-Niwa, Nagare-no-Hiraniwa, Take-no-Niwa, and Hana-no-Niwa.

Engyōji

Engyoji - Maniden is located at 2968 Shosha, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. It is an ancient Tendai sect temple founded in 966 (Kōhō 3) by the monk Shoku. Known as the Mount Hiei of the West, it was visited by the Retired Emperor and is counted among the three great Tendai training grounds, along with Mount Hiei and Daisen. Mount Shosha is lush with trees. There is a cable car for the ascent and descent, which takes you halfway up the mountain. From there, you can walk up the gentle mountain path, lined with Buddhist statues offered by devotees. After getting off the cable car, it is a 15-minute walk to the Nio-mon, and crossing the Nio-mon brings you into the grounds of Engyōji. The grounds are densely covered with tall cedar forests, creating a very serene atmosphere. The temple also houses many important cultural properties built during the Muromachi period, such as the Daikodo (Great Lecture Hall), the bell tower, the Jikido (Refectory), the Jogyodo, and the Juryoin.

Himeji Central Park

Himeji Central Park has a large leisure facility with a safari park, amusement park, swimming pool and ice skating rink. The safari park can be driven by car or on a garden bus, and you can see carnivores and herbivores up close from the window, walk to watch free-range waterfowl and kangaroos, and even take a cable car to see the animals from the air. The amusement park in the park has airships, free-fall, Ferris wheel, etc., exciting amusement equipment. In addition, there is a large leisure pool "Water World" that is only open in summer.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Universal Studios Japan

Here you'll find not only heart-pounding attractions themed around Hollywood blockbuster movies, but also live shows featuring popular cartoon characters—fun for everyone from kids to adults! This is home to the world's first Nintendo theme park, where you can immerse yourself in the world of Super Mario! Here we have holiday-exclusive parades and float tours! Everyone here is the star—join the passionate parade, ignite your excitement together, and feel full of energy! Located in OsakaUniversal Studios Japan("Universal Studios Japan") is one of the Universal Studios theme parks. It opened in 2001 and is a classic and wonderful world of fun in the hearts of many visitors. Its design is similar to Universal Studios Orlando in the United States, and it features popular areas such as "Jurassic Park," "Hollywood," and "Waterworld." With more than 60 fun attractions, you can keep playing and exploring all day long. Universal Studios JapanThere are also much-loved themed IP areas such as "Super Nintendo World (Mario/Super Mario)", "Minions", and "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter". Whether you're having fun interacting with the Minions, racing through the Mario Kart adventure, or weaving through the magical world of Hogwarts, these are all wonderfully unforgettable experiences. △The Nintendo area is a collaboration between Nintendo andUniversal Studios JapanThe world's first Nintendo theme park, jointly built, features the globally popular Super Mario as its main character. It offers a 1:1 ultra-realistic recreation of Bowser's Castle, Princess Peach's Castle, and the Mushroom Kingdom from the game, allowing you to immerse yourself in the world of Super Mario! △"Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" and "Freeze Ray Sliders" pull you into the Minions' gigantic chaos and whip up a heatwave! A huge swarm of Minions is running wild and turning everything upside down in every street, alley, and corner! In the joyful and boisterous Minion Park, every visitor can't help but join in the mischievous mayhem! △Welcome to the magnificent area—The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, which faithfully recreates the world of the Harry Potter™ stories with overwhelming scale and meticulous attention to every detail. The towering Hogwarts™ castle stands tall, and in front of it lies the vast Hogsmeade™ where wizards live, along with many ride attractions and various shops. Here, you can step into "that world" from the films, as if everything is happening right before your eyes.

Taiyō Park

This is a theme park where you can rent gorgeous ethnic costumes in the castle area and see the Terracotta Warriors.

Himeji City Aquarium

Ōtemae Park

Main Keep of Himeji Castle

Himeji City Zoo