Himeij That

We started the day relatively early, 9.30 am, and took the subway to Kyoto station; coffee next - naturally.  We caught the 10.49 am Hikari Shinkansen to Himeji; a short 45 minute ride. The 15 min walk to the Castle took us down Himeij's main, tree lined boulevard which, as expected, gave us the opportunity get an early lunch at the 8th floor of a posh department store. Delicious cold udon noodles and tempura.

Himeji Castle is a world cultural heritage site and the restoration of it is an on-going project. The main tower is undergoing a complete make-over and the technology being used to cocoon the building is, of its self, amazing - another babushka construction. We visited all the parts of the castle that were open and, in so doing, climbed up and down more steep, wooded stairs than we had bargained for - in stockinged feet because all the floors are the traditional, bare boards. For all that, the place was well worth a visit - especially if you consider that its present form was, more or less, finished during the reign of Elizabeth the First.

Next to the castle is Koko-En gardens which meant that we had the very pleasant experience of wandering through twelve different garden types. Water features with the inevitable koi, wooden buildings, and manicured lawns, bushes and tree were a delight to see; the weather sunny and the sound of a gentle wind and water splashing - what more could we have wanted? A cool drink which rapidly turned into green tea ice cream ...

We wandered back to the Himeji station and caught the shinkansen back to Kyoto. Another subway ride and we were able to drop into the supermarket to get some fresh veggies for dinner.

What a day - all nine hours of wandering ...