Our next destination is Hiroshima and we take the train right through the town of Himeji so a Castle stop at the most beautiful Castle is all is Japan is a must!  We left our bags with a luggage service done every large locker was filled in the station!  The bus stopped right in front of the luggage storage and dropped us off at the foot of the Castle

There are a couple of kinds of cherry trees here,  and most are at full bloom,  just the weeping pink ones are beginning to lose petals.

The 7 story structure is elegant and majestic!  We took out shoes of and climbed each level inside! 

You can just imagine the Samurai assembled inside. weapons on the racks.

After our visit to Himeji castle, we took the bullet train,  the Shinkansen on to Hiroshima for a 2 night stay.