View source for Himeji

{{For|the asteroid|29199 Himeji}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Himeji
| official_name =
| native_name = {{nobold|姫路市}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| settlement_type = [[Core cities of Japan|Core city]]
| other_name =
<!-- images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline = Himeji montage2.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption = [[Himeji Castle]]<br/>Nada Fighting Festival, [[Engyō-ji]]<br/>View from the castle, [[Ieshima, Hyōgo|Ieshima]], [[Mount Seppiko|Mt. Seppiko]]
| image_flag = Flag of Himeji, Hyogo.svg
| image_seal = Symbol of Himeji, Hyogo.svg
| seal_type = Emblem
<!-- maps and coordinates -->
| image_map = Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture
| pushpin_map = Japan
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Japan
| coordinates = {{coord|34|49|N|134|41|E|region:JP-28|display=it}}
| coordinates_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Japan
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Japan|District]]
| subdivision_name3 =
| established_title1 =
| established_date1  =
| established_title2 =
| established_date2  =
| extinct_title = Now part of
| extinct_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type = <!-- defaults to: Seat -->
| seat =
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| leader_party =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Hideyasu Kiyomoto (from April 2019)
| leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
| leader_name1 =
<!-- display settings -->
| total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref = Metric
<!-- area -->
| area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_total_km2 = 534.35
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
| area_note =
<!-- elevation -->
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_m =
<!-- population -->
| population_footnotes =  <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total = 525,682
| population_as_of = June 1, 2022
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_est =
| pop_est_as_of =
<!-- time zone(s) -->
| timezone1 = [[Japan Standard Time|JST]]
| utc_offset1 = +09:00
<!-- postal codes, area code -->
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code_type = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code =
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1 = 4-1 Yasuda, Himeji-shi, Hyōgo-ken 670-8501
<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
| blank_name_sec2        = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2        = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website = {{Official|1=www.city.himeji.lg.jp/}}
| footnotes =
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| tree = [[Evergreen Oak]]
| flower = ''[[Pecteilis radiata]]''
| bird = [[Great egret|White Heron]]
| flowering_tree =
| butterfly =
| fish =
| other_symbols =
}}
}}
[[file:Himeji City Hall 20180505.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Himeji City Hall]]
{{nihongo|'''Himeji'''|姫路市|Himeji-shi}} is a [[Cities of Japan|city]] located in [[Hyōgo Prefecture]] in the [[Kansai region]] of [[Japan]]. {{As of|2022|06|01}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 525,682 in 227,099 households and a [[population density]] of 980 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Himeji-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/shisei/cmsfiles/contents/0000004/4686/R40601.pdf|title= Himeji city official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert|534.35|sqkm|sqmi}}.<ref name="Himeji-hp"/>
==Geography==
Himeji is located in the central western part of the Harima Plain in the western part of Hyogo Prefecture, and is the central city of the [[Harima Province|Harima region]] of the prefecture. The Ichikawa River is located in the central eastern part of the city, and the Senba River and Noda River are located in the center. The Ieshima Islands in the [[Seto Inland Sea]] are within the city limits and are located off the coast of Harima Bay.
The city is surrounded by the mountains and the sea.
