Himeji Information
Himeji (姫路市, Himeji-shi?) is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 535,571. The total area is 533 km².
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History
Himeji was municipalized on April 1, 1889. Himeji is also called "the kingdom of Shinkin bank", as the headquarters of four Shinkin banks are located here. After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, the Japanese government reportedly considered moving the nation's capital from Tokyo to Himeji.
On March 27, 2006 the town of Yasutomi, from Shisō District, the town of Kōdera, from Kanzaki District, and the towns of Ieshima and Yumesaki, from Shikama District, were merged into Himeji.
Points of interest
Originally a castle town, Himeji is home to the Himeji Castle, a UNESCO 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 typhoons.[1][2][3] Other attractions include the Engyō-ji temple, Mount Seppiko-san, Himeji Central Park (a safari park), the Himeji City Tegarayama Botanical Garden and the Koko-en Garden.
Twinnings
Himeji has sister city relationships with six international sister cities and two domestic cities, as well as a sister castle located in France.[4]
Sister cities
- International
- Charleroi, Belgium
- Phoenix, United States
- Adelaide[5], Australia
- Curitiba, Brazil
- Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
- Changwon, South Korea
- Domestic
- Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
- Tottori, capital city in Tottori Prefecture, Japan.
Sister castle
Famous people from Himeji
- Aya Matsuura, entertainer
- Psycho le Cému, visual rock band
- Kenzo Takada, fashion designer
- Tetsuro Watsuji, philosopher and historian
Gallery
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Shiromidai Park |
Himeji Castle, the landmark of Himeji City |
External links
- (Japanese) Official website
- (English) Official tourism website
- Himeji travel guide from Wikitravel
References
- ^ "A hilltop white heron 400 years old". The Daily Yomiuri. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0005/lens146.htm. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
- ^ "Himeji Castle starts its renovation in April". Official Tourism Guide for Japan Travel. http://www.japantravelinfo.com/news/news_item.php?newsid=274. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- ^ "Himeji Castle". Japan Atlas. http://web-japan.org/atlas/architecture/arc16.html. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
- ^ Sister Cities. (Japanese) City of Himeji. Accessed August 24, 2008.
- ^ For more information on the City of Adelaide, see also Adelaide and Adelaide city centre
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Categories: Himeji | Cities in Hyōgo Prefecture | Port settlements in Japan | Populated coastal places in Japan |
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