We Out: Japan - Himeji

The GUNNERPHI crew made it to Japan. In the six-part miniseries “We Out: Japan”, we’ll be documenting our big trip overseas including video, music, and photos from Clifford S. Coleman. We out!

Our time in Kyoto, brought us to another one of its main attractions, the Himeji Castle. 

Sitting atop a hill, the castle is considered the best-preserved castle in all of Japan, and it is easy to see why. Entrance is limited throughout the day to prevent too much wear on the premises. Once they reach their daily limit of visitors, the castle is closed until the next day. If you’re fortunate enough to get inside, you can see where some older japanese cultures rested, ate, and prayed. It’s remarkable how good it all looks considering the structure’s age.

Fortunately, the area allows you to make a day out of the trip. There are small shops and outdoor vendors on the walk from the train station to the castle. The castle itself is surrounded by a large lake filled with koi fish. On the water, you’ll see local guides giving visitors a short tour of the campus. The Koko-en Garden is right outside the castle grounds, and provides a peaceful setting packed with unique japanese flora.

While the castle and garden are beautiful sites, the same can’t be said for the Himeji City Zoo. We were close by and had time to kill, but we should’ve listened to the reviews. The animals, while there were many, looked fed up. The lion seemed content sitting and staring at us. It was awesome seeing the polar bears and penguins, but they felt out of place on what turned out to be a warmer day.Ultimately, the zoo was just garnish to the castle and garden’s main dish.

Save a few hours for Himeji if you are Kyoto, the views from the castle and garden alone are worth your time.