Why Himeji is Japan's Greatest Castle

@Abroad in Japan

Abroad in Japanyoutubethe post

A cycling journey across Japan's Inland Sea, featuring the iconic Himeji Castle, a hidden wagashi shop, and a local okonomiyaki spot, all while tackling a broken bike and Japanese tongue twisters.

1 plan · 6 places

Plan · 6 places · Hyogo, Japan

Himeji & Inland Sea Cycling Adventure

“Our journey across Japan's Inland Sea took us from the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge to Himeji Castle, through sweet shops and seafood diners, all while tackling bike challenges and tongue twisters.”

1
Akashi Kaikyō Bridge
Bridge · Kobe
4.6Closed
Creator's voice
The world's longest suspension bridge, which the creator initially planned to cycle over into Shikoku. It's a massive, 3 billion dollar structure, but you can't actually cycle across it.
Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, 4 Higashimaikocho, Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 655-0047, Japan
2
Himeji Castle
Castle · Himeji
4.6 (961)Closed · opens Thursday 9 AM
Creator's voice
Japan's most famous and most visited castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has stood for 400 years. It's known for its dazzling white appearance, visible from miles away, and is one of the few Japanese castles to have survived natural disasters and WWII bombings virtually undamaged. The creator considers it the greatest castle in Japan due to its resilience.
Himeji Castle, 68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0012, Japan
- Himeji Castle morning view — The castle stands out beautifully in the morning sun, like a beacon of history. The creator describes it as one of the nicest views he's had on the trip.
3
Amaneya
Japanese confectionery shop · Himeji
4.3 (436)Open · until 5 PM
Creator's voice
A small, well-hidden wagashi (Japanese confectionery) shop in Himeji, owned by Mr. Mori. It's described as being like a speakeasy, concealed behind a tiny door. The owner started the shop at 34 after being a salaryman, pursuing his dream to make sweets.
Amaneya, 5 Chome-200 Hirohataku Kamada, Himeji, Hyogo 671-1102, Japan
- Wagashi (Japanese confectionery) — These Japanese sweets are handcrafted art, typically enjoyed with matcha green tea. Made from plant-based ingredients like mochi rice cake, anko red bean paste, and fruits, they are considered healthier than Western sweets with less sugar. The creator notes you can eat as many as you want and never die.
- Orange mochi — A mochi rice cake with a whole orange inside. The creator was surprised it was a literal orange, not just flavoring, and found it very gooey.
4
Ako Seafood Diner
郵便局 · Ako
4.8 (5)Closed · opens Monday 9 AM
Creator's voice
A bustling seafood diner in the small port town of Ako, located a few miles down the coastline. It's a place where you can sit down, relax, and eat seafood, with options for barbecue.
Ako Genroku Post Office, 13-1 Genrokubashicho, Ako, Hyogo 678-0223, Japan
5
Showa Era Museum
War museum · Chiyoda City
Open · until 5:30 PM
Creator's voice
A colorful museum in Ako village dedicated to 1950s and 1960s memorabilia from Japan's Showa era, a time when the post-war economy was booming. The creator stumbled upon it near his hotel.
National Showa Memorial Museum, 1 Chome-6-1 Kudanminami, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 102-0074, Japan
6
Okonomiyaki Restaurant
Okonomiyaki restaurant · Okayama
4.1 (835)Open · until 9:30 PM
Creator's voice
A very tiny, atmospheric okonomiyaki restaurant in a nice little town by the sea. The creator describes it as feeling like breaking into someone's house, with owners turning their homes into eateries.
Kamon S Okonomiyaki, 錦ビル 1階, 2-22 Honmachi, Kita Ward, Okayama, 700-0901, Japan
- Deluxe Okonomiyaki — Ryotaro's choice, featuring pork, shrimp, oysters, and noodles all together.
- Pork Okonomiyaki — The creator's simple, 'peasant' choice, just pork. He loves okonomiyaki, mainly because it's drenched in mayonnaise.

8 extraction issues

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