Himeji is a city located in the south-west of Hyogo Prefecture. Following Kobe, it is the prefecture's second largest urban center, both in terms of commerce and industry and the size of its population.

The city features sightseeing spots that you will want to visit such as Shoshazan Engyoji Temple and the World Heritage Site of Himeji Castle. Also famous is Himeji's Banshu no Aki Festival, which includes the Nada no Kenka Matsuri, one of Japan's three most feverish and thrilling festivals in which mikoshi (portable shrines) are jolted against one another. Fruit and vegetable cultivation is a thriving industry in the city, particularly in its northern areas. Meanwhile, the southern part of the city has many large-scale factories that are doing good business.

Among the many remaining historical landmarks and sites in the Himeji area, Himeji Castle, which is a registered World Heritage Site, is a popular sightseeing spot that has endless numbers of visitors—so much so that tourists visiting cities such as Osaka and Kyoto in the Kansai region will also make the trip to Himeji.

While Himeji is a bit removed from the center of Kansai, one of the charms of the area might just be that you can do sightseeing in a leisurely way here, away from the hustle and bustle of big cities.