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Adventures of a Global Wanderer
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Location Date South America 1487289600 Asia 
1475362800 North America 1466636400 Europe 1443826800 Africa 1253833200 -
Location Date China 1475362800 Japan
1475276400 Uzbekistan 1388275200 South Korea 1376521200 Singapore 1376434800 Indonesia 1376434800 Malaysia 1376262000 Brunei 1375743600 Taiwan 1359936000 Philippines 1359590400 Vietnam 1328313600 Cambodia 1327708800 Thailand 1327363200 Hong Kong 1221951600 Pakistan 1193875200 Oman 1193180400 United Arab Emirates 1193007600 -
Location Date Kawasaki 1475276400 Hakone 1475190000 Kyoto 1475103600 Himeji
1475103600 Nikko 1475017200 Shiraoi 1474930800 Utsunomiya 1474930800 Sapporo 1474844400 Kanda 1474758000 Hakodate 1474758000 Yokohama 1474671600 Kamakura 1474671600 Nagasaki 1368313200 Fukuoka 1349218800 Isahaya 1349132400 Huis Ten Bosch 1349132400 Saga 1349132400 Kanzaki 1349132400 Tosu 1349046000 Kumamoto 1348959600 Hiroshima 1348873200 Miyajima 1348873200 Tokyo 1313190000 Osaka 1299024000 Kobe 1298851200 Nara 1298764800
This morning when I left the business cabin hotel at 8am the rain was still coming down. Give me a break! I made my way to Kyoto station to make my train reservation to Himeji. I'd checked online last nite for the quickest option.
They gave me a direct train from 8.51 to 10.19. I asked for the fastest option which connected via Shin-Osaka and arrived 30 mins earlier at 9.49.
Himeji's most famous landmark is the White Castle. In my last two trips in 2011 & 2013 I couldnt fit it in due to location and time. This trip I was determined but had to move it around twice due to bad weather and rearranging options.
I was supposed to go tomorrow morning on my last day but had rearranged several items this week. The second option was yesterday after Nikko but I lost time with slow train times from Nikko and didnt make it till Kyoto till 8pm last nite.
On arrival at Himeji I had to cover ground quickly. Today was supposed to be my Kyoto biking day and I had a bike reserved from 9am but I had to move it to midday as I was trying to fit Himeji in during the morning.
Exiting the station it was easy to spot the castle in a long boulevard leading to the station. Parallel to this and one block to the east was a covered shopping arcade. I walked up here for some variety and trying to find something for my lunch trip back to Kyoto.
Entrance to the castle was 1000Y ($12.50). There was another ticket option for the gardens but I had no time for that.
The outer grounds have circular design for defence before you reach the actual tower. Shoes had to be removed upon entry.
It was similar to the Tower of London and had wooden beams for the interior.
You climb multiple steep staircases to reach the upper gallery. From here there were 360 degree views of the city and surroundings.
The interior didnt take that long and I made my way out. Entrance was only to the larger tower and not the the smaller one as in Kumamoto.
I made my way back to the station stopping at a convenience store for some noodles for lunch on the train. The rain decided to wait for me to leave the castle before making an unwelcome return.
From what I remember the black castle in Kumamoto was bigger and allowed you to go up both towers. Still it was nice to have had the experience to see both over two trips and finally to the elusive White Tower.
(see entry Kumamoto Castle http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-en tries/londone7/22/1349633793/tpod.html)
They gave me a direct train from 8.51 to 10.19. I asked for the fastest option which connected via Shin-Osaka and arrived 30 mins earlier at 9.49.
Himeji's most famous landmark is the White Castle. In my last two trips in 2011 & 2013 I couldnt fit it in due to location and time. This trip I was determined but had to move it around twice due to bad weather and rearranging options.
I was supposed to go tomorrow morning on my last day but had rearranged several items this week. The second option was yesterday after Nikko but I lost time with slow train times from Nikko and didnt make it till Kyoto till 8pm last nite.
On arrival at Himeji I had to cover ground quickly. Today was supposed to be my Kyoto biking day and I had a bike reserved from 9am but I had to move it to midday as I was trying to fit Himeji in during the morning.
Exiting the station it was easy to spot the castle in a long boulevard leading to the station. Parallel to this and one block to the east was a covered shopping arcade. I walked up here for some variety and trying to find something for my lunch trip back to Kyoto.
Entrance to the castle was 1000Y ($12.50). There was another ticket option for the gardens but I had no time for that.
The outer grounds have circular design for defence before you reach the actual tower. Shoes had to be removed upon entry.
It was similar to the Tower of London and had wooden beams for the interior.
You climb multiple steep staircases to reach the upper gallery. From here there were 360 degree views of the city and surroundings.
The interior didnt take that long and I made my way out. Entrance was only to the larger tower and not the the smaller one as in Kumamoto.
I made my way back to the station stopping at a convenience store for some noodles for lunch on the train. The rain decided to wait for me to leave the castle before making an unwelcome return.
From what I remember the black castle in Kumamoto was bigger and allowed you to go up both towers. Still it was nice to have had the experience to see both over two trips and finally to the elusive White Tower.
(see entry Kumamoto Castle http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-en tries/londone7/22/1349633793/tpod.html)
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