Himeji

Himeji is located in the central western part of the Harima Plain in the western part of Hyogo Prefecture, and is the central city of the Harima region of the prefecture. The Ichikawa River is located in the central eastern part of the city, and the Senba River and Noda River are located in the center. The Ieshima Islands in the Seto Inland Sea are within the city limits and are located off the coast of Harima Bay.

The city is surrounded by the mountains and the sea.

Hyōgo Prefecture

• Ichikawa
• Kakogawa
• Kamikawa
• Kasai
• Shisō
• Taishi
• Takasago
• Tatsuno

Himeji has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) with hot summers and cool winters. Summers are significantly wetter than winters. The average annual temperature in Himeji is {{convert|15.6|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1254.7|mm}} with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around {{convert|27.8|C}}, and lowest in January, at around {{convert|4.4|C}}. The highest temperature ever recorded in Himeji was {{cvt|38.0|C}} on 31 August 2020; the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{cvt|-10.0|C}} on 24 January 1963.

{{Weather box

|width= auto

|collapsed = Y

|single line = Y

|metric first = Y

|location = Himeji (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1948−present)

|Jan record high C = 17.5

|Feb record high C = 21.6

|Mar record high C = 23.3

|Apr record high C = 28.0

|May record high C = 31.8

|Jun record high C = 34.9

|Jul record high C = 37.3

|Aug record high C = 38.0

|Sep record high C = 36.6

|Oct record high C = 32.4

|Nov record high C = 26.4

|Dec record high C = 21.5

|Jan record low C = -10.0

|Feb record low C = -7.8

|Mar record low C = -7.6

|Apr record low C = -2.0

|May record low C = 1.5

|Jun record low C = 7.9

|Jul record low C = 13.0

|Aug record low C = 14.3

|Sep record low C = 8.9

|Oct record low C = 1.7

|Nov record low C = -2.0

|Dec record low C = -7.4

|Jan high C = 9.6

|Feb high C = 10.4

|Mar high C = 13.8

|Apr high C = 19.1

|May high C = 23.7

|Jun high C = 26.8

|Jul high C = 30.5

|Aug high C = 32.5

|Sep high C = 28.6

|Oct high C = 23.1

|Nov high C = 17.3

|Dec high C = 11.9

|Jan mean C = 4.4

|Feb mean C = 5.0

|Mar mean C = 8.3

|Apr mean C = 13.6

|May mean C = 18.5

|Jun mean C = 22.4

|Jul mean C = 26.4

|Aug mean C = 27.8

|Sep mean C = 23.8

|Oct mean C = 17.9

|Nov mean C = 11.9

|Dec mean C = 6.6

|Jan low C = 0.2

|Feb low C = 0.5

|Mar low C = 3.2

|Apr low C = 8.2

|May low C = 13.5

|Jun low C = 18.5

|Jul low C = 23.0

|Aug low C = 24.0

|Sep low C = 19.8

|Oct low C = 13.4

|Nov low C = 7.3

|Dec low C = 2.4

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 36.9

|Feb precipitation mm = 48.6

|Mar precipitation mm = 92.0

|Apr precipitation mm = 104.7

|May precipitation mm = 127.3

|Jun precipitation mm = 160.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 184.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 105.4

