Intact, restoration work for preservation recently completed[2]
Site history
Built
1333, 1300 (Himeyama fort/castle)[3]
1581 (expansion)[3]
1601–1609 (expansion)[3]
1617–1618 (expansion)[4][5]
Built by
Akamatsu Norimura (1333–1346)[3]
Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1581)[3]
Ikeda Terumasa (1601–1609)[3]
Honda Tadamasa (1617–1618)[4]
In use
1333–1868,[3][6] 1945(as military camp)
Materials
Wood, stone, plaster, tile[5]
Demolished
1346 (demolished for reconstruction)[3]
1601–1609 (demolished for reconstruction)[5]
Garrison information
Garrison
~500 (Ikeda family, soldiers)[5]
~4,000 (Honda family, soldiers)[5]
~3,000 (Sakakibara family, soldiers)[5]
~2,200 (Sakai family, soldiers)[5]
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name
Himeji-jo
Criteria
Cultural: i, iv
Reference
661
Inscription
1993 (17th Session)
Area
107 ha
Buffer zone
143 ha
Himeji Castle
"Himeji Castle" in kanji
Japanese name
Kanji
姫路城
Transcriptions
Romanization
Himeji-jō
Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himeji-jō) ([çimeʑiꜜʑoː]ⓘ) is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in Himeji, a city in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. 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.[7] 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.[6][8]
As with almost all Japanese castles from the Azuchi-Momoyama period onward, the tenshu (天守, main keep), the most prominent structure, was used as a storehouse in times of peace and as a fortified tower in times of war, and the daimyo (大名, feudal lord)'s government offices and residences were located in a group of single-story buildings near the tenshu and the surrounding yagura (櫓, turrets).[9]
Himeji Castle dates to 1333 when Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on top of Himeyama hill. The fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346 and then remodeled into Himeji Castle two centuries later. Himeji Castle was then significantly remodeled in 1581 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who added a three-story castle keep. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded the castle to Ikeda Terumasa for his help in the Battle of Sekigahara, and Ikeda completely rebuilt the castle from 1601 to 1609, expanding it into a large castle complex.[3] Several buildings were later added to the castle complex by Honda Tadamasa from 1617 to 1618.[5] For almost 700 years, Himeji Castle has remained intact, even throughout the bombing of Himeji in World War II, and natural disasters including the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake.[3][2][10]
Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, and it was registered in 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country.[2] The area within the middle moat of the castle complex is a designated Special Historic Site and five structures of the castle are also designated National Treasures.[5][11] Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, Himeji Castle is considered one of Japan's three premier castles.[12] In order to preserve the castle buildings, it underwent restoration work for several years and reopened to the public on March 27, 2015.[13] The works also removed decades of dirt and grime, restoring the formerly grey roof to its original brilliant white color.
^"Himeji Castle and its surroundings". Sansen-ya. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
^ abc"Himeji Castle starts its renovation in April". Official Tourism Guide for Japan Travel. Archived from the original on March 24, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
^ abcdefghij"A hilltop white heron 400 years old". The Daily Yomiuri. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
^ abCite error: The named reference ball2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abcdefghi"National Treasure Himeji Castle Guide book" (PDF). Himeji Rojyo Lions Club. 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 10, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
^ abBornoff, Nicholas (2000). The National Geographic Traveler: Japan. Washington: National Geographic Society. pp. 256–257. ISBN 0-7894-5545-5.
^"Himeji-jo". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
^Eyewitness Travel Guides: Japan. New York: Dorling Kindersley Publishing. 2000. pp. 200–203. ISBN 0-7894-5545-5.
^天守閣は物置だった?「日本の城」の教養10選 (in Japanese). Toyo Keizai. June 23, 2016. Archived from the original on July 30, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
^"Himeji Castle". Japan Atlas. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
^国宝一覧 (in Japanese). Himeji city. Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
^"The Three Famous Castles of Japan". Kobayashi Travel Service. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
^"姫路市|今週の姫路城(27年2月9日現在)". Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
HimejiCastle (姫路城, Himeji-jō) ([çimeʑiꜜʑoː] ) is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in Himeji, a city in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. The castle...
Himeji (姫路市, Himeji-shi) is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. As of 1 June 2022[update], the city had an estimated population...
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Kumamoto Castle is considered one of the three premier castles in Japan, along with HimejiCastle and Matsumoto Castle. Thirteen structures in the castle complex...
building is located close to the Sanyo Electric Railway Himeji Station and HimejiCastle. Himeji Station is served by the JR San'yō Main Line, and is located...
1617–1618, Tadamasa and his family inherited HimejiCastle, and he added several buildings to the castle complex, including a special tower for his daughter-in-law...
style castles along with HimejiCastle and Matsuyama Castle, which were all constructed around the same time. During the Edo period, Tsuyama castle served...
centered around HimejiCastle, which is located in what is now the city of Himeji, Hyōgo. During the Muromachi period, the area around Himeji was part of...
surpassing 2019 levels. Japan has 21 World Heritage Sites, including HimejiCastle, Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and Nara. Popular attractions for...
Abarenbō Shōgun) set in Edo usually depict Edo Castle as having a keep, and substitute HimejiCastle for that purpose. A non-profit "Rebuilding Edo-jo...
Heritage Listings include: Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area, HimejiCastle, Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities), Historic...
the tenshu at Inuyama Castle is designated as a National Treasure of Japan, as are Matsumoto Castle, Hikone Castle and HimejiCastle. According to the Heian...
Senhime is also a beloved figure in Himeji. Shortly after her marriage to Honda Tadatoki, they moved to HimejiCastle, a present-day world heritage site...
wakizashi Antique Japanese wakizashi Reenactors with Tanegashima at HimejiCastle Festival Japanese arrow stand with a pair of Yumi bows. The bow of the...
Okioshio Castle (置塩城, Okioshio-jō) is the remains of a Muromachi period Japanese castle structure located in the city of Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan...
example of season creep caused by climate change. Cherry blossom viewing, HimejiCastle, 2009 Hanami through the "Tunnel" at Japan Mint in Osaka, 2016 (video)...
eleven-year Ishiyama Hongan-ji War. Later, Nobunaga sent Hideyoshi to HimejiCastle to conquer the Chūgoku region from the Mori clan. Hideyoshi then fought...
incomplete list of castles in Japan, and focuses on those with some historical notability. Five of Japan's castles (Hikone, Himeji, Inuyama, Matsue and...
man" or "gramps" [depending on the subtitle translation]) while in the castle while outside he would generally refer to him by the polite "oji-ue" ("uncle")...
in the northern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It is located north of Himeji, and north-west of Kyoto, and is situated some 353 metres above sea level...