Himeji Castle

• Hyogo
• Sightseeing
• Activities
• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Winter

Registered as Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993, this is the masterpiece of fortifications that Japan boasts to the world. Its beautiful appearance, covered with pure white plaster, is compared to a white heron with its wings spread and is affectionately known as "Shirasagi-jo" (White Heron Castle). The main keep and turrets almost entirely retain their appearance from over 400 years ago, and the layers of roofs and complex structures exude overwhelming beauty. Entering the inside, you can feel the ingenuity for defense of the time and the warmth of wood, experiencing the wisdom of samurai from the Sengoku and Edo periods. In spring, about 1,000 cherry trees surround the castle, fascinating tourists from all over the world. It is a place that can be called the soul of Japan that must be visited once in a lifetime.