Ikeda
Himeji Castle
姫路城
| Alternate Name | Shirasagi-jo (White Heron castle) |
| Founder | Ikeda Terumasa |
| Year | 1601 |
| Type | Hilltop |
| Structure | 5 levels, 6 stories |
| Condition | Original |
| Rating | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Historical Site | Special Historic Site |
| Historical Value | Top 100 Castles, National Treasures, Important Cultural Properties, UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Historical Artifacts |
National Treasures: Ha Watariyagura, Ni Watariyagura, main tenshu, East Kotenshu, I Watariyagura, Ro Watariyagura, Inui Kotenshu, West Kotenshu, Ha Watariyagura, Ni Watariyagura Important Cultural Properties: I Watariyagura, Ho Yagura, He Watariyagura, Obi Yagura, Ikaku Yagura, Chi Yagura, Ri Watariyagura; (1st & 2nd sections), Nu Gate, Kesho Yagura, Ka Watariyagura, Nu Yagura, Hishi gate, To Yagura, Orimawari Yagura, Taiko Yagura, Yo Watariyagura, Ru Yagura, Ta Watariyagura, Wo Yagura, Re Watariyagura, Wa Yagura, I Gate, Ha Gate, Ni Gate, He Gate, To no Ichi Gate, To no Ni Gate, Chi Gate, Ri Gate, Mizu no Ichi gate, Bizen Gate, To no Yon Gate East Wall, To no Yon Gate West Wall, To no Ni Gate East Wall, He Gate East Wall, He Gate West Wall, Mizu no Ichi Gate North Tsukiji Wall, Mizu no Ichi Gate West Wall, Ni Yagura South Wall, Mizu no Go Gate South Wall, I Watariyagura South wall, Ni Gate Upper East Wall, Ni Gate Lower East Wall, Ro Yagura East Wall, Ro Yagura West Wall, Ha Gate East Wall, Ha Gate West Wall, Ha Gate South Wall, Ro Gate East Wall, Ro Gate Southwest Wall, Kesho Yagura South Wall, Wa Yagura East Wall, Ka Yagura North Wall, Hishi Gate West Wall, Hishi Gate South Wall, Hishi Gate East Wall, I Gate East Wall, Taiko Yagura South Wall, Taiko Yagura North Wall, Obikuruwa North Wall, Ikaku Yagura South Wall, To Yagura South Wall, Ro Watariyagura, Obikuruwa Yagura, Ro Yagura, Ni Yagura, Ka Yagura, Ro Gate, To no Yon Gate, Mizu no Ni Gate |
| Location | Himeji, Hyogo prefecture |
| Map | Google Map |
| Access | Himeji Station (Sanyo Honsen/Shinkansen), walk 15 minutes. |
| Website | Himeji City Website |
| Visited | February 1996, December 1997, August 1998, March 21, 2004 |
| Notes | Himeji-jo is the most spectacular example of a Japanese castle in existence. The beauty of the donjon is unrivalled throughout Japan and the extent of surviving structures is amazing. Himeji-jo is the only castle in Japan where you can really get a feeling for what castles were like in the Sengoku period. Even for someone who is not particularly interested in castles or history a trip to Himeji-jo is fascinating. This can be a half day side trip on the way to Hiroshima or a short day trip from Osaka or Kyoto. |
| History | Toyotomi Hideyoshi first built a small donjon on this site for his campaigns in western Japan from 1577-1580. You can still see some of the remnants of Hideyoshi's castle in Himeji castle as Ikeda incoporated some of the stone walls into his castle. Ikeda Terumasa, an ally of Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara, was awarded this province (Harima) for his alliance during the war. Ikeda Terumasa built the donjon of Himeji-jo and erected the castle as it is known today. Himeji-jo's nickname Shirasagi-jo means "White Heron Castle" because the main donjon with its three smaller donjon resembles a white heron. Himeji-jo was granted "World Heritage" status by UNESCO in 1993. |
Viewer Comments
(12) | Post Commentwow, this is such a great castle
May 30, 2009 at 03:31 PM
I heard that maintenance will be done on Himeji Castle from this Fall and that it will be closed for 3 years!
May 02, 2009 at 06:25 PM
hey guys
April 16, 2009 at 02:34 AM
I visited Himeji-jo in 2007 just as many of the cherry blossoms in the adjacent park were falling. The view with the castle as a backdrop was breathtaking. Mere words can't describe it.
April 08, 2009 at 03:37 AM
god you people who have visited it are soooo lucky!!!!!
October 14, 2008 at 10:47 PM
This is THE castle to visit in Japan. If you get there in the morning, take a walk to the eastern side of the moat near the Himeji City Art Museum and take some photos of Himeji Castle from there. The morning sunny will be behind you in your photos. Most people do not venture out to this part of the castle.
August 16, 2008 at 04:39 PM
I saw this beautiful Japanese Castle in 1962. It's a must see if you go to Japan. Photos just don't do it justice.
July 05, 2008 at 11:36 PM
this is a very pretty castle i have beeen there and it looks even better when u c it in person
May 22, 2008 at 01:50 AM
I've been here and its absolutely amazing! Its so beautiful.
April 21, 2008 at 06:13 AM
I would deffinately say that if you can only go to one Japanese castle, go to Himejijo.
March 16, 2008 at 07:05 AM
This castle is very beautiful. I love the way the levels and stories are set up, and the landscape is amazing!
March 15, 2008 at 02:13 AM
this castle is beautiful!!!!!!
March 05, 2008 at 04:01 AM