Himeji is most famous for the stunning [Himeji Castle](/link/place/kansai/hyogo-prefecture/himeji/himeji-castle), considered one of [Japan’s Three Great Castles](/term/place/japans-three-great-castles), the only Japanese castle that is a [UNESCO World Heritage Site](/term/place/unesco-world-heritage-site), and one of the [Twelve Original Castle Keeps](/term/place/twelve-original-castles). 

A popular [shotengai](/term/general/shotengai) runs between [Himeji Station](/link/station/himeji-station) and Himeji Castle, parallel to the city's main boulevard. You can find plenty of hole-in-the-wall shops and restaurants there.

Alley in front of Himeji Castle in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture

Himeji Castle.webp

Exterior of Yamasa Kamaboko in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture

Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

Yamasa Kamaboko.webp

Negi Ramen at Koba & More in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture

Koba & More.webp

Taiyaki from Taiyaki Honpo Yujido in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture

Taiyaki Honpo Yujido.webp

Osaka

Osaka Prefecture

Kobe

Himeji

Kinosaki Onsen

Hyogo Prefecture

Kyoto

Kyoto Prefecture

Shirahama

Wakayama Prefecture

Kansai

Shodoshima

Takamatsu

Kagawa Prefecture

Shikoku

Kurashiki

Okayama Prefecture

Chugoku

Enoshima

Kamakura

Yokohama

Miura

Kanagawa Prefecture

Tokyo

Tokyo Metropolis

Kawagoe

Chichibu

Saitama Prefecture

Kanto

Kanazawa

Ishikawa Prefecture

Takayama

Shirakawa-go

Gifu Prefecture

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Toyama Prefecture

Chubu

The Meiji Restoration in 1868 brought an end to the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) and ushered in the [Meiji Era](/term/era/meiji). It arose from the collapse of the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate) at the end of the [bakumatsu](/term/era/bakumatsu), and the return of power back to the Imperial Family.

Towards the end of the Pacific War during World War II, the United States engaged in air raid bombings on Japan from June 1944 till the end of the war in August 1945.

During these air raid bombings, many cultural properties were destroyed and burned, including many [Japanese castles](/term/general/japanese-castle), [shrines](/term/general/shrine), and [temples](/term/general/temple). Many of these were restored after the war, although any relics or items stored within those buildings would have been lost to the fire.

The Showa Era is the longest reign of any Japanese Emperor in history. It saw the tumultuous era of Japan's involvement in World War II as the Empire of Japan, and the post-war reconstruction as the State of Japan. 

The post-war Showa Era saw the Japanese economic miracle that brought it to become the third largest economy in the world. Oftentimes, when people mention the Showa Era, they refer to the post-war period. 

The Edo Period lasted from 1603 to 1867 when the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate) ruled Japan from the city of [Edo](/term/general/edo), modern day Tokyo. The [shogun](/term/general/shogun) was the de-facto leader of Japan, and the [daimyō](/term/general/daimyo) under him would rule over the various regions. 

The Meiji Era marked the start of Japan's rapid modernization, moving away from a feudal society and adopting industrialization and other Western influences. The Emperor who reigned at the time was posthumously known as Emperor Meiji.

The period at the end of the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) that led to the fall of the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate), and culminated in the [Meiji Restoration](/term/general/meiji-restoration).

During this period, a fleet of American ships led by Matthew Perry forced the bakufu to lift its [Sakoku](/term/general/sakoku) policy, resulting in unrest across Japan over the next few years. This culminated in a rebellion against the bakufu called the Boshin War and eventually the Meiji Restoration in 1868. 

The Sengoku Period was a period of near-constant civil war that began after the collapse of the [Ashikaga Shogunate](/term/general/ashikaga-shogunate) in 1467 due to a civil war, the [Ōnin War](/term/general/onin-war), over succession. The collapse led to a power vacuum with various regional [daimyos](/term/general/daimyo) vying for control of Japan.

