Hyogo Map Kinosaki Onsen Hyogo Prefecture is a castle Hamasaka Kinosaki Onsen San′in Line Kitakinki Tango Railway lover's paradise! Toyooka Yumura Onsen Tajima Airport Tottori Tottori Prefecture JAPAN Wadayama Kyoto Prefecture Takeda TAKEDA Castle Fukuchiyama San′in Line Chizu Express Bantan Line Fukuchiyama Line SASAYAMA Okayama Tanigawa Castle Castlesof Prefecture Sasayamaguchi Sayo Kakogawa Line JR Takarazuka Kishin Line Line Shiota Onsen HIMEJI Castle Hyogo Kamigori Osaka(Itami) Takedao Onsen International Sanyo Line Airport Himeji Takarazuka Aioi Onsen Banshu-Ako Arima Kakogawa AKASHI Onsen 城 Amagasaki Shin-Osaka Ako Onsen Sanyo Castle Shinkansen Ako Line Shin-Kobe AKO Sannomiya Osaka Castle Kobe Nishi-Akashi Akashi JR Kobe Tennoji Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Line AMAGASAKI Iwaya Onsen Kobe Airport (Domestic) Castle Awaji Island Osaka Hyogo Prefecture Official Tourism Website: Kansai Prefecture International Hineno "ANOTHER HYOGO" SUMOTO Airport Castle ANOTHER HYOGO Sumoto Onsen Onaruto Bridge Wakayama Wakayama ■From Kansai International Airport to Hyogo Prefecture By Train By Bus Approx. Kansai Approx. Approx. Kansai Sannomiya Sannomiya Himeji International International 1hr.15min. Station Himeji Airport 1hr.20min. Station 40min. Station Airport （Bus） Approx. （Train） （Train） Station 2hr.10min.（Bus） Bus ＋ Bay Shuttle ＋ Train Kansai Approx. Kansai Approx. Kobe Airport Approx. Approx. Sannomiya Himeji Airport Airport Port Kaijo Access Terminal 1 10min. Terminal 35min. Terminal 20min. Station 40min. Station （Bus） （Bay Shuttle） （Train） （Train） Hyogo Tourism Bureau 650 8567 Hyogo Prefectural Government 1st Bldg, 5-10-1, Shimoyamate St, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo, Japan A castle renowned for ■ Famous historical figures both strength and beauty Senhime of Himeji Castle A granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Special mechanisms to foil enemy attacks are found throughout Japanese castles. first shogun of the Edo shogunate. Married Himeji Castle has an especially large number of these defensive facilities, Tadaoki in 1616, the eldest son of Honda showing that it was one of Japan's most well-defended castles. Tadamasa who is the lord of Kuwana Castle. When Tadamasa became the lord of Himeji Castle next year, they also moved in Himeji ◀ 1 Castle and Senhime spent about 10 years living there. She built a Tenmangu shrine in order to pray for the prosperity of the Honda family on Mt. Otokoyama, where can be seen from the cosmetic tower in western compound. It is said that she prayed to Mt. Otokoyama from the tower every 2 ▼ morning. ◀ 「本多平八郎姿絵屏風_右扇」 3 徳川美術館所蔵 Ⓒ徳川美術館イメージアーカ イブ/DNPartcom ◀4 ▶ 3. Folding-fan Slope ■ 5 The stone walls rise steeply and the Recommended upper parts curve outward making ouvenir it harder to climb. Because of its S appearance, they are called ‘Folding-fan Slope’. 4. Weapon racks For hanging firearms, swords, or bows, they cover the inner wall of 1. Portholes the principal tower. They are a Himeji Kobe Holes opened in the walls or guard remnant of the principal tower's towers for defense using arrows or former role as an armory. Himeji Hariko Castle firearms. About 1,000 of these 5. Gates (papier-mache) HIMEJI portholes remain in the castle. Designed to prevent enemies from Major architectural features including the principal tower, guard towers, and gates remain unchanged Toys made of layers of Japanese paper, from their original construction in 1609. One of the most distinguished castles in Japan in terms of 2. Stone drop easily approaching the principal typically animal masks and figurines. compound size and number of National Treasures and National Important Cultural Properties. Built into principal tower, guard tower, some have sturdy iron doors, These were produced nationwide in castle Designated as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan in 1993. Known as the "White Heron Castle" towers, and walls to drop rocks on while others are so narrow that one towns, which had abundant scrap paper, for its elegant white-plastered exterior. enemies climbing the stone walls or person can barely pass through and are believed to have begun fire at them. them. production in Himeji approximately 150 ■ 68 Honmachi, Himeji City years ago. Available at the shop inside the ■ Hours: 9:00 AM ‒ 5:00 PM (Open until 6:00 PM between April 27 and August 31). *Last entry 1 hour before closing. castle. ■ Closed: December 29-30 ■ Admission: 1,000 yen Drone video of Himeji Castle available on YouTube. ■ Transportation: Take the Special Rapid Service from JR Sannomiya Station to Himeji Station (40 min.), Himeji Castle Multicopter Aerial Video▶ take the Shinki Bus to‘ Otemon-mae′ bus stop, then walk 5 minutes. ※Unauthorized usage or reproduction of this video is prohibited. Unauthorized drone flight in Himeji Castle area is also prohibited. 