Himeji Castle, Japanese castle in Himeji, Japan.
The castle complex rises from a 46-meter (151-foot) hill and encompasses 83 buildings with a multilayered defense system of interlocking paths, drop gates, and loopholes. The main keep reaches six floors above ground plus one basement level and is surrounded by three smaller towers. Massive stone walls with an upward-sloping construction form the base for the white-plastered wooden structures above.
Akamatsu Sadanori established an initial fortification at this location in 1346, which Toyotomi Hideyoshi expanded into a three-story castle in 1580. Ikeda Terumasa took control of the site in 1600 and completed the current six-story structure in 1609 after nine years of construction. The castle survived both the Meiji Restoration and World War II bombing raids, earning UNESCO World Heritage status in 1993.
This fortification ranks among Japan's three great castles and has served for centuries as a symbol of samurai power and military engineering. The complex appears regularly in films about feudal Japan and attracts millions of visitors annually who come to study traditional defensive architecture. Its white facade has earned it the nickname Shirasagijo, or White Heron Castle, shaping the global perception of Japanese fortifications.
The site opens daily from 9:00 to 16:00, with extended hours until 17:00 between April 27 and August 31. Guided tours in various languages are available, and access requires climbing steep stairs with no elevator. Himeji Station lies a 20-minute walk away, with clear views of the castle from its north exit. Ticket offices close 30 minutes before the daily closing time.
During the Meiji era, the entire complex sold at auction for just 23.50 yen but returned to government ownership shortly afterward. The site remained undamaged during World War II despite an incendiary bomb piercing the main tower's roof without exploding. Working wells still exist within the castle walls, designed to ensure water supply during sieges.
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