In 1573, [Oda Nobunaga](/term/person/oda-nobunaga) launched a unification war that he led till his death in 1582. His success, [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](/term/person/toyotomi-hideyoshi) continued the campaign, completing the unification in 1591 before his death in 1598. His son, [Toyotomi Hideyori](/term/person/toyotomi-hideyori) was then defeated by [Tokugawa Ieyasu](/term/person/tokugawa-ieyasu) during the [Battle of Sekigahara](/term/general/battle-of-sekigahara) in 1600. Tokugawa Ieyasu went on to establish the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate) in 1603, bringing an end to the Sengoku Period and starting the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo).

The Muromachi Period is marked by the governance of Japan under the [Ashikaga Shogunate](/term/general/ashikaga-shogunate). 

The period overlaps with that of the [Sengoku Period](/term/era/sengoku) that begins with the [Ōnin War](/term/general/onin-war) from 1467 to 1477 over succession of the Ashikaga Shogunate. While the Sengoku Period was ongoing, the Ashikaga Shogunate continued until its dissolution in 1573 by [Oda Nobunaga](/term/person/oda-nobunaga).

A shotengai is a Japanese shopping street, typically lined with shops on both sides. They can be covered on in the open, and during the [Showa Era](/term/era/showa), they used to be the center of lifestyle and shopping in each area.

The tenshu is usually the tallest tower in a [Japanese Castle](/term/general/japanese-castle), and located within the [Hon-maru](/term/general/hon-maru). Often times, when people think of castles, the building that comes to mind is actually the tenshu of the castle. Only 12 original tenshu still exist today.

Japanese Castles are fortresses typically made of wood and stone, and were initially built at strategic locations for military use. By the [Sengoku Period](/term/era/sengoku), they became the home of [daimyos](/term/general/daimyo) who ruled their domain from the castle. They became obsolete in the [Meiji Period](/term/era/meiji) with Japan's modernization, ending the feudal era as well as the systems of [shoguns](/term/general/shogun) and [daimyos](/term/general/daimyo). 

The castle consists of a series of defensive rings with the outermost being the [San-no-maru](/term/general/san-no-maru), followed by the [Ni-no-maru](/term/general/ni-no-maru), with the [Hon-maru](/term/general/hon-maru) in the center.

The Tokugawa Shogunate (also called the Edo Shogunate) was the military government of Japan during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo), and was led by the [shogun](/term/general/shogun) from the [Tokugawa Clan](/term/general/tokugawa-clan).

Shoguns were the military leaders of Japan, nominally appointed by the Emperor. The position is typically hereditary, and the government of the Shogun is called the [Shogunate](/term/general/shogunate). 

There have been multiple Shogunates over the course of history, with the final Shogunate being the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate) that ended in 1867 with the return of power to the Emperor in the [Meiji Restoration](/term/general/meiji-restoration).

Temples are places of worship for followers of [Buddhism](/term/general/buddhism).

The *Hon-maru* (本丸, lit. the main circle) is the main complex of a [Japanese Castle](/term/general/japanese-castle) and is the innermost complex in the castle. It typically houses the [tenshu](/term/general/tenshu) and the residence of the [daimyo](/term/general/daimyo). 

The Hon-maru is surrounded by the [Ni-no-maru](/term/general/ni-no-maru), which is in turn surrounded by the [San-no-maru](/term/general/san-no-maru).

The *Ni-no-maru* (二の丸, lit. the second circle) is the second innermost complex of a [Japanese Castle](/term/general/japanese-castle), and usually hosts auxiliary residences, guest rooms, and military installations. Since the conversion of castles into national park, most Ni-no-marus in existing castles have all been demolished. 

The innermost complex is called the [Hon-maru](/term/general/hon-maru), while the outermost complex is called the [San-no-maru](/term/general/san-no-maru). 

The *San-no-maru* (三の丸, lit. the third circle) is usually the outermost complex in a [Japanese Castle](/term/general/japanese-castle), where the lowest ranking residences in a castle are located, as well as where many of the defensive military installations are located. 

The San-no-maru encloses the [Ni-no-maru](/term/general/ni-no-maru), which in turn encloses the innermost complex, the [Hon-maru](/term/general/hon-maru).

