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Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle
(Harima Province/Hyogo Prefecture)

Himeji-jo is a castle that represents Japan today. There's no other castle which still has this many architectures today. It's been designated as a World Heritage Site and a National Treasure.
The origin of Himeji-jo was the fortress built by Norimura Akamatsu in the 3rd year of Genkou era (1333) and his son, Sadanori, built a castle there and the Onodera and Kuroda clans became the castle ruler after that. However, there's an opinion that the castle was built by the Kuroda clan in the mid 16th century. In the 8th year of Tensho era (1580), Yoshitaka Kuroda, the castle ruler those days, recommended Hideyoshi Toyotomi to base on Himeji-jo to subjugate the Mohri clan and Hideyoshi built a triple-layered castle tower.
Terumasa Ikeda, a son-in-law of Ieyasu Tokugawa, became the castle ruler after the Battle of Sekigahara. Terumasa expanded the castle site and built three small castle towers annexed to the main castle tower. After three generations of the Ikeda clan ruled the castle, Tadamasa Honda became the castle ruler. Tadamasa's first son, Tadatoki, got married to Senhime, the first daughter of Hidetada Tokugawa, and arranged its Nishinomaru (west palace) for her.

(2006/10/1 、2008/1/26 、2013/9/15 、2016/7/3 )

Himeji Castle
Main gate
Himeji Castle Main gate
Third enclosure
Himeji Castle Third enclosure
Hishinomon gate
Himeji Castle Hishinomon gate
Inomon gate
Himeji Castle Inomon gate
Ronomon gate
Himeji Castle Ronomon gate
Hanomon gate
Himeji Castle Hanomon gate
Ninomon gate
Himeji Castle Ninomon gate
Honomon gate
Himeji Castle Honomon gate
Koshi-kuruwa watari turret
Himeji Castle Koshi-kuruwa watari turret
Henomon gate
Himeji Castle Henomon gate
Tonoichimon gate
Himeji Castle Tonoichimon gate
Tononimon gate
Himeji Castle Tononimon gate
Tonoshion gate
Himeji Castle Tonoshion gate
Chinomon gate
Himeji Castle Chinomon gate
Bizen gate
Himeji Castle Bizen gate
Mizu-no-Ichimon gate to Gomon gate
Himeji Castle Mizu-no-Ichimon gate to Gomon gate
Main towers
Himeji Castle Main towers
West small main tower
Himeji Castle West small main tower
Inui small main tower
Himeji Castle Inui small main tower
East small main tower
Himeji Castle East small main tower
Big main tower
Himeji Castle Big main tower
Inside of main tower
Himeji Castle Inside of main tower
Obino turret
Himeji Castle Obino turret
Harakiri enclosure
Himeji Castle Harakiri enclosure
Rinomon gate
Himeji Castle Rinomon gate
Taiko turret
Himeji Castle Taiko turret
Nunomn gate
Himeji Castle Nunomn gate
Watari turret
Himeji Castle Watari turret
Runomon gate (Hole gate)
Himeji Castle Runomon gate (Hole gate)
West enclosure
Himeji Castle West enclosure
Ka turret of West enclosure
Himeji Castle Ka turret of West enclosure
Wa turret of West enclosure
Himeji Castle Wa turret of West enclosure
Nu turret of West enclosure
Himeji Castle Nu turret of West enclosure
Kesho turret of West enclosure
Himeji Castle Kesho turret of West enclosure
The ruins of Nakano-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
Himeji Castle The ruins of Nakano-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
The ruins of Kumataka-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
Himeji Castle The ruins of Kumataka-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
The ruins of Uzume-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
Himeji Castle The ruins of Uzume-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
The ruins of Kuruma-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
Himeji Castle The ruins of Kuruma-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
The ruins of Ichinohashi-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
Himeji Castle The ruins of Ichinohashi-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
The ruins of Shimizu-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
Himeji Castle The ruins of Shimizu-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
The ruins of Kita-Sekakushi-mon gate
Himeji Castle The ruins of Kita-Sekakushi-mon gate
The ruins of Minami-Sekakushi-mon gate
Himeji Castle The ruins of Minami-Sekakushi-mon gate
The ruins of Hisanaga-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
Himeji Castle The ruins of Hisanaga-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
The ruins of Uchikyoguchi-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
Himeji Castle The ruins of Uchikyoguchi-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
The ruins of Soja-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
Himeji Castle The ruins of Soja-mon gate (Outside enclosure)
The ruins of Kisai-mon gate
Himeji Castle The ruins of Kisai-mon gate
Egret's Eye View
Himeji Castle Egret's Eye View

