From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Himeji (姫路市, Himeji-shi?) is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 535,571. The total area is 533 km².
[edit] History
Himeji was municipalized on April 1, 1889. Himeji is also called "the kingdom of Shinkin bank", as the headquarters of four Shinkin banks are located here. After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, the Japanese government reportedly considered moving the nation's capital from Tokyo to Himeji.
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, from Shikama District, were merged into Himeji.
[edit] Points of interest
Originally a castle town, Himeji is home to the Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other attractions include the Engyō-ji temple, Mount Seppiko-san, Himeji Central Park (a safari park), the Himeji City Tegarayama Botanical Garden and the Koko-en Garden.
[edit] Twinnings
Himeji has sister city relationships with six international sister cities and two domestic cities, as well as a sister castle located in France.[1]
[edit] Sister cities
- International
- Domestic
[edit] Sister castle
[edit] Famous people from Himeji
[edit] Gallery
[edit] External links
[edit] References
Charleroi, Belgium
Phoenix, United States
Adelaide[2], Australia
Curitiba, Brazil
Taiyuan, People's Republic of China
Masan, South Korea
Matsumoto, in the Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
