Hostels in Himeji, Japan

Himeji is one of Japan's historical and cultural destinations, famous for Himeji Castle -- the three-tiered feudal castle and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other attractions include the nearby Kokoen Garden and Mount Shosha, a mountain temple as seen in the Hollywood movie, "The Last Samurai."

If you are on a cultural trail in Japan, Himeji should be one of your stops. It is close to other major cities like Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto, hence it is not hard to include Himeji in your itinerary. A popular destination for both local and international tourists, Himeji has plenty of young foreigners residing in the city -- mostly English teachers. Traveling here will be breeze even if you come solo. You can find English teachers mostly working in restaurants and pubs happy to help you in your travels, since most Himeji locals cannot speak English.

Himeji is more rural and you can see small plots of rice fields, especially in the outskirts of the city centre. It is a small city and less chaotic compared to other major cities, making it a great place to walk around and savor authentic Japanese travel experience. For one, there are still more Japanese houses with traditional architecture in the city.

Luckily for backpackers or budget-conscious travelers, there are Himeji hostels and guesthouses available in this city of Hyogo Prefecture. These accommodations are traditional Japanese homes -- a fun way to experience Japanese way of living. From the futon bed to sliding doors, staying in these Himeji hostels and guesthouses just give you a more authentic experience. The good thing about hostels in Himeji is that they are close to train stations; some as close as few minutes of walking from Himeji stations. Other Himeji hostels are near attractions like the Himeji Castle, as well as shopping and dining areas. Take note that these accommodations and hostels in Himeji mostly accept cash; it's a good idea to call in advance to find out if they accept card or cash.