Top 13 Facts about Himeji Castle in Japan


 

*Originally published in June 2022 by Herve and Updated by Vanessa R in May 2023

Himeji, Hyogo Japan photo by Vladimir Haltakov —Unsplash

Himeji castle is a castle complex in the city of Himeji in Hyogo prefecture of Japan. It also goes by the name “Hakuro-jō” or “Shirasagi-jō”, which means white heron castle.

The castle earned the name due to its white plaster walls and appearance, which resemble a white heron taking a flight.

The castle dates back to the 13th century when Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on the top of Himeyama Hill.

The castle was dismantled in 1346 and remodeled into the majestic Himeji castle two centuries ago.

Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited in Japan and it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

Here are the top 10 facts about Himeji Castle.

1. The castle has changed ownership severally

Himeji castle’s construction has passed through eras of change from its original form. The castle’s construction dates back to 1333 when a fort was built on Himeyama hill.

The castle was built on the fort in 1346, by lord Akamatsu sadanori who was a local governing samurai loyal to the Japanese emperor.

The castle came under the control of the Nobunaga shogunate in 1577, and he placed Himeji under the control of Hideyoshi.

In 1581, Hideyoshi significantly remodeled the castle, building a three-story keep with an area of 590sq feet.

The castle morphed over the years and it emerged in its current form in 1601, when the castle was handed over to lord Ikeda Terumasa.

He drew inspiration from the Japanese emperor’s castle in Azuchi and began a nine-year construction of the castle.

When Ikeda died in 1613, the castle was passed to his son who unfortunately died three years later. The castle was inherited by Honda Tamadasa and his family.

2. The majestic castle was once abandoned

In the Meiji period (1868 —1912), many Japanese castles were destroyed. The castle was abandoned in 1871 and some of the castle corridors and gates were wrecked to make room for the Japanese army barrack.

The entireness of the castle complex was scheduled to be demolished by government policy, but the efforts were halted by Nakamura Shigeto, an army colonel.

A stone monument honoring him was placed in the Himeji castle within the first gate. Himeji castle was put up for auction when the Han feudal system was abolished in 1871.

The castle was purchased by a Himeji resident for 23 Japanese yen, the buyer intended to demolish the castle complex and develop the land but the cost of doing so was much greater.

3. The castle has withstood several disasters

Himeji castle has seen its fair share of disasters in its history of existence. The castle was burned down during the war in 1581.

The tower and main building were rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyoshi after that it was abandoned.

In 1871, all the buildings were lost to a large fire, it was in 1931 that the Himeji government started raising funds for reconstruction going as far as selling clay to raise money.

The rooftop of the castle was blown away by a typhoon in 1954 but was later reconstructed with wood that burned down completely.

4. It endured the world war two bombing of japan

Himeji castle was heavily bombed in 1945, the devastating bombing left most of the surrounding area of the castle to ash, miraculously the castle survived and stoop intact despite sustaining damages.

A bomb was dropped on the top floor of the castle but failed to explode. The castle underwent several repairs to preserve it, costing 550 million yen in construction.

The castle also survived the great Hanshin earthquakes, remaining virtually undamaged. Even a bottle of sake placed on an altar on the top floor endured in place.

5. The Himeji castle has gained historical recognization

Himeji castle photo by Vladimir Haltakov—Unsplash

The castle was registered as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country in December 1993.

The five structures of the castle are also designated national treasures. The area within the middle moat of the castle complex is a designated special historical site.

6. The castle has an artistic architectural design

What makes Himeji castle one of the greatest castles in japan is its extraordinary design.

The main tower has five stones on the outside and six stones on the inside. The base of the main tower sits 36.1 ft above ground level an incredible height in the 17th century.

 The 1st floor of the main keep has an area of 5,960sq feet and is often known as Mat room.

The 2nd floor has weapon racks, for holding math locks and spears and at some point, the castle contained as many as 280 guns and 90 spears.

The 3rd  and 4th floors have stone-throwing platforms where the defenders could observe or throw objects at their enemies

7. The castle has advanced defensive systems from the feudal period

The castle hosts defensive systems that date back to the feudal era. There are loopholes in different shapes that are located throughout the castle.

Another defence feature is the stone drop windows at numerous points in the castle, enabling stones or boiling oil to be poured on the heads of the attackers passing underneath it.

There are three moats at the castle, one of their purposes was to store water for use in fire prevention and the warehouses were used to store food in case of a siege.

The most amazing and significant defense feature is its maze, in which the main purpose was to confuse approaching forces.

8. Himeji Castle has a scenic garden bordering it

Garden in Himeji castle photo by Shino —Unsplash

Himeji castle is a sight of amazement and its surroundings complete the serene outlook of the castle.

Kokoen garden is next to the castle complex and was opened in 1992 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Himeji municipality.

The garden consists of 9 separate walled gardens designed in various styles of the Edo period.

The garden also has a pond with a waterfall, and a tea garden where visitors can enjoy a refreshment of green tea in a tea ceremony house.

9. The castle has stunning cherry blossoms

Himeji_Castle_with_cherry_blossoms photo by Seattleite7 —Wikimedia

The Himeji castle is adorned with more than 1800 cherry blossoms trees, planted at the castle ground around the main keep, walls and moat.

The sight of the cherry blossoms with their soft deep color gleams on the white wall of the castle making the castle one of japans top 100 cherry blossoms spots.

10. The castle is associated with many legends and folklore

The ancient castle is associated with several legends and folklore, one of the legends associated with the castle is that of the old widow stone.

According to the legend, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ran out of stones when constructing the original fortress and an old woman had his trouble, and offered him her hand milestone, though she was more in need of it.

It was this generosity that inspired many more people to help Hideyoshi in building the fortress. The supposed stone can be seen covered with a wire net in the middle of the stone wall in the modern-day.

11. Himeji has been featured in famous movies

Filmmakers have been drawn to Himeji Castle’s enchanting beauty, which has led to its inclusion in a number of films throughout the years. One famous appearance was in “You Only Live Twice,” a classic James Bond movie. The 1967 film, which celebrated the majesty of the castle, used its great architecture and beautiful surroundings to set a number of dramatic moments in a dramatic setting.

Himeji Castle further cemented its reputation as a stunning site deserving of the silver screen with its majestic towers and spotless white exterior, which added an aspect of magic to the movie.

12. Visitors can explore this beautiful castle

 13 Facts about Himeji Castle in Japan

decade_null, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The rich interior of Himeji Castle, which offers a fascinating view of the castle’s past, is available for visitors to explore. A fascinating collection of exhibits featuring a varied range of artefacts, weapons, and historical displays can be found inside its walls.

Visitors can take in the carved wooden weapons as they make their way around the castle’s rooms and passageways, learn about the strategic importance of the castle through educational displays, and become immersed in historical tales. 

13. The castle underwent an extensive restoration project from 2009 to 2015

In order to maintain the historical beauty of Himeji Castle, a significant repair project was carried out between 2009 and 2015. The castle’s timber walls, ceilings, and roofs were the focus of this massive project to ensure their longevity and preservation for present and future generations to enjoy.

Using traditional building methods and materials, skilled craftsmen carefully worked to restore the castle’s original elegance. 

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