Himeji is a small city most famous for its iconic castle – considered the most beautiful in Japan – along with the picturesque temple complex of Shoshazan Engyo-ji. The castle is located around 15 to 20 minutes walk from the station while the ropeway providing access to the mountain temple complex of Engyo-ji can be reached using local buses from the station and castle, taking around 25 to 30 minutes to get this.

The precinct around the Himeji Station is therefore the most convenient area of the city to stay and has the largest concentration of hotels and other accommodation. Most are Western-style hotels including a good number of mid-sized business hotels. Prices are typically good and most will offer the option of breakfast with the room. When planning your visit to Himeji is worth noting that it is easily accessible using the San’yo Shinkanasen and can be enjoyed as a day-trip from starting points including Kobe, Osaka and Hiroshima. Each of those cities have a far greater range of accommodation and overall attractions, meaning that you can also consider staying elsewhere and just heading to Himeji for a day.