![Himeji, Tatsuno, Toyooka: leather masterpieces for something special all your own [Day 2]](https://ho-jl.com/images/2026/10/ca87e7f4-147f-4695-9064-d48f51f104b6.webp)
Masterpieces of Japan leather, crafted with the finely honed skills and wholehearted passion of artisans. In places where leather traditions and bag-making history live on, items that let you savor the best of Japan to the fullest—and the finest hospitality—await you!
On Day 2, head from Himeji Castle to Toyooka, the city of bags, and on to Kinosaki Onsen. Stop by a select shop in Himeji, then have lunch at a café. Taking local roads to Toyooka makes for a scenic drive, and the expressway (Kita-Kinki Toyooka Expressway) gets you there smoothly, too.
More than 400 years on, Himeji Castle, a National Treasure, still retains its beautiful form. In 1993, together with Horyu-ji temple in Nara, it was inscribed as one of Japan's first World Cultural Heritage sites. Its graceful silhouette, like a white heron spreading its wings, has earned it the affectionate nickname “Shirasagi-jo” (White Heron Castle).
SHOP INFO
Dec 29 and 30
▼ A local favorite stocked with Japanese leather brands
“OSMUND DRIVE” was renovated and reopened in 2023. As if to express a life lived with leather, leather goods are displayed alongside lifestyle goods and tableware. Keep an eye out for its original leather brand, “7IRO (Nanairo).”
SHOP INFO
▼ A long, scenic drive to Toyooka
A certified shop for the regional brand “Toyooka Kaban®” (Toyooka bags), it faces the main street (Bag Street) and is the shop that represents Toyooka, the city of bags. It offers a wide range of bags, wallets, and small goods made by skilled artisans who keep the local industry alive.
SHOP INFO
▼ Once in Kinosaki Onsen, take a break at a bag shop with its own café
The directly operated store of “CREEZAN,” a popular “Toyooka Kaban®” brand. Its striking colors, Deep White among them, catch the eye. There's also a café on site, where the burgers made with Tajima beef, a renowned brand of beef, and the seasonal special drinks are not to be missed.
SHOP INFO
▼ Taking in the historic streetscape on the way to tonight's inn
The longest-established inn in Kinosaki Onsen. The full-course Japanese meal prepared by its veteran head chef features freshly fried tempura and more, all beautifully and delicately presented. The rooms are clean and comfortable. Don't miss the experience tours listed on its official website!
