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 Tsuiji 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; November 15, 2009 |
| 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. 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.
Himeji Castle RestorationIf you are thinking about visiting Himeji Castle in the next couple of years, please be aware that they will be conducting restoration on the main keep from October 2009 until 2014. See the 2 English PDFs linked below for more details. |
| Photo Tags |
Viewer Comments
(17) | Post CommentI'm glad I saw this castle when I did, six years ago. I hope they will do a good job with their renovations and not fill the thing with Hello Kitty nonsense. Definitely the best castle in the world in my opinion. I would also like to say that I haven't looked at this site for a long time, but I'm glad it's still here and going strong. Well-organised and very informative.
October 23, 2009 at 09:28 AM
Jane, I guess the scaffolding hasn't gone up yet. On the official Himeji Castle website (in Japanese), it says that renovations are to commence this autumn and will last until the end of 2014. They are going to "wrap it up" and encase it in some structure while they renovate it. Think Nishi-Hongaji Temple in Kyoto, and you will know what I mean. There are a couple of PDF files in English about the renovation. Here is the URL for them: http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/s70/2845684/_11311/_17981.html So for those who want to see Himeji Castle in all its glory, you had better hurry. I went twice in August as I know that I won't be seeing it again until after the renovations are done in 2014! Cheers Raymond
October 03, 2009 at 11:30 PM
Himeji Castle is AMAZING! It's so big, and it's completely original! It deserves to be called one of the world's best castles. Please support it by voting for it here: http://www.vote7.com/node/6374 There are other Japanese castles, too. They are: Himeji Castle, Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, Matsumoto Castle, and Matsuyama Castle. Show that Japanese castles can rival those in Europe!
September 26, 2009 at 05:25 PM
I went to Himeji Castle after going to Akashi and Tatsuno Castle on an awesome 3-castle day-trip on Saturday. It was my fifth or sixth time to visit Himeji since 1998. As most of my previous visits were in the morning, I decided to do an afternoon visit to take photos of the castle with the light coming from the west. This is a fabulous castle to visit, and all castle lovers should visit it if you are coming to the Kansai Region. BTW, the entrance to the Nishi Maru (West Bailey) Tamon Yagura is undergoing some renovation, so the outside is covered in scaffoldings.
August 09, 2009 at 09:11 PM
I visited twice this castle. 5 years ago in april and last year in january. The first time there was a downpour and the second time it began to snow. I was really unlucky about the weather. But this is a so magnificent castle, i can only recommend to visit this one.
August 04, 2009 at 01:12 AM
wow, 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