Japan ~ Day 7

In the Line of Shower

There are two showers on the 3rd floor and one shower on the 2nd floor where I am. I placed my belongings next to one shower and monitored the other, so when the New Zealanders, Indians, and English started lining up I had adequate time to shower and shave. Today was a new day, lots of train hopping. I went downstairs to find suitable transportation, including a bullet train to Shin-Osaka, then rapid express to a town called Himeji. I said good bye to my French pals and a guy from Boston, all the while anxiously awaiting people in their place.

Train Ride to Himeji

I waited on the platform of the Shinkansen eating a peanut butter & banana Kong bar for breakfast, washing it down with my Splenda / Vitamin C / Water concoction I made while looking up train times. I arrived in Himeji at 10:28p and proceeded down to the Himeji Tourist window just outside the JR exit gate. It took me about 45 min. As usual I flashed my pass, you cannot enter or exit without doing so, unless I am just too tired and just walk on past whether they see or not, it doesn't matter. As I gathered, it was a 20 min walk straight out of the station towards the castle. I sat out on my journey.

The Cat's Meow

Really and truly it is, as my Dad likes to say. And as Japan castles go it's the most impressive in the country. It is built upon this massive hill overlooking a park, zoo, and kiddie land among other things. Himeji is a large city in the Hyogo Prefecture which is famous for Himeji Castle, Japan's most beautiful, surviving feudal castle as it was never destroyed like most and survives in its original form. In the 14th century, a fort was first built in the area, and then gradually enlarged by the various clans which ruled over the region over time. The castle complex as it survives today, was completed in 1609.