Getting There
A stop on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train, which runs between Tokyo and Kyushu, Himeji is about 3 1/2 hours from Tokyo, 1 hour from Kyoto, and less than a half-hour from Okayama. The fare from Tokyo is ¥14,700 ($123/£61) for a nonreserved seat.
Visitor Information
The Himeji City Tourist Information Center (tel. 079/285-3792) is located at the central exit of the station's north (castle) side, to the left after you exit from the ticket gate. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm, but foreigners are asked to visit the center between 10am and 3pm when an English-speaking volunteer is on hand to answer questions. Another tourist office, Himeji Kanko Navi Port (tel. 079/287-3658), is located on Otemae Dori, Himeji's main road, on the right side just before the castle and is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Some tourist information is also available online at www.city.himeji.hyogo.jp and www.himeji-kanko.jp.
If you're stopping in Himeji only for a few hours to see the castle, deposit your luggage in the coin lockers just beside the tourist office or underneath the Shinkansen tracks.
Internet Access -- Jyukukan Himeji, beside the Himeji Washington Hotel Plaza, Higashi Ekimai-cho 98 (tel. 079/286-6006), is open 24 hours and charges ¥290 ($2.40/£1.20) for the first 30 minutes and then ¥100 (85¢/45p) for each subsequent 15 minutes.
Orientation & Getting Around
You can walk to Himeji's attractions. The main road in town is Otemae Dori, a wide boulevard that stretches from Himeji Station north to Himeji Castle (you can walk the distance in about 15 min.). To the east (right) of Otemae Dori are two parallel streets, Miyukidori and Omizusuji, both covered shopping arcades. If you want, you can use a bicycle free of charge from 9am to 6pm. Just fill out an application form (before 4pm) at either the station's tourist information counter or Himeji Kanko Navi Port and then exchange the ticket for a bicycle. Finally, red-painted tourist buses make runs from 9am to 4:30pm daily (to 5pm weekends and holidays) every 15 to 30 minutes from Himeji Station to the castle and beyond and cost ¥100 (85¢/45p) per ride or ¥300 ($2.50/£1.25) all day.
