Himeji

Himeji 姫路市
Core city
Himeji Castle Nada Fighting Festival, Engyō-ji City view from the Castle, Ieshima, Mount Seppiko
Flag
Location of Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture
Himeji Location in Japan
Coordinates: 34°49′N 134°41′E / 34.817°N 134.683°E / 34.817; 134.683Coordinates: 34°49′N 134°41′E / 34.817°N 134.683°E / 34.817; 134.683
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Hyōgo Prefecture
Government
• Mayor	Toshikatsu Iwami (since April 2003)
Area
• Total	534.43 km2 (206.34 sq mi)
Population (May 1, 2016)
• Total	534,881
• Density	1,000.84/km2 (2,592.2/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Evergreen Oak
• Flower	Pecteilis radiata
• Bird	White Heron
Time zone	Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address	4-1 Yasuda 670-8501
Website	www.city.himeji.lg.jp

Himeji (姫路市, Himeji-shi^?) is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan.

As of May 1, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 534,881, with 213,950 households and a population density of 1,000.84 persons per km². The total area is 534.43 km² (206.34 sq mi).

Himeji has been the center of Harima Province since Nara period. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Ikeda Terumasa received a fief at Harima Province and established the Himeji Domain. He expanded the Himeji Castle and its castle town.

Himeji was the capital of Himeji Prefecture (later Shikama Prefecture) since 1871, but the prefecture was merged into Hyōgo Prefecture in 1876. The city of Himeji was established on April 1, 1889. After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, the Japanese government reportedly considered moving the nation's capital from Tokyo to Himeji.

On March 27, 2006, the town of Yasutomi (from Shisō District), the town of Kōdera (from Kanzaki District), and the towns of Ieshima and Yumesaki (both from Shikama District) were merged into Himeji.