The daimyō were generally regional lords that controlled military, police, and economic power in the area that they ruled. Most commonly, the term daimyō is used to refer to the regional lords during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) that would report to the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate). They were abolished in 1868 during the [Meiji Restoration](/term/event/meiji-restoration) that saw the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and Japan’s feudal system.

Shrines are places of worship for the [Shinto](/term/general/shinto) religion, and usually enshrine one or more deities. They are different from [temples](/term/general/temple) which are places of worship for the [Buddhist](/term/general/buddhism) religion.

The Tokugawa Clan is a dynasty that ruled Japan as the [shoguns](/term/general/shogun) through the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo). 

The Shogunate, also called the Bakufu, is used to refer to a government led by the [shogun](/term/general/shogun).

Sakoku refers to the policy of national isolation from 1633 to 1853 during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) (also called the Sakoku Period) by the Tokugawa Shogunate that cut off almost all diplomatic and trade relations with other countries. 

No foreigners were allowed to enter, and no Japanese were allowed to leave. Certain exceptions were allowed, such as the trade with the Dutch and Chinese in Nagasaki. 

Edo is the former name for Tokyo, used up to 1868 when it was renamed to *Tōkyō* (東京, lit. Eastern Capital) by the government. It became the de-facto capital from 1603 during the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) as the seat of the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate).

The indigenous religion of Japan, the central belief is that [kami](/term/general/kami), supernatural beings, inhabit all things including nature. 

Buddhism is a religion that focuses on the teachings of the [Buddha](/term/general/buddha). The central tenet revolves around people letting go of their worldly desires.

The Ashikaga Shogunate was the ruling  [shogunate](/term/general/shogunate) during the [Muromachi Period](/term/era/muromachi) based out of Kyoto. The [shoguns](/term/general/shogun) were of the [Ashikaga Clan](/term/group/ashikaga-clan).

They were the second shogunate in Japan’s history after overthrowing the [Kamakura Shogunate](/term/general/kamakura-shogunate), and was dissolved after the weakening of the shogunate during the [Sengoku Period](/term/era/sengoku) before being succeeded by the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate).

The kami are deities from the [Shinto](/term/general/shinto) religion and are said to inhabit all things, and are also said to have created all nature and human life.

The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, was an Indian prince from South Asia who later gave up his title and founded the religion of [Buddhism](/term/general/buddhism) in the 6th or 5th century BCE. 

The Three Great Unifiers of Japan are the three people credited with bringing an end to the civil wars of the [Sengoku Period](/term/era/sengoku), unifying Japan and ushering in the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo). The three are [Oda Nobunaga](/term/person/oda-nobunaga), [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](/term/person/toyotomi-hideyoshi), and [Tokugawa Ieyasu](/term/person/tokugawa-ieyasu).

Seppuku was an act of ritual suicide by [samurai](/term/general/samurai) who would rather die voluntarily with honor, than be captured by the enemy. It could also be used as a form of capital punishment. Seppuku involves the act of harakiri, then beheaded by an assistant as an act of mercy.

The samurai were warriors that were most prominent in the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo), serving the regional [daimyo](/term/general/daimyo) as protectors of their land. They were considered to be military nobility, and the title was hereditary.  

Oda Nobunaga was a [daimyo](/term/general/daimyo) during the [Sengoku Period](/term/era/sengoku) and is regarded as the first of the [Three Great Unifiers of Japan](/term/general/three-great-unifiers). In 1573, he launched a unifying war against the other daimyo, conquering most of [Honshu](/term/place/honshu) by 1580. In 1582, he was betrayed by his retainer, Akechi Mitsuhide (明智 光秀), and was forced to commit [seppuku](/term/general/seppuku) to avoid capture after being surrounded. [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](/term/person/toyotomi-hideyoshi) succeeded him and completed his unification war in 1591.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a [daimyo](/term/general/daimyo) during the [Sengoku Period](/term/era/sengoku) and is regarded as the second of the [Three Great Unifiers of Japan](/term/general/three-great-unifiers). He succeeded [Oda Nobunaga](/term/person/oda-nobunaga) in 1582 after the latter's death, and completed the latter's war to unify Japan in 1591. This made him the de-facto leader of Japan. He then launched an unsuccessful war against Korea in 1592, which ended after his death in 1598. It is said that he was delirious at his death, and the unsuccessful wars had weakened his clan, leading to [Tokugawa Ieyasu](/term/person-tokugawa-ieyasu) displacing his son and becoming the first [shogun](/term/place/shogun) of the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo) in 1603.

