HIMEJI, Hyogo Prefecture—The Himeji municipal government has devised a plan to charge nonresidents of the city double or triple the usual cost to enter Himeji Castle starting in spring 2026.

HIMEJI, Hyogo Prefecture--Out-of-towners and overseas visitors to Himeji Castle will be charged more than double what residents here pay to visit the World Heritage site from next year.

Himeji Castle with its white keep is one of Japan's most famous castles. But its beauty is deceiving. The paths to the keep follow the hill's gradient and hold many surprises for potential attackers.