The city is located along the Seto Inland Sea about 40 miles west of Kobe, the capital of Hyogo Prefecture. The city is surrounded by both the mountains and the sea, making Himeji a somewhat isolated city. With a population of around 530,000 people, it is the second largest city in the Hyogo prefecture. Himeji and Phoenix established a sister city relationship in 1976.
The city grew rapidly in the late 1990s, becoming one of the Prefecture’s largest industrial centers, manufacturing iron, steel, textiles, and leather goods. Himeji is known for the Oshiro Castle or “White Heron Castle,” which is considered the best-preserved castle in Japan and has been designated a United Nations World Treasure.
Himeji and Phoenix
List of Japanese Businesses in Phoenix
Learn more about Himeji:
Himeji city website (Japanese)
An interactive map of Himeji
Learn some Japanese for free:
Nihongo o Narau
The Japanese Friend Exchange
JapanesePod101
Check out the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix
Phoenix Sister Cities 40th Anniversary Delegation to Himeji & Tokyo (April 5-13, 2017)
Phoenix and Himeji Celebrate 40-Year Sister Cities Anniversary With Delegation Visit
Phoenix celebrated its 40-year sister cities affiliation with Himeji, Japan with the visit of a municipal and citizen’s delegation on November 7-11, 2016. While in Phoenix, the delegation had the opportunity to mix business with tours of city sites and social activities.
Upon the delegation’s arrival, Phoenix Sister Cities hosted a casual welcome reception at FEZ on Central where the delegation had the opportunity to rest from their long flight and sample some local cuisine. The following day, Himeji Committee Chair Masako Takiguchi hosted a day-trip to Oak Creek Canyon for the municipal delegation that included a visit to Bell Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross, a picnic at Slide Rock, a tour of Montezuma Castle and dinner at the Cliff Castle Casino.
A variety of meetings were scheduled for the municipal delegation including a meeting with Deputy Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism Stephanie Dowling and Media Relations Director Tony Alba, a briefing by staff of Visit Phoenix, a one-on-one with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and City Councilman and City Council liaison for the Phoenix-Himeji affiliation Daniel Valenzuela, an introduction at a City Council meeting, guided tours of Chase Field (thank you Josh Rawitch and Alvin Adams), Talking Stick Resort Center (thank you Ralph Marchetta) and EXOS and meetings with and a luncheon hosted by EXOS leadership (thank you Marty Weems).
On a different schedule, the citizen’s delegation spent the morning at the Musical Instrument Museum; lunched at Sweet Tomatoes; and spent the afternoon wandering through the Desert Botanical Garden. Both delegations then met at the Phoenix Japanese Friendship Garden, Ro Ho En, for a tree planting ceremony honoring the sister cities partnership between Phoenix and Himeji gardens.
The visit finalized with a 40th-anniversary dinner hosted by Phoenix Sister Cities and the Japanese Friendship Garden. During the reception, guests had the opportunity to listen to Japanese Folk Artist Singer/Songwriter Ken Koshio. A special twist was tasting of Sake produced and brought from Himeji. The food of the evening symbolically joined both Phoenix and Himeji as guests were treated to a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
Phoenix Sister Cities showcased the Phoenix local culture by inviting 2-time award winning dance duo Native Spirit to perform at the dinner. Mayor Greg Stanton and Councilman Daniel Valenzuela (District 5) were both in attendance and signed a reaffirmation of the Phoenix-Himeji sister cities relationship along with Himeji, Japan Vice Mayor Masahiro Utsumi, and Himeji City Councilman Akihiro Hosono.
Phoenix Sister Cities would like to thank everyone who attended this special evening. Special thanks also go to Japanese Friendship Garden Executive Director Reiko Yasui Reavis and all the volunteers at the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix who helped make this event a huge success. A shout-out to the FOUND:RE for providing special room rates for the municipal delegation and giving them the best of Phoenix hospitality. Many people were responsible for the success of the delegation’s visit, but one huge thank you to Brian Flanigan to serving as the municipal delegation’s driver from early morning to late in the evening. PSC would also like to express their gratitude to Phoenix Sister Cities Himeji Committee Chair Masako Takiguchi for her long hours and hard work in the coordination of this anniversary celebration.
The Phoenix Sister Cities Himeji Committee supports the city of Himeji and promotes Japanese culture through its relationships with the Japan-American community and the Japanese Friendship Garden. The Japanese Friendship Garden (Ro Ho En), located in downtown Phoenix, is the product and shared vision of Phoenix and Himeji. It features flowing streams, an authentic tea house, a 12-foot waterfall and Koi pond. Committee projects include student and teacher exchanges, and participation in the annual Arizona Matsuri Festival. The Himeji Committee meets monthly and welcomes new members.
Himeji Committee Contact Information
Chairperson: Ilene Takiguchi ilenet@azmatsuri.org
Staff Liaison: Rick Gerrard rick.gerrard@phoenix.gov
The committee meets every first Tuesday of the month, except July, August, and December.
Meetings begin at 5:30pm and are located at the Winship House, 216 W. Portland St. Phoenix, AZ 85003