|Sep precipitation mm = 177.8

|Oct precipitation mm = 108.7

|Nov precipitation mm = 61.2

|Dec precipitation mm = 47.5

|year precipitation mm = 1254.7

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 4.7

|Feb precipitation days = 6.0

|Mar precipitation days = 8.7

|Apr precipitation days = 8.8

|May precipitation days = 9.0

|Jun precipitation days = 10.8

|Jul precipitation days = 10.3

|Aug precipitation days = 7.0

|Sep precipitation days = 9.3

|Oct precipitation days = 7.5

|Nov precipitation days = 5.5

|Dec precipitation days = 5.3

|Jan snow cm = 1

|Feb snow cm = 4

|Mar snow cm = 0

|Apr snow cm = 0

|May snow cm = 0

|Jun snow cm = 0

|Jul snow cm = 0

|Aug snow cm = 0

|Sep snow cm = 0

|Oct snow cm = 0

|Nov snow cm = 0

|Dec snow cm = 1

|year snow cm = 6

|unit snow days = 1 cm

|Jan snow days = 0.3

|Feb snow days = 0.8

|Mar snow days = 0

|Apr snow days = 0

|May snow days = 0

|Jun snow days = 0

|Jul snow days = 0

|Aug snow days = 0

|Sep snow days = 0

|Oct snow days = 0

|Nov snow days = 0

|Dec snow days = 0.4

|humidity colour= green

|Jan humidity = 70

|Feb humidity = 69

|Mar humidity = 67

|Apr humidity = 66

|May humidity = 70

|Jun humidity = 75

|Jul humidity = 78

|Aug humidity = 73

|Sep humidity = 74

|Oct humidity = 73

|Nov humidity = 73

|Dec humidity = 72

|Jan sun = 149.1

|Feb sun = 142.5

|Mar sun = 173.7

|Apr sun = 191.8

|May sun = 203.1

|Jun sun = 156.0

|Jul sun = 172.1

|Aug sun = 209.9

|Sep sun = 158.8

|Oct sun = 167.4

|Nov sun = 154.8

|Dec sun = 155.1

|year sun = 2034.4

|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/rank_s.php?prec_no=63&block_no=47769&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:観測史上1～10位の値（年間を通じての値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = April 11, 2022}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=63&block_no=47769&year=&month=&day=&view=h0

|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）

| publisher = JMA

| access-date = April 11, 2022}}}}

Per Japanese census data, the population of Himeji in 2020 is 530,495 people. Himeji has been conducting censuses since 1920.

{{Historical populations

| 1920 | 209208

| 1925 | 221240

| 1930 | 232805

| 1935 | 244556

| 1940 | 270719

| 1945 | 308321

| 1950 | 325329

| 1955 | 348365

| 1960 | 372824

| 1965 | 412507

| 1970 | 447666

| 1975 | 479360

| 1980 | 494825

| 1985 | 506101

| 1990 | 509129

| 1995 | 527854

| 2000 | 534969

| 2005 | 536232

| 2010 | 536338

| 2015 | 535664

| 2020 | 530495

|align = none

| footnote = Himeji population statistics[https://www.citypopulation.de/en/japan/hyogo/ Himeji population statistics]

}}

Himeji has been the center of Harima Province since the Nara period, and was the location of the provincial capital and Harima Kokubun-ji. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Ikeda Terumasa received a fief at Harima Province and established the Himeji Domain. He expanded Himeji Castle and its castle town. Due to its location dominating the San'yōdō highway connecting the Kinai region with western Japan, Himeji was a major stronghold of the Tokugawa shogunate through the Bakumatsu period. Following the Meiji restoration, Himeji was the capital of "Himeji Prefecture" (later Shikama Prefecture) from 1871, which was merged into Hyōgo Prefecture in 1876. The city of Himeji was established on April 1, 1889, with the creation of the modern municipalities system. After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, the Japanese government reportedly considered moving the nation's capital from Tokyo to Himeji. On April 1, 1996, Himeji attained Core city status, with increased local autonomy.

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 (both from Shikama District) were merged into Himeji.

During World War II, Himeji was a target for the United States' XXI Bomber Command as it was an important rail terminal and contained two large military zones. The first air raid occurred on June 22, 1945 at 0950, in which 60 B-29 Superfortress bombers centered on an area containing a Kawanishi Aircraft Company factory. The bombing killed 341 people and rendered 10,220 homeless. The second attack occurred on July 3, 1945, at 16:23, 107 aircraft dropped 767 tons of incendiary bombs on Himeji, destroying 63.3% of the built up areas of the city.[https://www.scribd.com/doc/61702152/21st-Bomber-Command-Tactical-Mission-Report-247-250-Ocr 21st Bomber Command Tactical Mission Report 247, 250, Ocr] However, the famous Himeji Castle, although blackened by smoke from the burning city, remained unscathed, even with one firebomb being dropped on it.{{Cite web|url=http://www.davidmillett.net/Articles/38%20Article.aspx|title=David Millet|access-date=2016-04-07|archive-date=2020-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128192634/http://davidmillett.net/Articles/38%20Article.aspx|url-status=dead}} This attack killed 173 people, severely wounded 160, and resulted in the destruction of 10,300 buildings, rendering 45,182 people homeless.

