The Himeji Castle Himeji-jō or (姫路城) is one of the most spectacular castles in all of Japan, one of those castles worth seeing live. It is located in the city of Himeji, which belongs to the Kansai region. That is, it is very close to Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. Therefore, it is a perfect excursion from any of these cities.
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| Himeji Castle |
A UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and a National Treasure, Himeji Castle is one of the three most famous or popular castles in Japan, along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle (we still owe you a post). In addition, it is one of the oldest structures in Japan from the Edo period and one of the 12 original castles that still remain in Japan.
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| Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle is nicknamed "the White Heron" ( Hakuro-jō or Shirasagi-jō, 白鷺 城). There are several theories that try to explain the origin of the nickname, some make reference to Mount Sagiyama (literally "mount of the heron") where the castle is located or to the white herons that live in the area.
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| Himeji Castle |
However, the theory that carries the most weight is undoubtedly the white color of the exterior plaster. A plaster that, in addition, is not only decorative but also fire retardant, something very important if we take into account that the castle was built with wood.
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| Himeji Castle |
As a curiosity, the Himeji Castle almost completely disappeared from the routes and tourist guides a few years ago when the rehabilitation works began that completely covered it with scaffolding. Now, with construction completed (the castle reopened on March 27, 2015), Himeji Castle has once again found its place on tourist maps; a place that belongs to you in its own right.