HIMEJI, Hyogo Prefecture--Out-of-towners and overseas visitors to Himeji Castle will be charged more than double what residents here pay to visit the World Heritage site from next year.

But for those fascinated by Japan's feudal past, the country's castles are a must-see, and its largest, Himeji Castle, costs just 1,000 yen (under $7) to visit. Looming from atop a hill in Himeji, ...

HIMEJI, Hyogo Prefecture--Himeji Castle is undoubtedly one of the best preserved feudal era castles in Japan, but visitors rarely get the opportunity to explore the entire medieval complex.