Otemae Street is a prominent boulevard in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, connecting JR Himeji Station with the Himeji Castle-mae intersection in front of the Sakuramon Gate, the main entrance to Himeji Castle. Approximately 840 meters long and 50 meters wide, the street is one of the city’s most recognizable urban landmarks. It was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Roads and plays an important role in showcasing the beauty of Himeji Castle.
The boulevard runs through areas that once formed the inner and outer defensive precincts of the castle town. Its broad layout and carefully planned streetscape reflect a successful blend of Himeji’s historical heritage and modern urban design.
Otemae Street is famous for the impressive view of Himeji Castle seen directly ahead from the north exit of Himeji Station. The 50-meter-wide boulevard has been made entirely free of utility poles and overhead power lines, allowing an uninterrupted view of the castle and preserving the visual character of this historic setting.
Rows of camphor trees and ginkgo trees line the sidewalks, creating attractive seasonal scenery throughout the year. The street has also been selected for the “New 100 Best Tree-Lined Streets of Japan,” chosen by the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper. Bronze statues installed along the boulevard add artistic interest and provide pleasant places for residents and visitors to pause during a walk.
Otemae Street is also an important commercial thoroughfare. Department stores, banks, and other businesses line both sides of the road. Sanyo Department Store remains a major shopping destination, while the former Yamato Yashiki Himeji store closed on February 28, 2018.
The boulevard is also a key public transportation corridor. Most Shinki Bus routes pass along Otemae Street, connecting central Himeji with surrounding neighborhoods and nearby communities. Its combination of shopping, transportation, and sightseeing makes it a lively part of everyday city life.
Central Himeji suffered extensive damage during the Himeji Air Raid on July 3, 1945, near the end of World War II. As part of the postwar reconstruction and land readjustment program, city planners proposed widening the road connecting Himeji Station with Himeji Castle.
Construction began in September 1949, and a completion ceremony was held on February 20, 1955. Initially referred to as the “50-Meter Road,” the boulevard received its present name, Otemae Street, through a public naming competition. The name was widely embraced as an expression of respect for Himeji Castle and the city’s historical identity.
When the boulevard opened in 1955, its layout included a central six-lane high-speed roadway measuring 18 meters wide, green strips on both sides, slower traffic lanes, and sidewalks along the outer edges. Utility poles were eliminated throughout the route to preserve the visual openness of the street.
As car ownership and traffic volumes increased, the road required further improvements. Changes included the removal of the slower traffic lanes and the reorganization of the green strips to create a more coherent streetscape.
Between 1984 and 1988, the Otemae Street Symbolic Boulevard Improvement Project reshaped the street into three zones with distinct relationships to Himeji Castle: a zone expressing anticipation of the castle, a zone encouraging reflection on the castle, and a zone designed for viewing the castle.
The project widened sidewalks, improved planting arrangements, and strengthened the visual connection between the boulevard and the castle. These improvements helped establish Otemae Street as a carefully designed approach to one of Japan’s most celebrated historic landmarks.
Beginning in fiscal year 2011, redevelopment around Himeji Station brought further changes to the southern section of Otemae Street, south of Jūnisho-mae Line. The area was converted into a transit mall, reducing space for general traffic and widening pedestrian areas.
From April 1, 2015, vehicles other than route buses and taxis were prohibited from entering this section under the Road Traffic Act. The change improved pedestrian access and made the area more comfortable for people walking between the station, downtown Himeji, and the castle.
Since April 1, 2008, Otemae Street and the surrounding Himeji Castle area have also been designated as a no-smoking zone under the municipal ordinance intended to make Himeji safer, cleaner, and more comfortable. This measure helps protect the health and safety of residents and visitors.
Otemae Street has received national recognition for its urban design and streetscape improvements. In 1986, it was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Roads by the Road Day Executive Committee of the then Ministry of Construction, now the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
In 1989, the Otemae Street Symbolic Boulevard Improvement Project received the Director-General of the Urban Bureau Award in the National Street Improvement Project Competition. In 2015, the Himeji Station North Square and Otemae Street received the Regional Development Design Award, a special award associated with the Good Design Award program.
Otemae Street is more than a road leading to Himeji Castle. It is a carefully planned public space that reflects the city’s recovery after wartime destruction, its commitment to preserving historic scenery, and its continuing development as a modern urban center.
For visitors, walking north from Himeji Station along the tree-lined boulevard provides an especially memorable approach to the castle. The wide sidewalks, public art, seasonal foliage, and direct view of the white castle keep make the journey itself an enjoyable part of exploring Himeji.