1 2 ■ TAKEDA Castle Side trip A mountain castle ruin atop Mt. Kojozan (353 m. elevation). The majestic stone walls stretching 400 m. north-south and 100 m. east-west were built in the mid-1590s. This is one of the largest complete stone wall remains in Japan. Also known as the "Castle in the Sky" for the mystical views of its stone walls rising above a sea of cloud in the early morning fog on sunny days in late autumn. Teramachi-dori "Teramachi" (temple town) refers to a concentrated area of temples and shrines around a castle town. This area acted as a line of defense against enemy attack. Takeda's "temple town" has four temples and one shrine along a 600 m. stone-paved street. White walls, koi fish swimming in a stream, and a row of pine ■ Takeda, Wadayama-cho, Asago City trees make this a uniquely atmospheric ■ Hours: varies by season spot. Traditional residences renovated into ■ Admission: 500 yen hotels have also become popular in the ■ Transportation: Take the Limited Express Hamakaze Takeda Castle town in recent years. from JR Himeji Station to Wadayama Station(65min.), Kobe ■ Takeda, Wadayama-cho, Asago City take the train to Takeda Station from there(7min.) Himeji ■ Transportation: 5-minute walk from and take the Tenku Bus to ‘Takedajoseki’ bus stop, JR Takeda Station. then walk 20minutes. The Genroku Ako Incident ■ Kobe ide trip Himeji aroused sympathy of S common people Castle In the early 18th century, news of their AKO lord's death by seppuku shook the Ako Built in 1661. Was dismantled due to the Ordinance Abolishing castle town. This conflict, later to be known Castles by the Meiji Restoration government, and only the stone as the Genroku Ako Incident, began in walls and moat remained. However, the guard towers, gates, walls, 1701 when Asano Naganori, the lord of and garden were restored starting in the mid-1900s decade. The Ako Domain, attacked and injured Master main compound garden features a reproduction of the layout of the of Ceremonies Kira Kozukenosuke, against whom he held a grudge, in the Great Pine lord's quarters, and an overview of the whole castle may be seen Corridor of Edo Castle. At the time, disputes from the principal tower foundation. were typically resolved by punishing both Ako loyal retainer historical spots parties, but the shogunate ordered only The area around Ako Castle features Naganori to commit seppuku on the same several locations with a connection to the Oishi Kuranosuke, day. About two years after Naganori's Chamberlain of Ako Domain loyal retainers, including Kagakuji Temple, death, Oishi Kuranosuke, the head (Ako Oishi Jinja Shrine which contains the graves of the 47, Ako chamberlain of Ako Domain, led 47 loyal collection) Oishi Jinja Shrine, which has stone statues retainers in a raid on Kozukenosuke's house of each of them, and the Nagayamon to avenge their lord. These 47 retainers Gate, a remainder of Oishi Kuranosuke's paid for their loyalty with their lives, but residence. their action was admired by the people as the ideal of the samurai spirit, and works known as "Kanadehon Chushingura" (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers) were created for Joruri and Kabuki theater based on this ■ 1 Kamikariya, Ako City ■ Hours: 9:00 AM ‒ 4:30 PM *Last entry 4:00 PM. incident. Chushingura stories remain Principal compound and Ninomaru Garden only. ■ Closed: December 28 ‒ popular today, and have been featured in January 4 *Principal compound and Ninomaru Garden only. ■ Admission: Free the countless number of films. The ■ Transportation: Take the Special Rapid Service from JR Sannomiya Station to Hollywood movie “47 Ronin” was filmed at Banshu-Ako Station(75min.), then walk 20 minutes. Ako Castle and released in 2013. 3 4 ■ ■ Side trip Side trip Samurai Residence Sumoto Onsen Anma Family Museum Large onsen ryokan (hot springs A foot soldier's residence built inns) and hotels line the coast around 1830. The main building near central Sumoto. Gaze out with thatched-roof is character- upon the beautiful Kitan Strait ized by an L-shaped layout. from an outdoor bath. Historical tools and weapons are displayed inside. 10-minute walk from Sasayama Castle. ■ 95 Nishishinmachi, Tamba-Sasayama City SASAYAMA Castle ■ Admission: 200 yen SUMOTO Castle Oshoin Palace is the symbol of Sasayama Castle. It was built at the same ■ 2-3 Kitashinmachi, Tamba-Sasayama City ■ Hours: The major castle ruin of Awaji Island, Sumoto Castle has an expansive ■ 1272-1 Orodani, Sumoto City time as the castle in 1609 and used for official functions of Sasayama 9:00 AM ‒ 5:00 PM *Last entry 4:30 PM ■ Closed: territory stretching 800 m. east-west and 600 m. north-south on Mt. ■ Admission: free Domain. The current Oshoin was reconstructed in 2000 and boasts a size Mondays (the next weekday when Monday is a Mikumayama (133 m. elevation). It has experienced several ■ Transportation: Take the Express bus From national holiday), December 25 ‒ January 1 JR Sannomiya Station to ‘Sumoto Kosoku equivalent to the Ninomaru Palace of Nijojo Castle in Kyoto in terms of renovations since its building in 1526, and thus features stone wall Bus Center’bus stop (90 min.), then 15 Kobe ■ Admission: 400 yen ■ Transportation: Take the Kobe residential wooden architecture in Japan.