Himeji facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Himeji 姫路市
Core city
Himeji Castle Nada Fighting Festival, Engyō-ji View from the castle, Ieshima, Mt. Seppiko
Flag Emblem
Location of Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture
Himeji Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Hyōgo
Area
• Total	534.35 km2 (206.31 sq mi)
Population  (June 1, 2022)
• Total	525,682
• Density	983.778/km2 (2,547.974/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	4-1 Yasuda, Himeji-shi, Hyōgo-ken 670-8501
Climate	Cfa
Symbols Bird White Heron Flower Pecteilis radiata Tree Evergreen Oak

Himeji City Hall

Himeji (姫路市, Himeji-shi) is a cool city in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. It's part of the Kansai region. As of June 2022, about 525,682 people live here. The city covers an area of about 534 square kilometers (206 square miles). Himeji is most famous for its amazing castle!

Geography and Climate

Himeji is located in the western part of Hyōgo Prefecture. It sits on the Harima Plain. Several rivers, like the Ichikawa, Senba, and Noda, flow through the city. The Ieshima Islands in the Seto Inland Sea are also part of Himeji. The city is surrounded by mountains and the sea.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Himeji shares borders with several other places in Hyōgo Prefecture:

• Ichikawa
• Kakogawa
• Kamikawa
• Kasai
• Shisō
• Taishi
• Takasago
• Tatsuno

Himeji's Weather

Himeji has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot summers and cool winters. Summers are usually much wetter than winters. The average temperature in Himeji is about 15.6°C (60.1°F). July is the wettest month. The hottest month is August, with temperatures around 27.8°C (82.0°F). January is the coldest, at about 4.4°C (39.9°F). The highest temperature ever recorded was 38.0°C (100.4°F) in August 2020. The coldest was -10.0°C (14.0°F) in January 1963.

Population Trends

Himeji has been counting its population since 1920. In 2020, the city had 530,495 people. You can see how the population has changed over the years in the chart below.

History of Himeji

Himeji has been an important place for a long time. Since the Nara period (over 1200 years ago), it was the main city of Harima Province.

Castle Town Development

After a big battle called the Battle of Sekigahara, a powerful leader named Ikeda Terumasa took control of the area. He built up Himeji Castle and the town around it. Because Himeji was located on a major road connecting different parts of Japan, it was a very important stronghold for the Tokugawa shogunate (Japan's military government) for many years.

Modern City Formation

After the Meiji restoration in 1868, when Japan changed its government, Himeji became a prefecture capital. In 1889, it officially became a modern city. There was even talk of moving Japan's capital from Tokyo to Himeji after a big earthquake in 1923! In 1996, Himeji gained "Core city" status, which means it has more control over its own local government.

In 2006, several smaller towns merged with Himeji, making the city even bigger.

World War II and Himeji Castle

During World War II, Himeji was targeted by air raids. This was because it was an important railway hub and had military areas. In 1945, there were two major air attacks. Many parts of the city were destroyed, and many people lost their homes.

However, the famous Himeji Castle survived! Even though the city around it was burning, and one bomb even landed on the castle, it remained standing. It was blackened by smoke but not destroyed. This is why it's still so well-preserved today.

Economy

Himeji is an important industrial area. Near the coast, you'll find many factories. These include steel mills, chemical plants, and places that make parts for cars and electronics. There are also large power stations in the area.

The northern part of the city is more about farming. Fishing is also important along the southern coast. Himeji is also known for traditional crafts. These include making Buddhist altars (butsudan), leather goods, glue, and candles.

Education

Himeji has many schools and universities.

Colleges and Universities

• Himeji Dokkyo University
• Himeji Hinomoto College
• Himeji University
• University of Hyogo - Himeji Institute of Technology

Schools for All Ages

The city has 66 public elementary schools and 32 public middle schools. There are also 16 public high schools, some run by the city and some by the prefecture. You can also find four private schools that combine middle and high school. For students with special needs, there are four special education schools. There is also a school for North Korean students.

Transportation

Getting around Himeji and to other cities is easy thanks to its railway and highway networks.

Railway Lines

San'yō Shinkansen train passing through Himeji

• JR West – San'yō Shinkansen (Bullet Train)
  • Himeji
• JR West – San'yō Main Line (JR Kobe Line)
  • Himeji-Bessho - Gochaku - Higashi-Himeji - Himeji - Agaho - Harima-Katsuhara - Aboshi
• JR West – Bantan Line
  • Himeji - Kyōguchi - Nozato - Tohori - Nibuno - Kōro - Mizoguchi
• JR West – Kishin Line
  • Himeji - Harima-Takaoka - Yobe - Ōichi
• Sanyo Electric Railway - Main Line
  • Ōshio - Matogata - Yaka - Shirahamanomiya - Mega - Shikama - Kameyama - Tegara - Sanyo Himeji
• Sanyo Electric Railway - Aboshi Line
  • Shikama - Nishi-Shikama - Yumesakigawa - Hirohata - Sanyo-Temma - Hiramatsu - Sanyo-Aboshi

Major Highways

• San'yō Expressway
• Chūgoku Expressway
• Bantan Renraku Road
• National Route 2
• National Route 29
• National Route 179
• National Route 250
• National Route 312
• National Route 372
• National Route 436

Ferry Services

You can also travel by ferry from Himeji to nearby islands and other prefectures:

• 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 Connections

Himeji has special relationships with cities around the world. These are called sister cities. They help people from different countries learn about each other's cultures.

Sister Cities Around the World

• Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
• Changwon, South Gyeongsang, South Korea
• Charleroi, Belgium
• Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
• Phoenix, Arizona, United States
• Taiyuan, Shanxi, China

Himeji has a strong connection with Phoenix, Arizona. Teachers from America can teach English in Himeji for a year or two. There's also a Youth Ambassador Exchange Program. This program lets high school students from both countries experience each other's cultures and languages for three weeks.

Sister Cities in Japan

• Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture
• Tottori, capital city in Tottori Prefecture

Sister Castles

Himeji Castle also has "sister castles" in other countries!

• Château de Chantilly in Chantilly, France
• Conwy Castle (Castell Conwy) in North Wales (since October 2019)

Fun Places to Visit

Himeji has many exciting places to explore!

• Engyō-ji temple - A beautiful and historic temple.
• Himeji Castle - A UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's one of Japan's most famous and beautiful castles. It has stood strong for over 400 years!
• Himeji Central Park - A cool safari park where you can see animals.
• Himeji City Tegarayama Botanical Garden - A lovely garden with many different plants.
• Koko-en Garden - A traditional Japanese garden right next to Himeji Castle.
• Mount Seppiko - A scenic mountain for nature lovers.
• Okishio Castle - The ruins of an old castle.

Notable People from Himeji

Many famous people come from Himeji:

• Aya Matsuura (松浦 亜弥) (1986-) - A popular entertainer.
• Kenzō Takada (高田 賢三) (1939-2020) - A world-famous fashion designer.
• Kuroda Kanbei (黒田 官兵衛) (1546–1604) - A famous strategist from old Japan.
• Mikinosuke Kawaishi (川石 酒造之助) (1899–1969) - A master of judo.
• Psycho le Cému (サイコ・ル・シェイム) - A visual kei rock band.
• Tetsuro Watsuji (和辻 哲郎) (1889-1960) - A well-known philosopher and historian.

Images for kids

• 

  Engyō-ji temple

• 

  Koko-en Garden

• 

  Tegarayama Central Park

See also

In Spanish: Himeji para niños