The Samurai Castle

The Japanese feudal castle was constructed as the region’s administrative and military headquarters as well as a residence for the ruling clan and its retainers. Its highly developed defense system typically included a high stone wall surrounding the castle complex, several moats, a maze of internal walkways designed to mislead enemy invaders, special hiding places for samurai warriors (musha kakushi), 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). The samurai lived in the nearby town and the higher his rank, the closer his residence.

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 give 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.

Consistent with then popular Zen aesthetics, Himeji-jo, the fortress, also had beautifully landscaped gardens which are well maintained to this day.

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