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Himeji Castle
About
Himeji Castle (姫路城 Himeji-jō), (An easy 10-minute walk north from the station; also accessible by bus.), [2]. The castle is open 9 AM to 5 PM daily (admission is only until 4 PM) or until 6 PM (admission is until 5 PM) from June until August. The castle is closed between December 29 – 31.). Dating to 1609 and also graced with the name "White Egret Castle" (白鷺城 Shirasagi-jō), this striking white edifice is generally considered the most beautiful of Japan's castles and is one of the few that has escaped the ravages of civil war, earthquakes and firebombings. Most notably, the castle miraculously survived World War II virtually unscathed, despite the rest of the city having been levelled by American carpet bombing. The castle was designated as a national treasure in 1931 and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. It is virtually the last castle in Japan that still manages to tower over the surrounding skyscrapers and office buildings. Admission is ¥600 adults and ¥200 children. A special ¥720 combination ticket gets you into both the castle and the nearby Kōkoen Garden. A free guided tour in English is included ''if'' a guide happens to be available (no reservations are possible).
