Himeji-jo - the White Heron Castle

Himeji-jo, designated a World Heritage Site in 1993, is considered Japan's most beautiful castle. It is also known as 'Shirasagijo' or the White Heron Castle because its numerous turrets capping its plaster walls gives the illusion of a great, graceful heron about to take flight. It is located in Hyogo prefecture, and is a popular day trip from Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe making it one of the most visited castles in Japan.

Himeji-jo is an impressive castle complex made up of 83 buildings set on the top of Himeyama (Mt. Hime). It was constructed in 1581 on the site of a 14th century fortress by Hideyoshi Toyotomi then upgraded in the early 17th century by Ikeda Terumasa, the son-in-law of the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Because of its location, Himeji-jo was considered a key defensive position by the Tokugawa shogunate; however, it was never the site of any battles. The castle complex, as it exists today, was completed in 1609.

Himeji-jo, like the hundreds of other castles built in Japan during the feudal period, was constructed as the region's administrative and military headquarters as well as a residence for the ruling clan and its retainers. The most recognizable structure of Himeji-jo, is the main castle tower (tenshukaku) which rises an impressive 7 stories or 152 feet.

Its highly developed defense system included a high stone wall surrounding the castle complex, several moats, a maze of internal walkways designed to mislead enemy invaders, windows through which arrows or guns could be fired and chutes through which to pouring boiling oil, and countless storehouses for arrows and weaponry (yagura). Since the threat of fire was great, Himeji-jo's walls were covered with fireproof plaster.

Consistent with samurai aesthetics, Himeji-jo, the fortress, also had beautifully landscaped gardens which are well maintained to this day. To learn more about Japanese architecture, visit JapanCorner's architecture and Japanese home pages.

JapanCorner 2005