=== Neighbouring municipalities ===
Hyōgo Prefecture
* [[Ichikawa, Hyōgo|Ichikawa]]
* [[Kakogawa, Hyōgo|Kakogawa]]
* [[Kamikawa, Hyōgo|Kamikawa]]
* [[Kasai, Hyōgo|Kasai]]
* [[Shisō, Hyōgo|Shisō]]
* [[Taishi, Hyōgo|Taishi]]
* [[Takasago, Hyōgo|Takasago]]
* [[Tatsuno, Hyōgo|Tatsuno]]
===Climate===
Himeji has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfa'') with hot summers and cool winters. Summers are significantly wetter than winters. The average annual temperature in Himeji is {{convert|15.6|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1254.7|mm}} with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{convert|27.8|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{convert|4.4|C}}.<ref name=normals/> The highest temperature ever recorded in Himeji was {{cvt|38.0|C}} on 31 August 2020; the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{cvt|-10.0|C}} on 24 January 1963.<ref name=extremes/>
{{Weather box
|width= auto
|collapsed = Y
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|location = Himeji (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1948−present)
|Jan record high C = 17.5
|Feb record high C = 21.6
|Mar record high C = 23.3
|Apr record high C = 28.0
|May record high C = 31.8
|Jun record high C = 34.9
|Jul record high C = 37.3
|Aug record high C = 38.0
|Sep record high C = 36.6
|Oct record high C = 32.4
|Nov record high C = 26.4
|Dec record high C = 21.5
|Jan record low C = -10.0
|Feb record low C = -7.8
|Mar record low C = -7.6
|Apr record low C = -2.0
|May record low C = 1.5
|Jun record low C = 7.9
|Jul record low C = 13.0
|Aug record low C = 14.3
|Sep record low C = 8.9
|Oct record low C = 1.7
|Nov record low C = -2.0
|Dec record low C = -7.4
|Jan high C = 9.6
|Feb high C = 10.4
|Mar high C = 13.8
|Apr high C = 19.1
|May high C = 23.7
|Jun high C = 26.8
|Jul high C = 30.5
|Aug high C = 32.5
|Sep high C = 28.6
|Oct high C = 23.1
|Nov high C = 17.3
|Dec high C = 11.9
|Jan mean C = 4.4
|Feb mean C = 5.0
|Mar mean C = 8.3
|Apr mean C = 13.6
|May mean C = 18.5
|Jun mean C = 22.4
|Jul mean C = 26.4
|Aug mean C = 27.8
|Sep mean C = 23.8
|Oct mean C = 17.9
|Nov mean C = 11.9
|Dec mean C = 6.6
|Jan low C = 0.2
|Feb low C = 0.5
|Mar low C = 3.2
|Apr low C = 8.2
|May low C = 13.5
|Jun low C = 18.5
|Jul low C = 23.0
|Aug low C = 24.0
|Sep low C = 19.8
|Oct low C = 13.4
|Nov low C = 7.3
|Dec low C = 2.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 36.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 48.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 92.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 104.7
|May precipitation mm = 127.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 160.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 184.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 105.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 177.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 108.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 61.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 47.5
|year precipitation mm = 1254.7
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 4.7
|Feb precipitation days = 6.0
|Mar precipitation days = 8.7
|Apr precipitation days = 8.8
|May precipitation days = 9.0
|Jun precipitation days = 10.8
|Jul precipitation days = 10.3
|Aug precipitation days = 7.0
|Sep precipitation days = 9.3
|Oct precipitation days = 7.5
|Nov precipitation days = 5.5
|Dec precipitation days = 5.3
|Jan snow cm = 1
|Feb snow cm = 4
|Mar snow cm = 0
|Apr snow cm = 0
|May snow cm = 0
|Jun snow cm = 0
|Jul snow cm = 0
|Aug snow cm = 0
|Sep snow cm = 0
|Oct snow cm = 0
|Nov snow cm = 0
|Dec snow cm = 1
|year snow cm = 6
|unit snow days = 1 cm
|Jan snow days = 0.3
|Feb snow days = 0.8
|Mar snow days = 0
|Apr snow days = 0
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 0
|Dec snow days = 0.4
|humidity colour= green
|Jan humidity = 70
|Feb humidity = 69
|Mar humidity = 67
|Apr humidity = 66
|May humidity = 70
|Jun humidity = 75
|Jul humidity = 78
|Aug humidity = 73
|Sep humidity = 74
|Oct humidity = 73
|Nov humidity = 73
|Dec humidity = 72
|Jan sun = 149.1
|Feb sun = 142.5
|Mar sun = 173.7
|Apr sun = 191.8
|May sun = 203.1
|Jun sun = 156.0
|Jul sun = 172.1
|Aug sun = 209.9
|Sep sun = 158.8
|Oct sun = 167.4
|Nov sun = 154.8
|Dec sun = 155.1
|year sun = 2034.4
|source 1 = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]<ref name=extremes>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=63&block_no=47769&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = April 11, 2022}}</ref><ref name=normals>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=63&block_no=47769&year=&month=&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency|JMA]]
| access-date = April 11, 2022}}</ref>}}
===Demographics===
Per Japanese census data, the population of Himeji in 2020 is 530,495 people.<ref name=zensus/> Himeji has been conducting censuses since 1920.
