Strolling through Koko-en Garden remains one of my most treasured memories from Himeji. Tucked just beside the mighty castle, the garden felt like a peaceful haven almost hidden in plain sight. I remember stepping past the entrance and being greeted by a harmony of sounds: the gentle sway of bamboo, the distant rush of a waterfall, and the soft crunch of gravel under my feet.

The garden is actually a series of nine walled gardens, each with its own distinct character. I wandered first through the Lord’s Residence Garden, where a wide pond mirrored the clouds and the white silhouette of Himeji Castle. Koi darted through the water, and a wooden bridge led to a traditional tea house nestled at one edge—a perfect vantage to let the world slip away.

Each section offered a surprise: the quiet order of the Bamboo Garden, sunlight peeking through slender green trunks; vibrant splashes of color in the Flower Garden; the serenity of the Tea Garden, where time seemed to slow. Every path twisted through thoughtful plantings—maple and camellia, weeping cherry and pine—each chosen for how they transform with the season.