Himeji has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 46 members. Himeji contributes eight members to the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Hyōgo 11th and Hyōgo 12th districts of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

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Himeji is located within the Hanshin Industrial Area and Harima Seaside Industrial Areas. The coastal region is heavily industrialized, with steel mills, chemical plants, semiconductor and automobile electronics predominating. In addition, Kansai Electric Power's Himeji No. 1 Power Station and Himeji No. 2 Power Station are located in the area. The northern two-thirds of the city is mainly agricultural and commercial fishing off the southern seacoast also plays a role in the economy. Traditional crafts include the production of butsudan (Buddhist altars), leather crafts, glue, matchmaking and candles.

• Himeji Dokkyo University
• Himeji Hinomoto College
• Himeji University
• Kenmei Women's Junior College (1951–2008)
• University of Hyogo - Himeji Institute of Technology

Himeji has 66 public elementary schools, 32 public middle schools and three public high schools operated by the city government and 13 public high schools operated by the Hyōgo Prefectural Department of Education. There are also four private combined middle/high schools. There are also four special education school for the handicapped, one operated by the city and three by the prefecture.

A North Korean school, {{Nihongo|Seiban North Korean Elementary and Middle School|西播朝鮮初中級学校}}, can also be found in the city.{{cite web |url=http://www.chongryon.com/j/cr/link3.html |script-title=ja:ウリハッキョ一覧 |publisher=Chongryon |access-date=October 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219132215/http://www.chongryon.com/j/cr/link3.html |archive-date=December 19, 2015 |url-status=live }}.

file:240726 Shinkansen 923 running through Himeji city.jpg

18 px JR West – San'yō Shinkansen

• {{STN|Himeji|x}}

22 px JR West – San'yō Main Line (JR Kobe Line)

• {{STN|Himeji-Bessho|x}} - {{STN|Gochaku|x}} - {{STN|Higashi-Himeji|x}} - {{STN|Himeji|x}} --- {{STN|Agaho|x}} - {{STN|Harima-Katsuhara|x}} - {{STN|Aboshi|x}}

22 px JR West – Bantan Line

• {{STN|Himeji|x}} - {{STN|Kyōguchi|x}} - {{STN|Nozato|x}} - {{STN|Tohori|x}} - {{STN|Nibuno|x}} - {{STN|Kōro|x}} - {{STN|Mizoguchi|x}}

22 px JR West – Kishin Line

• {{STN|Himeji|x}} - {{STN|Harima-Takaoka|x}} - {{STN|Yobe|x}} - {{STN|Ōichi|x}}

20px Sanyo Electric Railway - Main Line

• {{STN|Ōshio|x|Hyōgo}} - {{STN|Matogata|x}} - {{STN|Yaka|x}} - {{STN|Shirahamanomiya|x}} - {{STN|Mega|x|Hyōgo}} - {{STN|Shikama|x}} - {{STN|Kameyama|x|Hyōgo}} - {{STN|Tegara|x}} - {{STN|Sanyo Himeji|x}}

20px Sanyo Electric Railway - Aboshi Line

• {{STN|Shikama|x}} - {{STN|Nishi-Shikama|x}} - {{STN|Yumesakigawa|x}} - {{STN|Hirohata|x}} - {{STN|Sanyo-Temma|x}} - {{STN|Hiramatsu|x}} - {{STN|Sanyo-Aboshi|x}}

• File:JP Expressway E2.svg San'yō Expressway
• File:JP Expressway E2A.svg Chūgoku Expressway
• File:JP Expressway E95.svg Bantan Renraku Road
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|2}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|29}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|179}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|250}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|312}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|372}}
• {{jct|country=JPN|Route|436}}

• Bozeki Kisen: Himeji Kazuma Port - Tanga Island - Boze Island
• Kosoku Ieshima: Himeji Kazuma Port - Iejima
• Shodoshima Ferry: Himeji Kazuma Port-Fukuda Port (Shōdoshima)
• Takafuku Liner: Himeji Kazuma Port - Iejima

