It is with great pride and joy that I welcome you all to Himeji this November 2026, as our city has the distinguished honor of hosting the 20th World Conference of Historical Cities and welcoming participants from around the world.
Himeji joined the League of Historical Cities in 2021. In 2024, we attended the 19th conference in person in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Under the theme “Creating a Vibrant Walkable City Centre through Sustainable Urban Mobility,” we had the valuable opportunity to learn from the diverse policies of the participating cities.
Himeji is a city rich in history and culture, epitomized by Himeji Castle, a structure that has stood for over four centuries and was the first site in Japan to be registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city also boasts a wealth of regional treasures passed down through generations, including cultural properties, festivals, traditional crafts, and local industries.
The experience of the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake has driven our commitment to building a resilient city that safeguards the lives of its citizens and ensures these invaluable resources are preserved for future generations.
The 20th Conference will bring together historic cities from around the world under the theme “Preservation and Utilization of Cultural Heritage for a Sustainable and Resilient Future” where they can share insights and experiences on passing cultural heritage to the next generation, aiming to achieve Target 4 of SDG 11. It is my sincere hope that this experience will raise awareness of the importance of protecting cultural heritage and inspire participants to channel this awareness into efforts to create safer and more secure communities.

The World Conference of Historical Cities serves as a vital platform for historic cities to share their experiences and achievements in addressing the challenges they face. I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you and look forward to seeing many of you here in Himeji this November.