Staying in Kobe is brilliant for getting around so on the day of dry weather, we opted for a day trip to Himeji Castle and Korakuen Garden in Okayama.
We arrived at Himeji Castle first and it was freezing but we were all wrapped up so it was okay! The last time I visited Himeji, the castle was surrounded by scaffolding so it was an extra special treat for me to see it alone in all its grandeur. Himeji Castle is a national treasure as it is one of Japan’s twelve original castles due to never being destroyed by war, fire or a natural disaster. Completed in 1609, it sits on a hilltop and its striking white appearance is breathtakingly beautiful which gives the castle its nickname of ‘White Heron Castle’. It’s easy to see why Himeji Castle is listed as a World Heritage Site and is one of Japan’s most precious buildings.
After taking in a lot of its beauty on the outside, we headed to the heart of the castle – the main keep. It is 6 stories high and you are able to tour each floor via some rather steep stairs. Like most places in Japan, to enter you have to take your shoes off but don’t worry because you are given some plastic green slippers. To say Paul struggled would be an understatement. They didn’t fit him at all and he spent most of his time walking around like a child who had tried their mum’s high heels on for the first time. I couldn’t cope and was just in fits of laughter. Eventually, he let the slippers win and walked around in his socks. The next hurdle for Paul was his height as Japanese Castles were not built with tall people in mind. Therefore, as well as trying to clamber up stairs with slippers that he couldn’t keep on his feet, he also had to continuously duck so he didn’t bang his head too much. His dream of living in a Japanese Castle was quickly becoming a distant memory as the realisation of him being too tall kicked in, as well as his inability to keep plastic slippers on his feet.
Anyway, all that hysteria aside, Himeji Castle is as mesmerising inside as it is outside. The long corridors and different wings of the castle just blows your mind and letting your imagination run wild whilst you picture what it would’ve been like in the 17th Century is a fabulous amount of fun. The views from the top of the main keep are outstanding and you can easily see why the strategically placed castle survived so many wars.
After our time at Himeji was up, we headed back on the train to Okayama to visit Korakuen Garden. Now, it was Winter when we visited Japan but as we were within close proximity, it felt rude not to visit one of the three best landscape gardens in the country. Despite it being cold and not quite as green as it would be later on in the year, Korakuen Gardens still make for a lovely afternoon stroll. You can follow the simple walking paths where you will pass a beautiful large pond, spacious lawns, streams and even a crane aviary. Another bonus is the fact you can leave the gardens to cross the Asahi River over a bridge and steal a closer look at Okayama Castle. In contrast to Himeji Castle, it is nicknamed ‘Crow Castle’ due to its black exterior but it is a reconstruction to it being destroyed in World War 2.
We loved our afternoon in Korakuen Garden as it is truly stunning and we hope that next time we are able to visit in Cherry Blossom Season as that would be an exceptional sight. If you are in the area, Himeji Castle and Korakuen Garden make for a busy but wonderful day trip. Don’t miss out!