Overview
The first castle in Japan inscribed as a World Heritage site. Its white plaster walls give it the name White Heron Castle.
About this place
Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himeji-jō; [çime̞(d)ʑiꜜ(d)ʑo̞ː] ) is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in Himeji, a city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 structures with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period. The castle is frequently known as Hakuro-jō or Shirasagi-jō ("White Egret Castle" or "White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior and supposed resemblance to a bird taking flight. As with almost all Japanese castles from the Azuchi-Momoyama period onward, the tenshu (天守, main keep), the most prominent structure, was used as a storehouse in times of peace and as a fortified tower in times of war, and the daimyo (大名, feudal lord)'s government offices and residences were located in a group of single-story buildings near the tenshu and the surrounding yagura (櫓, turrets). Himeji Castle dates to 1333 when Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on top of Himeyama hill. The fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346 and then remodeled into Himeji Castle two centuries later. Himeji Castle was then significantly remodeled in 1581 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who added a three-story castle keep. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded the castle to Ikeda Terumasa for his help in the Battle of Sekigahara, and Ikeda completely rebuilt the castle from 1601 to 1609, expanding it into a large castle complex. Several buildings were later added t
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source ja.wikipedia.org ↗Verification notes
About entering Himeji Castle with pets: You may bring a pet in if it is placed in a cage or similar so that its whole body fits inside. Carts, strollers and other items with casters cannot be brought in. You must carry the cage or similar. We have a limited number of cages available for free loan; please ask at the reference room (information). (Reservations not possible.)
Source hyogo-tourism.jp ↗Official website
Check the official website for current opening hours, fees and closing days.
Source himejicastle.jp ↗Before you go
Three questions from the World Question Box that relate to this entry.
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