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Himeji Castle’s white main keep and towers above green trees under a clear blue sky

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Where does Asuka III dock in Himeji?

In port Wed, 25 Nov 2026, 09:00–21:30 (12.5 h in port). 2 calls listed in all, below.

Photo: Nikos Kitsakis / CC BY-SA 4.0

Himeji in one glance

Engyo-ji on Mount Shosha, Himeji

Engyo-ji on Mount Shosha

A mountain temple founded in the Heian period, the 27th temple of the Saigoku pilgrimage, whose Maniden hall stands on tall pillars against the slope.about 5.5h · Taxi about 12 km to the ropeway base, about ¥5,700 (our estimate). Ropeway closed 5 Feb–28 Oct 2027: then 30 min to 1 hour on foot upHimeji oden, Himeji

Himeji oden

Oden, the simmered fish cakes, eggs and radish, eaten with ginger soy sauce: the name Himeji oden was given in 2006, the habit is older.about 1.5h · Piole Himeji at JR Himeji Station; taxi about 25 min, about ¥3,300 (our estimate)Ekisoba, Himeji

Ekisoba

Yellow Chinese-style noodles in Japanese broth, first sold on the Himeji platforms on 19 October 1949.about 1.5h · On the JR Himeji platforms; taxi about 25 min to the station (our estimate)
Cut to the 25 Nov call

What fits your 10.5 hours

Off the ship and back

The berth, the way into town and back in Himeji

Days that fit Asuka III’s call

10.5 hours ashore: the days that fit

Cut to the 25 Nov call. The half hour to get off and the hour before all-aboard are already kept free.

Rainy-day plan

Swipe sideways for the other days →

Sannomaru Square, Himeji

Needs a 5.5-hour callabout 3.5h

Himeji Castle

Any call of 5.5 hours or more that leaves you at the castle between 09:00 and 16:00 (last entry). Buy a timed ticket online for the slot you will reach the gate.

  1. 0:00Taxi from Shikama Wharf No. 4 to Himejijo Otemon-mae (about 9 km, about 30 min, about ¥3,600–4,200, our estimate)
  2. 0:30Walk through Sannomaru Square to the castle gate (about 10 min, our estimate)
  3. 0:40Himeji Castle: the keep and the Nishi-no-maru corridor
  4. 2:40Walk back to Otemon-mae (about 10 min)
  5. + 2 more stops on the full route

Two taxis, about ¥3,600–4,200 each way (our estimates)

Follow this route
Koko-en, Himeji

Needs a 7-hour callabout 5h

The castle, then Koko-en and lunch

A call of 7 hours or more; Kassui-ken serves meals 11:00–15:00, so reach it by 14:30.

  1. 0:00Taxi from the quay to Himejijo Otemon-mae (about 30 min, about ¥3,600–4,200, our estimate)
  2. 0:30Walk through Sannomaru Square to the castle gate (about 10 min)
  3. 0:40Himeji Castle
  4. 2:40Walk from the castle to Koko-en (about 20 min, our estimate)
  5. + 3 more stops on the full route

Two taxis, about ¥3,600–4,200 each way (our estimates)

Follow this route

Needs an 8-hour callabout 6h

Castle, Koko-en and the history museum

A long call, such as Le Soléal’s 07:00–21:30 on Wednesday 17 March 2027. Not on a Monday unless it is a public holiday: the museum closes on Mondays, and on the next weekday after a holiday Monday.

  1. 0:00Taxi to Himejijo Otemon-mae (about 30 min, about ¥3,600–4,200, our estimate)
  2. 0:30Walk through Sannomaru Square to the castle gate (about 10 min)
  3. 0:40Himeji Castle
  4. 2:40Walk to Koko-en (about 20 min, our estimate)
  5. + 5 more stops on the full route

Two taxis, about ¥3,600–4,200 there and ¥4,100 back (our estimates)

Follow this route
Your 25 Nov call on one page

Asuka III in Himeji: the day sheet

Wed, 25 Nov 2026, 09:00–21:30 (12.5 h in port), at Shikama Wharf No. 4. Off the ship from 09:30, back at the gangway by 20:00. Print it or save it before you lose the ship's Wi-Fi.