{{Historical populations
| 1920 | 209208
| 1925 | 221240
| 1930 | 232805
| 1935 | 244556
| 1940 | 270719
| 1945 | 308321
| 1950 | 325329
| 1955 | 348365
| 1960 | 372824
| 1965 | 412507
| 1970 | 447666
| 1975 | 479360
| 1980 | 494825
| 1985 | 506101
| 1990 | 509129
| 1995 | 527854
| 2000 | 534969
| 2005 | 536232
| 2010 | 536338
| 2015 | 535664
| 2020 | 530495
|align       = none
| footnote = Himeji population statistics<ref name=zensus>[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/hyogo/ Himeji population statistics]</ref>
}}
== History ==
Himeji has been the center of [[Harima Province]] since the [[Nara period]], and was the location of the [[kokufu|provincial capital]] and [[Harima Kokubun-ji]].  After the [[Battle of Sekigahara]], [[Ikeda Terumasa]] received a [[fief]] at Harima Province and established the [[Himeji Domain]]. He expanded [[Himeji Castle]] and its [[jōkamachi|castle town]].  Due to its  location dominating the [[San'yōdō]] highway connecting the [[Kinai region]] with western Japan, Himeji was a major stronghold of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] through the [[Bakumatsu period]]. Following the [[Meiji restoration]], Himeji was the capital of "Himeji Prefecture" (later Shikama Prefecture) from 1871, which was merged into Hyōgo Prefecture in 1876. The city of Himeji was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. After the [[1923 Great Kantō earthquake]], the Japanese government reportedly considered moving the nation's capital from Tokyo to Himeji. On April 1, 1996, Himeji attained [[Core cities of Japan|Core city]] status, with increased local autonomy.
On March 27, 2006, the town of [[Yasutomi, Hyōgo|Yasutomi]] (from [[Shisō District, Hyōgo|Shisō District]]), the town of [[Kōdera, Hyōgo|Kōdera]] (from [[Kanzaki District, Hyōgo|Kanzaki District]]), and the towns of [[Ieshima, Hyōgo|Ieshima]] and [[Yumesaki, Hyōgo|Yumesaki]] (both from [[Shikama District, Hyōgo|Shikama District]]) were merged into Himeji.
===Air raids===
During [[World War II]], Himeji was a target for the United States' [[XXI Bomber Command]] as it was an important rail terminal and contained two large military zones. The first air raid occurred o June 22, 1945 at 0950, in which 60 [[B-29 Superfortress]] bombers centered on Andrea containing a [[Kawanishi Aircraft Company]] factory. The bombing killed 341 people and rendered 10,220 homeless. The second attack occurred on July 3, 1945 at 16:23, 107 aircraft dropped 767 tons of [[incendiary bomb]]s on Himeji, destroying 63.3% of the built up areas of the city.<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/doc/61702152/21st-Bomber-Command-Tactical-Mission-Report-247-250-Ocr 21st Bomber Command Tactical Mission Report 247, 250, Ocr<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However, the famous Himeji Castle, although blackened by smoke from the burning city, remained unscathed, even with one firebomb being dropped on it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.davidmillett.net/Articles/38%20Article.aspx|title=David Millet|access-date=2016-04-07|archive-date=2020-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128192634/http://davidmillett.net/Articles/38%20Article.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> This attack killed 173 people, severely wounded 160, and resulted in the destruction of 10,300 buildings, rendering 45,182 people homeless.
==Government==
Himeji has a [[mayor-council]] form of government with a directly elected mayor and a [[unicameral]] city council of 46 members. Himeji contributes eight members to the [[Hyogo Prefectural Assembly]]. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Hyōgo 11th and Hyōgo 12th districts of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|lower house]] of the [[Diet of Japan]].
