Japan: Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle (姫路城) is the only castle we visited in Japan is a “real” castle, ie. it is the original castle (with some restoration work) and not a reconstruction.

Himeji Castle is located at Himeji on the Hoyo Prefecture. The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 rooms 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.

Originally constructed in 1333, it has undergone significant remodelling over the years and has remained intact despite various natural disasters (eg. earthquakes) and World War II. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was significantly restored in 2015. We visited in 2018 and saw it in it’s fully restored glory.

The castle has been featured extensively many films, including the James Bond movie “You Only Live Twice”, Akira Kurosawa’s Kagemusha (and Ran (1985), and in the television miniseries adaptation of James Clavell’s Shogun.

The castle also features many defensive elements, some of which have survived intact. There were three moats (the outer moat is now buried), an intricate maze of paths and walkways, and a series of gates (originally 84, of which 21 survive) some of which are named after the Japaneses syllabary (いろは).

The main keep is six storeys and mainly constructed of wood. The top floor gives an uninterrupted panoramic view over the surrounding area.