Map


Harima Province
Himeji Castle
Ako Castle
Tatsuno Castle
Hayashida Jinya
Okishio Castle
Miki Castle
Akashi Castle
Haga Castle
Yamazaki Castle
Mikazuki Jinya
Hirafuku Jinya

Hyogo Prefecture
Sumoto Castle
Himeji Castle
Ako Castle
Tatsuno Castle
Hayashida Jinya
Okishio Castle
Miki Castle
Akashi Castle
Haga Castle
Yamazaki Castle
Mikazuki Jinya
Hirafuku Jinya
Arioka Castle
Izushi Castle
Arikoyama Castle
Takeda Castle
Yagi Castle
Sasayama Castle
Yagami Castle
Kuroi Castle
Kaibara Jinya

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Himeji Castle Main gate

Main gate



Himeji Castle Third enclosure

Third enclosure



Himeji Castle Hishinomon gate

Hishinomon gate



Himeji Castle Inomon gate

Inomon gate



Himeji Castle Ronomon gate

Ronomon gate



Himeji Castle Hanomon gate

Hanomon gate



Himeji Castle Ninomon gate

Ninomon gate



Himeji Castle Honomon gate

Honomon gate



Himeji Castle Koshi-kuruwa watari turret

Koshi-kuruwa watari turret



Himeji Castle Henomon gate

Henomon gate



Himeji Castle Tonoichimon gate

Tonoichimon gate



Himeji Castle Tononimon gate

Tononimon gate



Himeji Castle Tonoshion gate

Tonoshion gate



Himeji Castle Chinomon gate

Chinomon gate



Himeji Castle Bizen gate

Bizen gate



Himeji Castle Mizu-no-Ichimon gate to Gomon gate

Mizu-no-Ichimon gate to Gomon gate



Himeji Castle Main towers

Main towers



Himeji Castle West small main tower

West small main tower



Himeji Castle Inui small main tower

Inui small main tower



Himeji Castle East small main tower

East small main tower



Himeji Castle Big main tower

Big main tower



Himeji Castle Inside of main tower

Inside of main tower



Himeji Castle Obino turret

Obino turret



Himeji Castle Harakiri enclosure

Harakiri enclosure



Himeji Castle Rinomon gate

Rinomon gate



Himeji Castle Taiko turret

Taiko turret



Himeji Castle Nunomn gate

Nunomn gate



Himeji Castle Watari turret

Watari turret



Himeji Castle Runomon gate (Hole gate)

Runomon gate (Hole gate)



Himeji Castle West enclosure

West enclosure



Himeji Castle Ka turret of West enclosure

Ka turret of West enclosure



Himeji Castle Wa turret of West enclosure

Wa turret of West enclosure



Himeji Castle Nu turret of West enclosure

Nu turret of West enclosure



Himeji Castle Kesho turret of West enclosure

Kesho turret of West enclosure



Himeji Castle The ruins of Nakano-mon gate (Outside enclosure)

The ruins of Nakano-mon gate (Outside enclosure)



Himeji Castle The ruins of Kumataka-mon gate (Outside enclosure)

The ruins of Kumataka-mon gate (Outside enclosure)



Himeji Castle The ruins of Uzume-mon gate (Outside enclosure)

The ruins of Uzume-mon gate (Outside enclosure)



Himeji Castle The ruins of Kuruma-mon gate (Outside enclosure)

The ruins of Kuruma-mon gate (Outside enclosure)



Himeji Castle The ruins of Ichinohashi-mon gate (Outside enclosure)

The ruins of Ichinohashi-mon gate (Outside enclosure)



Himeji Castle The ruins of Shimizu-mon gate (Outside enclosure)

The ruins of Shimizu-mon gate (Outside enclosure)



Himeji Castle The ruins of Kita-Sekakushi-mon gate

The ruins of Kita-Sekakushi-mon gate



Himeji Castle The ruins of Minami-Sekakushi-mon gate

The ruins of Minami-Sekakushi-mon gate



Himeji Castle The ruins of Hisanaga-mon gate (Outside enclosure)

The ruins of Hisanaga-mon gate (Outside enclosure)



Himeji Castle The ruins of Uchikyoguchi-mon gate (Outside enclosure)

The ruins of Uchikyoguchi-mon gate (Outside enclosure)



Himeji Castle The ruins of Soja-mon gate (Outside enclosure)

The ruins of Soja-mon gate (Outside enclosure)



Himeji Castle The ruins of Kisai-mon gate

The ruins of Kisai-mon gate



Himeji Castle Egret's Eye View

Egret's Eye View




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