===Mayors of Himeji City (1889&ndash;present)===
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-size:75%"
|-
! width=20 | #
! width=30% | Name '
! colspan=2 width=40% | Time of office
! Terms
|-
! 1
| Kiyoshi Aridome<br>(有留清)<br/>
| July 1889
| August 1898
| 9 years and 1 month
|-
! 2
| Shigeho Obata<br>(小畑茂穂)<br/>
| November 1898
| July 1900
| 1 year and 8 months '
|-
! 3
| Chikaharu Ohno<br>(大野親温)<br/>
| November 1900
| February 1901
| 3 months
|-
! 4
| Taketomi Otsuka<br>(大塚武臣)<br/>
| June 1901
| April 1909
| 7 years and 10 months
|-
! 5
| Otokichi Hori<br>(堀音吉)<br/>
| June 1909
| June 1915
| 6 years
|-
! 6
| Masayuki Inoue<br>(井上正進)<br/>
| November 1915
| November 1919
| 4 years
|-
! 7
| Yoshihara Sugiyama<br>(杉山義治)<br/>
| April 1920
| April 1924
| 4 years
|-
! 8
| Nagahiko Shigeoka<br>(滋岡長彦)<br/>
| September 1924
| February 1930
| 6 years
|-
! 9
| Fukuzo Sato<br>(佐藤復三)<br/>
| August 1930
| August 1934
| 4 years
|-
! 10
| Toshinobu Tadera<br>(田寺俊信)<br/>
| September 1934
| September 1938
| 4 years
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-size:75%"
|-
! width=20 | #
! width=30% | Name
! colspan=2 width=40% | Time of office
! Terms
|-
! 11
| Hisashi Kurashige<br>(蔵重久)<br/>
| May 1939
| June 1939
| 1 month
|-
! 12
| Kankichi Tsuboi<br>(坪井勧吉)<br/>
| September 1939
| September 1943
| 4 years
|-
! 13
| Soubei Hara<br>(原惣兵衛)<br/>
| October 1943
| April 1946
| 2 years and 6 months
|-
! 14
| Kokichi Miyagaki<br>(宮垣幸吉)<br/>
| April 1946
| June 1946
| 2 months
|-
! 15
| Motohide Iwami<br>(石見元秀)<br/>
| July 1946
| April 1967
| 20 years and 9 months
|-
! 16
| Toyonobu Yoshida<br>(吉田豊信)<br/>
| April 1967
| April 1983
| 16 years
|-
! 17
| Matsuji Totani<br>(戸谷松司)<br/>
| April 1983
| April 1995
| 12 years
|-
! 18
| Kazuhiro Horikawa<br>(堀川和洋)<br/>
| April 1995
| April 2003
| 8 years
|-
! 19
| Toshikatsu Iwami<br>(石見利勝)<br/>
| April 2003
| April 2019
| 16 years
|-
! 20
| Hideyasu Kiyomoto<br>(清元秀泰)<br/>
| April 2019
| present
| Current
|}
{{col-end}}
==Economy==
Himeji is located within the Hanshin Industrial Area and Harima Seaside Industrial Areas. The coastal region is heavily industrialized, with steel mills, chemical plants, semiconductor and automobile electronics predominating. In addition, [[Kansai Electric Power]]'s Himeji No. 1 Power Station and Himeji No. 2 Power Station are located in the area. The northern two-thirds of the city is mainly agricultural and [[commercial fishing]] off the southern seacoast also plays a role in the economy. Traditional crafts include the production of ''[[butsudan]]'' (Buddhist altars), leather crafts, glue, matchmaking and candles.
==Education==
===Colleges and universities===
*[[Himeji Dokkyo University]]
*[[Himeji Hinomoto College]]
*[[Himeji University]]
*[[Kenmei Women's Junior College]] (1951–2008)
*[[University of Hyogo]] - Himeji Institute of Technology
===Primary and secondary schools===
Himeji has 66 public elementary schools, 32 public middle schools and three public high schools operated by the city government and 13 public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. There are also four private combined middle/high schools. There are also four special education school for the handicapped, one operated by the city and three by the prefecture.
