Japan day 4, day trip to Himeji Castle and Koko-en gardens

one of my favourite tee shirts, given to me by a lovely colleague 😊I had to pack all my tee shirts for this trip!

I wanted to go to Himeji Castle so got myself on a train and pootled off!

It was only 30 mins from Osaka, we went to Osaka Castle last trip so I fancied a change. Getting off at Himeji station it's only 10 mins walk but I did get distracted by a Daiso store 🤣🤣 it was that amazing tbh so I quickly moved on up to the Castle 

On the way were these amazing flower displays! Ornamental cabbages !!! How cute I want some. 

The Castle is very imposing

A large moat surrounds it

Quite breathtaking 

Little glimpses of 🌸 

So ... you go in to the main keep, you have to take off your shoes 😬 ok but then you have to carry them in a plastic bag (use of single use plastic here is quite uncomfortable) and then you have to put on slippers to walk round d the main keep and there is no going back this is all one way 😬 ok ok BUT you have to go up 5 floghts of very steep very narrow stairs... ok ok that's fine BUT there is nothing in there ...

 An occasional plaque saying this room was used for X but then that's it,  every room is completely bare 🤔

I took some shots from the windows because there wasn't anything else

These two weapons racks were the only things on display 

And that was after you had chambered down the five  steep and narrow stairs 🤣🤣

Ach it was fine i sou d like im complaining and i suppose i am a bit but i still loved the castle its gorgeous and what a history.  

After you had been up and down stairs there were displays of roofing edges which were pretty

Back outside it is gorgeous 

These are my obligatory "f**k you Homer shots 🤣🤣 my ex who always told me I wouldn't cope without him 😆😆😆 hysterical 

Just loved this sign!

The big stone on the right of the gate is apparently a coffin stone, often used in walls apparently 

Loved these fishes!

Included with Castle entry was entry to Kokko-en Garden. I didnt have high hopes as it was so early in the season but blimey was I wrong! So so beautiful 

There were so many koi carp in this pool beautiful vibrant colours and I got to see them being fed!! Blogger seems to gave dumped all the videos I took at the end so you can see them there

Camellias!

Koi carp!

Feeding time for koi carp!

This was a fantastic day