Once inside the castle, I was taken aback at the staggering amount of wood making up the structure. In particular, I marveled at the thick wooden beams that provided the main structural support for the six story castle. The view of the cherry blossoms surrounding Himeji Castle was truly a sight to behold, and was definitely worth braving the crowds to reach the top story.

Himeji Castle Courtyard

Getting to Himeji Castle is easy. We traveled to Himeji as a day trip from Osaka on the shinkensen (bullet train), using our JR Pass. The trains are as comfortable as they are fast, and the 45 minute trip was a breeze. You can also reach Himeji from Kyoto in about an hour. For more details on shinkensen trains to Himeji from Osaka, here is a useful link. From the train station, Himeji Castle is just a pleasant 10 minute walk to the North.

Shinkensen from Oasaka to Himeji

If you are planning to visit Japan during the cherry blossom festival, you really should consider taking the short day trip from Osaka or Kyoto to Himeji Castle. The sakura surrounding the castle provided some of the most stunning scenes that I had witnessed on my entire trip to Japan last spring.