A [[Chosun gakko|North Korean school]], {{Nihongo|Seiban North Korean Elementary and Middle School|[[:ja:西播朝鮮初中級学校|西播朝鮮初中級学校]]}}, can also be found in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chongryon.com/j/cr/link3.html |script-title=ja:ウリハッキョ一覧 |publisher=[[Chongryon]] |access-date=October 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219132215/http://www.chongryon.com/j/cr/link3.html |archive-date=December 19, 2015 |url-status=live }}.</ref>
== Transportation ==
=== Railway ===
[[file:240726 Shinkansen 923 running through Himeji city.jpg|thumb|right|260px|San'yō Shinkansen running through the city of Himeji]]
[[File:Shinkansen jrw.svg|18 px]] [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] – [[San'yō Shinkansen]]
* {{STN|Himeji}}
[[File:JR_logo_(west).svg|22 px]] [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] – [[San'yō Main Line]] ([[JR Kobe Line]])
* {{STN|Himeji-Bessho}} - {{STN|Gochaku}} - {{STN|Higashi-Himeji}} - {{STN|Himeji}} --- {{STN|Agaho}} -  {{STN|Harima-Katsuhara}} - {{STN|Aboshi}}
[[File:JR_logo_(west).svg|22 px]] [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] – [[Bantan Line]]
* {{STN|Himeji}} - {{STN|Kyōguchi}} - {{STN|Nozato}} - {{STN|Tohori}} - {{STN|Nibuno}} - {{STN|Kōro}} - {{STN|Mizoguchi}}
[[File:JR_logo_(west).svg|22 px]] [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] – [[Kishin Line]]
* {{STN|Himeji}} - {{STN|Harima-Takaoka}} - {{STN|Yobe}} - {{STN|Ōichi}}
[[File:Sanyo electric railway logo-5.svg|20px]] [[Sanyo Electric Railway]] - [[Sanyo Electric Railway Main Line|Main Line]]
* {{STN|Ōshio|Hyōgo}} - {{STN|Matogata}} - {{STN|Yaka}} - {{STN|Shirahamanomiya}} - {{STN|Mega|Hyōgo}} - {{STN|Shikama}} - {{STN|Kameyama|Hyōgo}} - {{STN|Tegara}} - {{STN|Sanyo Himeji}}
[[File:Sanyo electric railway logo-5.svg|20px]] [[Sanyo Electric Railway]] - [[Sanyo Railway Aboshi Line|Aboshi Line]]
* {{STN|Shikama}} - {{STN|Nishi-Shikama}} - {{STN|Yumesakigawa}} - {{STN|Hirohata}} - {{STN|Sanyo-Temma}} - {{STN|Hiramatsu}} - {{STN|Sanyo-Aboshi}}
=== Highways ===
* [[File:JP Expressway E2.svg|25px|link=|alt=]] [[San'yō Expressway]]
* [[File:JP Expressway E2A.svg|25px|link=|alt=]] [[Chūgoku Expressway]]
* [[File:JP Expressway E95.svg|25px|link=|alt=]] [[Bantan Renraku Road]]
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|2}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|29}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|179}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|250}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|312}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|372}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|436}}
===Ferries===
* Bozeki Kisen: Himeji Kazuma Port - Tanga Island - Boze Island
* Kosoku Ieshima: Himeji Kazuma Port - Iejima
* Shodoshima Ferry: Himeji Kazuma Port-Fukuda Port ([[Shōdoshima]])
* Takafuku Liner: Himeji Kazuma Port - Iejima
== International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}
Himeji is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] or has sister city relationships with six international cities and two Japanese cities, as well as a sister castle located in France. Himeji has a particularly strong relationship with [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], Arizona, as teachers from America are able to teach English abroad for 1–2 years. Additionally, the [[Youth Ambassador]] Exchange Program allows for both Japanese and American high school students to experience the cultures and languages of their respective countries for 3 weeks.<ref name="sister">[http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/info/profile/sister.html Sister Cities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712061018/http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/info/profile/sister.html |date=2014-07-12 }}. City of Himeji. Retrieved August 24, 2008. {{in lang|ja}}</ref>
===Sister cities===
====International====
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]], Australia
*{{flagicon|ROK}} [[Changwon]], [[South Gyeongsang]], South Korea
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Charleroi]], Belgium
*{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Curitiba]], [[Paraná (state)|Paraná]], Brazil
