Himeji Station, located in Ekimae-chō, Himeji City, Hyōgo Prefecture, is an important transportation hub operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and serves as the central station of Himeji City. It accommodates both conventional rail lines and the Shinkansen, with four railway lines converging here: the San’yō Main Line (JR Kobe Line), the Bantan Line, the Kishin Line, and the San’yō Shinkansen. The Bantan Line and Kishin Line both originate from this station. As the largest station and station building in Hyōgo Prefecture, Himeji Station has a wide service area and is a mandatory stop for all limited express trains, the overnight sleeper train Sunrise Seto/Izumo, and the sightseeing train WEST EXPRESS Ginga.
On the north side of the station is Sanyo Himeji Station, the terminus of the Sanyo Electric Railway Main Line, providing convenient transfers for passengers. During the Japanese National Railways (JNR) era, the Bantan Line extended from Himeji Station to Shikama Port Station, and there were also freight branch lines as well as the starting point of the Himeji City Monorail, which was opened during the Himeji Expo. Today, Himeji Station serves not only as the core of regional transportation but also as a key junction linking the Shinkansen and local railways, playing a vital role in driving the flow of people and the economy in Himeji City and surrounding areas.
