How to travel between Himeji and Tokyo
By shinkansen:
Tokyo and Himeji are connected with each other by the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. Nozomi trains require about 3 hours to reach Himeji Station from Tokyo, while direct hikari trains require roughly 3.5 hours.
The regular one way fare from Tokyo to Himeji is 14,700 Yen by non-reserved seat on any train, around 15,200 Yen by reserved seat on hikari trains and around 15,800 Yen by reserved seat on a nozomi train. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on hikari trains, but not on nozomi trains.
With the "Hikari Hayatoku Kippu", you can travel from Tokyo to Himeji by reserved seat on a hikari train for only 13,500 Yen. You have to purchase the "Hikari Hayatoku Kippu" at least one week in advance of the departure date.
By local trains:
By local trains, the one way trip from Tokyo to Himeji takes about ten hours and typically involves about four transfers of trains. The regular fare is a relatively expensive 9560 Yen, however, with a Seishun 18 Kippu you can do the trip for as little as 2300 Yen.
By bus:
Shinki Bus, in cooperation with Keio, operates two night buses between Himeji (Himeji Station) and Tokyo (one to/from Shibuya Mark City, and one to/from Shinjuku Keio Highway Bus Terminal). The one way fare is 9,450 Yen. A round trip ticket costs 17,010 Yen (the return trip has to be made within 10 days of the outward journey). Travel time is about 9 hours.
You could also take a discount bus between Tokyo and Kobe (one way fares are available for 5000 Yen and less) and take the train for the remaining journey between Kobe and Himeji (30 minutes, 950 Yen by JR special rapid train). Visit the highway bus section for more details.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current yen exchange rate, click here.
Orientation
The broad Otemae-dori Street leads straight from JR Himeji Station to Himeji Castle. You can walk from the station to the castle in about 15-20 minutes.
Sanyo-Himeji Station, served by the trains of Sanyo Railways (direct trains from Hanshin Umeda Station), is an underground railway station, located just next to JR Himeji Station.
Himeji is covered by a dense bus network. Buses are operated by two bus companies: Himeji City Bus (white buses) and Shinki Bus (orange buses). Shinki Bus number 8 provides easy access to Mount Shosha.