*{{flagicon|US}} [[Phoenix, Arizona]], United States<ref name="Phoenix sisters">{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixsistercities.org|title = Phoenix Sister Cities|access-date=2013-08-06|publisher=Phoenix Sister Cities|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724085207/http://www.phoenixsistercities.org/|archive-date = 2013-07-24}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Taiyuan]], [[Shanxi]], China
====Japan====
*{{flagicon|Nagano Prefecture}} [[Matsumoto, Nagano|Matsumoto]], in [[Nagano Prefecture]]
*{{flagicon|Tottori Prefecture}} [[Tottori, Tottori|Tottori]], capital city in [[Tottori Prefecture]]
====Sister castles====
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Château de Chantilly]] in [[Chantilly, Oise|Chantilly]], France
*{{Flagicon|Wales}} [[Conwy Castle|Conwy Castle (Castell Conwy)]] in North Wales, since October 2019<ref>{{cite news |title=Conwy and Himeji castles’ twinning starts “beautiful friendship” |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50339999 |agency=BBC News |date=November 7, 2019}}</ref>
== Local attractions==
* [[Engyō-ji]] temple
* [[Harima Kokubun-ji]] ruins, National Historic Site
* [[Himeji Castle]], a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage|World Heritage Site]]. For over 400 years, Himeji Castle has remained intact, even throughout the extensive bombing of Himeji in [[World War II]] and natural disasters such as the 1995 [[Great Hanshin earthquake]] and various [[typhoon]]s.<ref name="sakurai">{{cite news |url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0005/lens146.htm |title=A hilltop white heron 400 years old |newspaper=[[The Daily Yomiuri]] |access-date=July 5, 2010 |archive-date=March 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302124452/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0005/lens146.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="japantravelinfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.japantravelinfo.com/news/news_item.php?newsid=274 |title=Himeji Castle starts its renovation in April |publisher=Official Tourism Guide for Japan Travel |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324071746/http://www.japantravelinfo.com/news/news_item.php?newsid=274 |archive-date=March 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="japanatlas">{{cite web |url=http://web-japan.org/atlas/architecture/arc16.html |title=Himeji Castle |publisher=Japan Atlas |access-date=July 5, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Himeji Central Park]] (a [[safari park]])
* [[Himeji City Tegarayama Botanical Garden]]
* [[Koko-en Garden]].
* [[Mount Seppiko]]
* [[Okishio Castle]] - A castle ruin, Home castle of the [[Akamatsu clan]].
<gallery widths="165px" heights="110px">
File:Engyoji05s4592.jpg|[[Engyō-ji]]
File:Himeji Koukoen32n4592.jpg|[[Koko-en Garden]]
File:Tegarayama Central Park Himeji Hyogo pref Japan02bs5.jpg|Tegarayama Central Park
</gallery>
==Notable people from Himeji==
*{{nihongo|[[Kuroda Kanbei]]|黒田 官兵衛}} (1546–1604), famed strategist under [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]
*{{nihongo|[[Mikinosuke Kawaishi]]|川石 酒造之助}} (1899–1969), judoka
*{{nihongo|[[Aya Matsuura]]|松浦 亜弥}} (1986-), entertainer
*{{nihongo|[[Psycho le Cému]]|サイコ・ル・シェイム}}, [[visual kei|visual kei rock]] band
*{{nihongo|[[Kenzō Takada]]|高田 賢三}} (1939-2020), fashion designer
*{{nihongo|[[Masahisa Takenaka]]|竹中 正久}} (1933-1985), the 4th ''kumicho'' of [[Yamaguchi-gumi]], [[Japan]]'s largest [[yakuza]] syndicate
*{{nihongo|[[Tetsuro Watsuji]]|和辻 哲郎}} (1889-1960), philosopher and historian
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Himeji, Hyogo}}
{{Wikivoyage|Himeji}}
* [http://www.city.himeji.hyogo.jp Himeji City official website] {{in lang|ja}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150525041743/http://www.himeji-kanko.jp/en/index.html Official tourism website] {{in lang|en}}
*{{osmrelation-inline|900269}}
{{Hyogo}}
{{Metropolitan cities of Japan}}
{{Most populous cities in Japan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Himeji, Hyogo}}
[[Category:Himeji, Hyōgo|*]]
[[Category:Cities in Hyōgo Prefecture]]
[[Category:Port settlements in Japan]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Japan]]