The son and successor to [Toyotomi Hideyoshi](/term/person/toyotomi-hideyoshi), after his father's death in 1598, he became the designated ruler of Japan at age 5. The loss of the [Battle of Sekigahara](/term/event/battle-of-sekigahara) in 1600 by the Toyotomi loyalists faction meant that the position of de-facto ruler of Japan fell to the winner, [Tokugawa Ieyasu](/term/person/tokugawa-ieyasu), who went on to found the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate) in 1603.

Most of Toyotomi Hideyori's land and holdings were confiscated after the loss, and he was demoted to becoming an ordinary [daimyo](/term/general/daimyo). 

By 1614, Toyotomi Hideyori grew up to be a young daimyo living in [Osaka Castle](/link/place/kansai/osaka-prefecture/osaka/osaka-castle) and was the rightful heir to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Those who opposed Tokugawa Ieyasu began to rally around Toyotomi Hideyori. This led to a conflict between the two that resulted in a siege of Osaka Castle in November 1614 by Tokugawa's forces. The attack was unsuccessful, but resulted in a truce signed in January 1615 that required Toyotomi Hideyori to dismantle the castle's defenses. 

In May 1615, skirmishes started breaking out again between the two factions near Osaka leading to a second siege of the castle in June 1615.  A siege that was successful this time, and ended with Toyotomi Hideyori committing [seppuku](/term/general/seppuku) with his mother.

Tokugawa Ieyasu was the first [shogun](/term/general/shogun) of the [Edo Period](/term/era/edo),  and founded the [Tokugawa Shogunate](/term/general/tokugawa-shogunate) in 1603. During the [Sengoku Period](/term/era/sengoku) , he was a [daimyo](/term/general/daimyo) and is regarded as the third of the [Three Great Unifiers of Japan](/term/general/three-great-unifiers). After [Toyotomi Hideyoshi's](/term/person/toyotomi-hideyoshi)  death in 1598, Tokugawa took power in 1600 after the [Battle of Sekigahara](/term/event/battle-of-sekigahara) that saw him defeat forces loyal to Toyotomi Hideyoshi's son, Toyotomi Hideyori (豊臣 秀頼).

Japan’s three great castles are often thought to be [Himeji Castle](/link/place/kansai/hyogo/himeji-castle), [Kumamoto Castle](/link/place/kyushu/kumamoto-prefecture/kumamoto/kumamoto-castle), and [Matsumoto Castle](/link/place/chubu/nagano-prefecture/matsumoto/matsumoto-castle). The list also once included [Osaka Castle](/link/place/kansai/osaka-prefecture/osaka/osaka-castle) and [Nagoya Castle](/link/place/chubu/aichi/nagoya/nagoya-castle), however the two castles no longer have their original [tenshu](/term/general/tenshu).

There are more than 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan, these include the ancient temples of [Kyoto](/link/place/kansai/kyoto-prefecture/kyoto), [Himeji Castle](/link/place/kansai/hyogo-prefecture/himeji/himeji-castle), the villages of [Shirakawa-go](/link/place/chubu/gifu-prefecture/shirakawa-go), [Itsukushima Shrine](/link/place/chugoku/hiroshima-prefecture/miyajima/itsukushima-shrine), and the [Kumano Kodo](/link/place/kansai/wakayama-prefecture/kumano-kodo).

Most [Japanese castles](/term/general/japanese-castle) in Japan were destroyed by the government after the [Meiji Restoration](/term/event/meiji-restoration), by natural causes like fires, earthquakes, and lightning strikes, or by [World War II air raids](/term/event/world-war-ii-air-raids). Of all the castles, only 12 still retain their original [tenshu](/term/general/tenshu) today. 

Honshu is the largest of Japan's main islands and stretches from Aomori Prefecture in the north, all the way to Yamaguchi Prefecture in the south.

Best Things to Eat in Himeji