Taiyo Park is one of Himeji's stranger attractions: a private park north of the city stuffed with full- or near-full-scale concrete replicas of the world's wonders. The Sphinx slumps on a hillside next to a 330-metre stretch of Great Wall, the Egyptian gods crowd a corner of the grounds, and a half-size French chateau rents itself out for weddings.
The site has aged ungracefully, which is most of its charm. Cracked statuary, peeling paint, and ankle-high weeds give the place a B-movie quality that earnest sightseeing tours could never approach. Take a bus to Hatakuni and walk the last fifteen minutes. Best for an afternoon when the castle has worn you out.