At the pier, before you set off

The terminalNone. The prefecture’s port sheet lists a temporary tent shelter, temporary toilets and temporary tourist information and money exchange. On recent calls the prefecture set up booths for tourist information, local products and, for foreign ships, money exchange, about 09:00–18:00.
Cash and ATMsExchange is offered on the quay only on some calls. The castle takes IC cards and several QR payments; carry yen for taxis in case.
Wi-Fi and dataThe port sheet lists Wi-Fi at the berth. Buy an eSIM before sailing.
Steps and slopesThe castle stands on a 46 m hill with very steep, narrow stairs in the keep and no lift; the city says wheelchair users cannot visit alone. Koko-en lends wheelchairs and has a wheelchair route, with some steps.
Weather ashore · a usual November day in Himeji
17° / 7°C63° / 45°F

Rain on about 6 days in 30 — the rain-day plan if the day turns wet

A layer for the evening

The forecast for Wed 25 Nov appears here from Thu 19 Nov.

Normals 1991–2020: Japan Meteorological Agency, Himeji station · The official figures →

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Every Asuka III call at Himeji

2 calls listed, Nov 2026–Sep 2027. The pattern, and the plan for each kind of day

Arrivals run 09:00–16:00 and departures 13:00–21:30: check your own date in the table before choosing a day.

Wed 25 Nov202609:00–21:30~10.5 hShikama Wharf No. 4Full day
Sun 19 Sep202716:00–20 Sept 13:00~4.5 hNot yet publishedOvernight
Tue 31 Mar2026 · past15:00–21:00~4 hShikama Wharf No. 4 and No. 5Short

Add all 2 calls to your calendar

Usable hours follow the one rule: off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, all-aboard 30 minutes before departure, back at the gangway an hour before that. Overnight calls count the longest stretch ashore between 08:00 and 21:00 (the night is not touring time). Dates and times from Port of Himeji Port Sales Promotion Committee, Cruise Schedule 2026, and Hyogo Prefecture’s notice for each call; 2027 calls from Ponant’s and NYK’s own pages (as of 2026-07-23) and the cruise line’s published itinerary; the daily programme has the final word.

The full day · 1 call

Wed 25 Nov

09:00–21:30 · about 10.5 usable hours · gangway by 20:00

About 10.5 usable hours, back at the gangway by 20:00: the port's full timed day fits, and so does a guided day that returns in time.

No guided day on this site fits these calls and is open on them; the timed plans below are the day.

The overnight · 1 call

Sun 19 Sep 2027

16:00–13:00 · about 4.5 usable hours · gangway by 11:30

The ship stays the night: the longest stretch ashore between 08:00 and 21:00 is what counts, and an evening ashore is a bonus, not the plan.

No guided day on this site fits these calls and is open on them; the timed plans below are the day.

Quick answers

Asuka III at Himeji

Where does Asuka III dock in Himeji?

Asuka III docks at Shikama Wharf No. 4 in Himeji — Nothing to see within walking distance. Himeji-ko bus stop about 0.5–0.8 km, about 7 to 11 min; Sanyo Shikama Station about 3 km, about 40 min — our estimates on OSM routing, from an approximate position on the quay. Berths can be reassigned on busy days; the daily programme has the final word.

How long is Asuka III in Himeji?

Wed, 25 Nov 2026: 09:00–21:30 (12.5 h in port); Sun, 19 Sept 2027: 16:00 to 20 Sept 13:00 (overnight). Off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, all-aboard 30 minutes before departure, back at the gangway an hour before that: plan for about 10.5 usable hours on the call of Wed, 25 Nov 2026, back at the gangway by 20:00.

What can you do in Himeji with 10.5 hours from Asuka III?

3 of the port's timed days fit the call of Wed, 25 Nov 2026: Himeji Castle (about 3.5h), The castle, then Koko-en and lunch (about 5h), Castle, Koko-en and the history museum (about 6h).

What is the weather like in Himeji in November?

On a usual November day Himeji reaches about 17 °C (63 °F), with a low of about 7 °C (45 °F); rain (1 mm or more) falls on about 6 days in 30. These are the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normals for Himeji. From 7 days before the call, this page shows the forecast for the day itself.

Checked · Researched, not yet visited · Takumi Yamada

Dates, times and berths from Port of Himeji Port Sales Promotion Committee, Cruise Schedule 2026, and Hyogo Prefecture’s notice for each call; 2027 calls from Ponant’s and NYK’s own pages (as of 2026-07-23) and the cruise line’s published itinerary. Schedules change; your ship's daily programme has the final word.