Himeji Castle, Himeji, Hyogo, Japan

Himeji Castle, Himeji City

Japan's best preserved feudal castle.

How to get there
From Himeji Station, the castle can be reached in a 15-20 minute walk or 5 minute bus or taxi ride along the broad Otemae-dori Street, which leads straight from the station to the castle.

Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho) used to be the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. It is located in the spacious Kyoto Imperial Park.

The palace burnt down and was moved around the city several times over the centuries. The present reconstruction dates from 1855. The palace complex is enclosed by a long wall and consists of several gates, halls and gardens. The enthronement ceremonies of Emperors Taisho and Showa were still held in the palace’s main hall, but the present Emperor’s ceremony took place at the Tokyo Imperial Palace.

Cherry blossoms in Daigoji

In the Shimo-Daigo area of Daigoji stand most temple halls and structures including Kyoto’s oldest building, a five storied pagoda dating from 951, and the Bentendo, a much photographed small temple hall to the goddess Benten.

More temple buildings are located at Kami-Daigoji, about a one hour walk up the mountain from the Shimo-Daigo area, where Daigoji was originally founded. Due to a fire at the temple complex in August 2008, the road to Kami-Daigoji was temporarily closed, but re-opened on January 7, 2009.

The colour of cherry blossoms is fading at Daigoji Temple

The flowers are falling and the leaves are becoming more prominent

A weeping cherry tree that has lost most of its blossoms

A pair of otemari cherry trees in Daigoji's museum area

The ball shaped bunches of flowers of the otemari trees

One of the paths at Daigoji Temple

How to get there

Daigoji is the last station on the Tozai Subway Line. From the station, it is a 15 minute walk to the temple.

From Kyoto Station, take the JR Tokaido, Kosei or Biwako Line to Yamashina Station, where you can transfer to the Tozai Subway Line.

Golden Pavilion – History

In the 1220’s it was the comfortable villa of Kintsune Saionji. Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Shogun of Ashikaga, abdicated the throne in 1394. After three years, he began to build Kitayamaden and he made a special effort to make it a breath-taking site. He indulged in his peaceful life in this serene setting. After Yoshimitsu’s death, Kitayamaden was made into a Zen temple in accordance with his will. All the buildings of those days came to ruin except Kinkaku. The garden, however, remains as it was in former days and can be enjoyed as it was hundreds of years ago. Rokuon-ji Temple was inscribed as World Cultural Heritage in 1994.

The Kinkakuji, Golden Pavilion

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, literally Temple of the Golden Pavilion), Kyoto

Japon - Kyoto - The golden pavilion

The golden pavilion in autumn

Golden Pavilion – Building

Kinkaku was formally called Shariden. The elegant, harmonious building consists of three types of architecture. The 1st floor is Shinden-zukuri, the palace style. It is named Ho-sui-in. The 2nd floor is Buke-zukuri, the style of the samurai house and is called Cho-on-do. The 3rd floor is Karayo style or Zen temple style. It is called Kukkyo-cho.

Both the 2nd and 3rd floors are covered with gold-leaf on Japanese lacquer. The roof, upon which the Chinese phoenix settles, is thatched with shingles.

Recently, the coating of Japanese lacquer was found a little decayed and a new coating as well as gilding with gold-leaf, much thicker than the original ones, was given to the building and was completed in 1987. Furthermore, the beautiful painting on the ceiling and the statue of Yoshimitsu were restored, with utmost care, to their original splendour.

Golden Pavilion Points of interest

The name of the pond is Kyoko-chi (Mirror pond). The pond contains many large and small islands. Climbing a few steps, you stand at the edge of another small pond, An-min-taku. The small stone pagoda on the island is called Hakuja-no-tsuka (the mound in memory of the white snake).

The classic tea house is called Sekka-tei. In Sekka-tei there is a celebrated pillar made of a nandin. The house was restored in 1997. On the way to the exit of the temple, you will find the small Fudodo shrine where the stone Fudo-myoc (Acara) is enshrined as a guardian.

Construction Notice: Sensoji’s main hall is currently under renovation  and covered by scaffolding. The works are scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2010. The temple grounds and the interior of the main hall can be visited during the renovation works.

When approaching the temple, visitors first enter through the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the outer gate of the Sensoji and symbol of Asakusa. A shopping street of over 200 meters, called Nakamise, leads from the outer gate to the temple’s second gate, the Hozomon. Besides typical Japanese souvenirs such as yukata and folding fans, various traditional local snacks from the Asakusa area are sold along the Nakamise. The shopping street has a history of several centuries.

Beyond the Hozomon main gate stands the temple’s main building and a five storied pagoda. The Asakusa Shrine, built in the year 1649 by Tokugawa Iemitsu can be found close by the temple’s main building.

Asakusa Market

Asakusa Sensoji Temple area

Asakusa Sensoji Temple at night

Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo.

Various events are held throughout the year in the Sensoji Temple area. Some of them are:

* Sanja Matsuri – May: one of Tokyo’s three major festivals.
* Hozuki-ichi (Hozuki Market) – July: Hozuki are ground cherries, a typical summer plant in Japan.
* Asakusa Samba Carnival – August
* Tokyo Jidai Matsuri – November: a festival commemorating the history of Tokyo and the Edo culture.
* Hagoita-ichi (Hagoita Market) – December: Hagoita is the wooden paddle used in Hanetsuki, a traditional game that resembles badminton. Click here to read more about Hanetsuki and the Hagoita Market.

However, a few years after Hideyoshi’s death, Tokugawa troops attacked and destroyed the castle and terminated the Toyotomi lineage in 1615. Osaka Castle was rebuilt by Tokugawa Hidetada in the 1620s, but its main castle tower was struck by lightening in 1665 and burnt down.

It was not until 1931 that the present ferro-concrete reconstruction of the castle tower was built. During the war it miraculously survived the city wide air raids. Major repair works gave the castle new glamor in 1997. The castle tower is now entirely modern on the inside and even features an elevator for easier accessibility. It houses an informative museum about the castle’s history and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Cherry Blossom, Osaka Castle, Osaka, Japan

Osaka Castle in the city of Osaka, Japan

Osaka Castle

The castle tower is surrounded by secondary citadels, gates, turrets, impressive stone walls and moats. The Nishinomaru Garden, encompassing the former “western citadel”, is a lawn garden with 600 cherry trees, a tea house, the former Osaka Guest House and nice views of the castle tower from below.

The entire Osaka Castle Park covers about two square kilometers with lots of green space, sport facilities, a multi-purpose arena (Osakajo Hall) and Hokoku Shrine, dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The park is one of Osaka’s most popular hanami spot during the cherry blossom season, which usually takes place in early April.

1. Shinjuku, Tokyo
2. Ginza neighborhood, Tokyo
3. Shibuya and Harajuku, Tokyo
4. Sensoji Temple, Asakusa
5. Osaka Castle, Osaka
6. Golden Pavilion, Kyoto
7. Daigoji Temple, Kyoto

Ginza is Tokyo’s famous shopping district. Although the stores found here–virtually every luxury brand–are now often found as well in Roppongi or Aoyama, it’s still fun to stroll down the designer-flecked lanes. Half of all Japanese women own something from Louis Vuitton, and luxury is taken to new heights in Japan. The area also has quiet back lanes lined with local-brand shops.

Bullet Train, Ginza District, Tokyo

Travels Hotels in Ginza, Tokyo