Q.What are your impressions of Himeji Castle?

It was breathtaking. We have been to Tokyo Tower, Osaka Castle, and Nijo-jo Castle in Kyoto, but Himeji Castle was the most impressive. The scale of the castle is bigger than the others, and the combination with the cherry blossoms is wonderful. Not only is the castle itself beautiful, but the combination of the castle and nature is wonderful. The castle surrounded by a pond reminds me of Mont Saint-Michel in France.

Q.What kind of souvenirs did you get?

For the most of our trip, we spent sightseeing, so we’re thinking about doing souvenir hunting for the next few days.

At Himeji Castle, I got a paper fan and a key chain for my friend. This fan has Himeji Castle printed in gold with a cherry blossom design on it. It’s the coolest item ever, isn’t it? Whenever I see this, I’ll be able to remember the view I saw at Himeji Castle. The Kanji character “Himeji Castle” printed on the right side is cool too!

Q.What is the difference between Himeji and your city?

We live in Houston, the fourth largest city in the U.S., and there is not a lot of nature in Houston. There are a few parks with nice atmospheres, though. So we were really impressed to see the cherry blossoms in Japan.

What I like about all of the cities in Japan is it’s really easy to get anywhere without having a drive. There is a lot of nature in the city. Especially In Himeji, the city, the buildings, and the castle are all in harmony, which is a scenery that we cannot see in our city.

Q.What is your favorite Japanese food?

I love takoyaki and that is one of the purposes of my trip. I don’t know how many times I’ve had it in Japan. The sweet and spicy sauce is so addictive. It seems that there are many food stalls in the plaza near Himeji Castle, and also some places where you can eat and walk around, so it is fun just to stroll around here!

Q.Any last comments please!

It takes only 30 minutes from Osaka to Himeji by Shinkansen, and you can easily come here on a day trip. The best time to see Himeji Castle is during the cherry blossom season (Late March to early April). The view is breathtaking and well worth a visit!