Himeji

Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely considered as Japan’s most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well preserved, complex castle grounds. Unlike many other Japanese castles, it was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives to this day as one of the country’s twelve original castles.

Kokoen is a Japanese style garden constructed on the former site of the fuedal lord’s west residence. It consists of nine separate, walled gardens designed in various styles of the Edo Period. Among the gardens are the garden of the lord’s residence which features a pond with a waterfall, a tea garden where visitors can enjoy green tea in a tea ceremony house, a pine tree garden, a bamboo garden and a flower garden.