Besides enjoying the beautiful white castle at Himeji Castle, we also stopped by the nearby Himeji City Zoo. I didn’t expect such a small zoo to be more fun than I imagined!
I thought we would just take a quick stroll, but we ended up seeing quite a few animals, including giraffes and penguins. The kids’ eyes lit up as soon as they saw the animals, and they were so happy they didn’t want to leave. The zoo isn’t large, but it’s easy to walk around, clean, and you can enjoy views of Himeji Castle while strolling. It’s a great little stop for families.
After exploring the impressive Himeji Castle, relaxing at the zoo was a nice change of pace. Historic sights, beautiful views, and cute animals all in one trip—something for both adults and kids. It turned out to be a wonderful little surprise on this journey.
Himeji City Zoo | Review by 楊雅雯
Other Reviews by 楊雅雯
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Chibi Maruko-chan Land
Japan’s one and only museum dedicated to the beloved manga “Chibi Maruko-chan” is located in Shizuoka, the hometown of the series’ creator Momoko Sakura. Inside you’ll find 3 different zones to explore.
When you're in Shimizu, Shizuoka, how could you miss Maruko's hometown!
For a 1,200 JPY admission fee, you can step into Chibi Maruko-chan Land and feel like you've instantly traveled back to childhood. The students of Class 3-4 are all lined up—Maruko, Tama-chan, Hanawa, Maruo... Every character feels as familiar as an old classmate.
The museum also has original manga artwork, anime scripts, and an introduction to Momoko Sakura's life. Looking at the pencil drafts and revision marks, I realized that those seemingly ordinary childhood moments were all precious memories from the creator's life.
The funniest part is the Sakura family—Grandpa Tomozou, Maruko's mom and dad. Every one of them makes you think, "This is exactly like my family!"
There are no thrilling rides here, but it's filled with childhood memories. My biggest takeaway after walking around was—turns out we were all Maruko once! -
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Sumpu Castle Park
Tokugawa Ieyasu is the legend known for establishing the Edo Shogunate who’s also known locally here for building a castle in 1585 where he spent his retirement years after stepping down as Shogun. Located in the heart of Shizuoka City, the park is surrounded by a double moat and stone walls and is a popular tourist destination.
When visiting Shizuoka, you can't miss Sumpu Castle Park! This is where Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate, lived in his later years. Although the castle no longer stands and the former Sumpu Castle was destroyed by fire long ago, what remains is a lush public park.
The park has a bronze statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu and a mandarin orange tree said to have been planted by Ieyasu himself. Walking along the tree-lined paths, it's hard to imagine that this was once the center of power.
The weather was also great that day, and everything looked good in photos with the sunlight. Although we didn't get to see the most spectacular flower season, we unexpectedly enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the old castle grounds. -
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Miho no Matsubara
About 30,000 pine trees grow along the 5-km-long coastline, a scenic spot that has attracted people from all walks of life since ancient times. It is one of Japan's three new scenic spots and one of Japan's three great pine groves. In 2013, it was registered as a component of the World Cultural Heritage of Mt Fuji.
Visiting Miho no Matsubara really felt like stepping into a natural ukiyo-e print! The expansive coastline lined with lush green Japanese black pines is stunning, and when the weather is clear, you can see Mount Fuji too. It almost doesn't look real. Unfortunately, we arrived near sunset, and part of Mount Fuji was already hidden by the clouds, so we could only play “peekaboo with Mount Fuji.” Still, strolling along the coast in the sea breeze was so relaxing that we didn't want to rush at all. There's also the romantic legend of Hagoromo, so be sure to look for the legendary “Hagoromo Pine.” Even without a full view of Mount Fuji, the sea breeze and pine grove alone make it well worth a visit!
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