Day 194 May 22nd 2007, Into the Mountains - Okayama to Takayama via Himeji


After spending much of our first weeks in Japan admiring Temples and Shrines of the Kansai region, we discovered another one of its architectural treasures today. Himeji Castle built in 1580 is considered to be the finest example of castle building in Japan, although it doesn't have anything on our English castles ;-)


Above: The castle and a strange man with a bird that would sit on your shoulder for a picture, the bird not the man that is. After touring the castle we continued our journey on to the Japanese Alps and the town of Takayama, a quiet mountain town with a population of only 1/2 million, small for a Japanese town. Our hotel here is one of the best we have stayed in here in Japan, for reference its called the Rickshaw Inn.

Highlights: Grand Japanese Castle