It was a beautiful day when we arrived in Himeji. The sakura there still had plenty of bloom. We walked up the main street and went into the castle around 9:30am, and the foot traffic was very light - no waiting time at all.
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It really is a beautiful setting, and although the climb up the keep is quite physical, it's worth it for the views out across the city
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Once again, I couldn't escape the feeling how lucky we were, to be here at just the right time to see the blossoms all around. It was perfect.
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As we descended the castle, the inbound queue had grown significantly, and the climb up would take longer, be slower, and more crowded. If you're planning to visit, try to get there early.
We were done by 11am, although you could spend a bit longer if you lingered over the information displays and curios.
