Himeji Castle: History and Architecture of Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle (姫路城 or Himeji-jō) is a castle complex in the city of Himeji in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. It is also known as “Hakuro-jō” or “Shirasagi-jō” (translated to "White Egret Castle" or "White Heron Castle") because of its white plaster walls and appearance, which resemble a white heron taking flight. It is the largest castle in Japan, comprising 82 buildings. This fourteenth-century castle was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

In 1333, Akamatsu Norimura, a samurai and the governor of Harima Province, built a fort as a western defense point for the former capital city of Kyoto. In 1346, Akmatsu’s son Sadanori tore down the fort and built the first Himeji castle structure.

• Early years: Over the centuries, Himeji Castle has been remodeled and expanded by the ruling clans of the region. In 1545, Kuroda Shigetaka, leader of the Kodera Clan, remodeled the castle. In 1580, the samurai Toyotomi Hideyoshi remodeled the castle again and built a three-story donjon (central keep) on the top of Himeyama Hill, where the castle remains today, overlooking Himeji city.
• Expansion: In 1600, the daimyō (feudal lord) Ikeda Terumasa demolished and completely rebuilt the castle, expanding it and turning it into the large castle complex today. In 1617, the daimyō Honda Tadamasa added more buildings, including a special tower for his daughter-in-law called keshō yagura (dressing tower).
• Disrepair: Many Japanese castles were destroyed during the Meiji Period (1868–1912); Himeji Castle was spared, but abandoned. The castle survived the bombings of World War II and the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, but it did get damaged.
• Restoration: Himeji Castle began its restoration process in 1956 and cost 550 million yen. It also underwent a more recent restoration in 2010 to remove dirt and restore the walls to brilliant white. Himeji Castle reopened to the public in 2015.
• Cultural impact: Himeji Castle received a National Treasures designation in Japan, and features in several international and Japanese films and television shows, including the James Bond film You Only Live Twice (1967) and in Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha (1890) and Ran (1985).

Himeji Castle is a vast complex with 83 buildings and is an excellent example of Japanese castle architecture.

• Size: The complex is massive, spanning 5,250 feet from east to west and 5,600 feet from north to west. It has a circumference of 2.6 miles.
• Main keep: The tallest building in Himeji Castle is the dai-tenshu (main keep), which is 152-feet high and contains six floors and a basement. There are also three kotenshu (secondary keeps), which together form a cluster of towers.
• Defenses: The castle contained many defenses from invaders, including three moats. It also contained a maze of gates, outer walls, and baileys arranged in a spiral pattern to confuse invading forces trying to get to the castle keep. The complex also featured approximately 1,000 loopholes, which allowed the castle army to fire at invaders without being detected.
• Walls: The white plaster on the walls was more than an aesthetic choice; it also provided fire resistance.

The grounds of Himeji Castle are among the top attractions in the city of Himeji, which feature:

1. 1. Otemon gate: This is the main visitors' gate to the castle on Otemae-dori Street, a twenty-minute walk down the road from Himeji Station, a train station.
2. 2. Cherry blossoms: There are hundreds of cherry trees on the castle grounds, making Himeji Castle a popular destination during the sakura cherry blossom season.
3. 3. Kokoen garden: This Japanese garden, next to the Himeji Castle complex, was created in 1992 to celebrate the city's hundredth anniversary.

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