This is the garden adjacent to the ground of Himeji castle. The castle is “by far the most impressive” of “Japan’s twelve surviving feudal-era fortresses”, according to our guide.
Also famous as a backdrop for the films You Only Live Twice and The Last Samurai, it is an impressive castle. Unfortunately for us, the main fortress building is covered in scaffolding whilst various conservation work takes place, and it won’t be a few years until it’s complete. Cleverly they have turned the scaffolding into a feature, serving as a vantage point to see the building close up (several stories above ground level). Despite these efforts, I didn’t think the sight was as impressive as it will be once the scaffolding comes down.
Once in the gardens pictured above, we attend a traditional tea ceremony. This is a great experience but fraught with opportunities for cross-cultural faux pas. The tea is thick and green and unlike any I have encountered before, but tastes pleasant.