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Japan}}

Himeji is twinned or has sister city relationships with six international cities and two Japanese cities, as well as a sister castle located in France. Himeji has a particularly strong relationship with Phoenix, Arizona, as teachers from America are able to teach English abroad for 1–2 years. Additionally, the Youth Ambassador Exchange Program allows for both Japanese and American high school students to experience the cultures and languages of their respective countries for 3 weeks.[http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/info/profile/sister.html Sister Cities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712061018/http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/info/profile/sister.html |date=2014-07-12 }}. City of Himeji. Retrieved August 24, 2008. {{in lang|ja}}

• {{flagicon|AUS}} Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
• {{flagicon|ROK}} Changwon, South Gyeongsang, South Korea
• {{flagicon|BEL}} Charleroi, Belgium
• {{flagicon|BRA}} Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
• {{flagicon|US}} Phoenix, Arizona, United States{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixsistercities.org|title = Phoenix Sister Cities|access-date=2013-08-06|publisher=Phoenix Sister Cities|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724085207/http://www.phoenixsistercities.org/|archive-date = 2013-07-24}}
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Taiyuan, Shanxi, China

• {{flagicon|Nagano Prefecture}} Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture
• {{flagicon|Tottori Prefecture}} Tottori, capital city in Tottori Prefecture

• {{flagicon|FRA}} Château de Chantilly in Chantilly, France
• {{Flagicon|Wales}} Conwy Castle (Castell Conwy) in North Wales, since October 2019{{cite news |title=Conwy and Himeji castles’ twinning starts "beautiful friendship" |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50339999 |agency=BBC News |date=November 7, 2019}}

• Engyō-ji temple
• Harima Kokubun-ji ruins, National Historic Site
• 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0005/lens146.htm |title=A hilltop white heron 400 years old |newspaper=The Daily Yomiuri |access-date=July 5, 2010 |archive-date=March 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302124452/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/columns/0005/lens146.htm |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.japantravelinfo.com/news/news_item.php?newsid=274 |title=Himeji Castle starts its renovation in April |publisher=Official Tourism Guide for Japan Travel |access-date=July 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324071746/http://www.japantravelinfo.com/news/news_item.php?newsid=274 |archive-date=March 24, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://web-japan.org/atlas/architecture/arc16.html |title=Himeji Castle |publisher=Japan Atlas |access-date=July 5, 2010}}
• Himeji Central Park (a safari park)
• Himeji City Tegarayama Botanical Garden
• Koko-en Garden
• Mount Seppiko
• Okishio Castle - A castle ruin, Home castle of the Akamatsu clan.

File:Engyoji05s4592.jpg|Engyō-ji

File:Himeji Koukoen32n4592.jpg|Koko-en Garden

File:Tegarayama Central Park Himeji Hyogo pref Japan02bs5.jpg|Tegarayama Central Park

• {{nihongo|Kuroda Kanbei|黒田 官兵衛}} (1546–1604), famed strategist under Toyotomi Hideyoshi
• {{nihongo|Mikinosuke Kawaishi|川石 酒造之助}} (1899–1969), judoka
• {{nihongo|Aya Matsuura|松浦 亜弥}} (1986-), entertainer
• {{nihongo|Psycho le Cému|サイコ・ル・シェイム}}, visual kei rock band
• {{nihongo|Kenzō Takada|高田 賢三}} (1939–2020), fashion designer
• {{nihongo|Masahisa Takenaka|竹中 正久}} (1933–1985), the 4th kumicho of Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest yakuza syndicate
• {{nihongo|Tetsuro Watsuji|和辻 哲郎}} (1889–1960), philosopher and historian

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Himeji, Hyogo}}

{{Wikivoyage|Himeji}}

• [http://www.city.himeji.hyogo.jp Himeji City official website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150525041743/http://www.himeji-kanko.jp/en/index.html Official tourism website] {{in lang|en}}
• {{osmrelation-inline|900269}}

{{Hyogo}}

{{Metropolitan cities of Japan}}

{{Most populous cities in Japan}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Himeji, Hyogo}}

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Category:Cities in Hyōgo Prefecture

Category:Port settlements in Japan

Category:Populated coastal places in Japan