(Year-Round) Hidden Castle Towns in the West

Himeji Castle, also known as the "White Heron Castle," dates back to the 14th century and is the best preserved castle in Japan.

It is also frequently referred to as "the most beautiful castle in Japan."

You can walk up to the castle on your own, or inquire staff about an English guide.

The Japanese gardens next to the castle are also not to be missed!

On the way to Kinosaki Onsen, you will find "a castle in the sky."

Unlike the well-preserved Himeji Castle, only the ruins remain and have been left in the clouds since long ago.

It's time to check into your accommodation!

Tonight will be an evening of hot springs, kaiseki banquet meals, and charming scenery in Kinosaki Onsen, a tattoo-friendly hot spring town.

This small town brims with old world charm through its retro Japanese architecture and ancient castle ruins.

Izushi is a town that thrives on its history.

Today it is a castle town popular for its nostalgic atmosphere of old Japan. Changing into a kimono and strolling through the town will whisk you away to a simpler time.

Here shops, homes, and other buildings retain their original charm as well as community and rural life.

Unlike other large tourist destinations, locals still live in the town, adding to the atmosphere.

Take another night in Kinosaki Onsen.

Riding the Kinosaki Ropeway to the top of Mount Daishi is highly recommended - the view was awarded a michelin star!

After breakfast, say your goodbyes to the hot springs with one final soak...or more.

Wander a preserved Japanese historic district and taste black soybean delicacies.

Charming overnight cottages line the mountainside roads of this quaint farming town.

These homes stand tall and proud thanks to their “kayabuki” thatched roofs, a traditional architectural practice common in the area.

Photo credit: ©Kyoto Miyama Tourism Association