Himeji castle - Wikipedia Himeji castle Himeji Castle 姫路城 Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan Himeji castle in May 2015 after the five - year renovation of the roof and walls Himeji Castle 姫路城 Coordinates 34 ° 50 ′ 22 '' N 134 ° 41 ′ 38 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 34.83944 ° N 134.69389 ° E ﻿ / 34.83944 ; 134.69389 Coordinates : 34 ° 50 ′ 22 '' N 134 ° 41 ′ 38 '' E ﻿ / ﻿ 34.83944 ° N 134.69389 ° E ﻿ / 34.83944 ; 134.69389 Type Azuchi - Momoyama castle Height 46.4 m ( 152 ft ) Site information Condition Intact, restoration work for preservation recently completed Site history Built 1333, 1300 ( Himeyama fort / castle ) 1581 ( expansion ) 1601 -- 1609 ( expansion ) 1617 -- 1618 ( expansion ) Built by Akamatsu Norimura ( 1333 -- 1346 ) Toyotomi Hideyoshi ( 1581 ) Ikeda Terumasa ( 1601 -- 1609 ) Honda Tadamasa ( 1617 -- 1618 ) In use 1333 -- 1868 Materials Wood, stone, plaster, tile Demolished 1346 ( demolished for reconstruction ) 1601 -- 1609 ( demolished for reconstruction ) Garrison information Garrison ~ 500 ( Ikeda family, soldiers ) ~ 4,000 ( Honda family, soldiers ) ~ 3,000 ( Sakakibara family, soldiers ) ~ 2,200 ( Sakai family, soldiers ) UNESCO World Heritage Site Criteria Cultural : i, iv Reference 661 Inscription 1993 ( 17th Session ) Area 107 ha Buffer zone 143 ha Himeji Castle `` Himeji Castle '' in kanji Japanese name Kanji 姫路城 show Transcriptions Romanization Himeji - jō Himeji Castle ( 姫路城, Himeji - jō ) is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in the city of Himeji which is located in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period. The castle is frequently known as Hakuro - jō or Shirasagi - jō ( `` White Egret Castle '' or `` White Heron Castle '' ) because of its brilliant white exterior and supposed resemblance to a bird taking flight. Himeji Castle dates to 1333, when Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on top of Himeyama hill. The fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346, and then remodeled into Himeji Castle two centuries later. Himeji Castle was then significantly remodeled in 1581 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who added a three - story castle keep. In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded the castle to Ikeda Terumasa for his help in the Battle of Sekigahara, and Ikeda completely rebuilt the castle from 1601 to 1609, expanding it into a large castle complex. Several buildings were later added to the castle complex by Honda Tadamasa from 1617 to 1618. For over 400 years, Himeji Castle has remained intact, even throughout the extensive bombing of Himeji in World War II, and natural disasters such as the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake. Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan, and it was registered in 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country. The area within the middle moat of the castle complex is a designated Special Historic Site and five structures of the castle are also designated National Treasures. Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, Himeji Castle is considered one of Japan 's three premier castles. In order to preserve the castle buildings, it underwent restoration work for several years and reopened to the public on March 27, 2015. The works also removed decades of dirt and grime, restoring the formerly grey roof to its original brilliant white color. Contents 1 History 1.1 Historical recognition 2 Design details 2.1 Defences 3 Cultural impact 3.1 Lore and legend 4 Visitor statistics 5 Additional information 5.1 National treasures and sister castles 5.1. 1 Matsumoto Castle 5.1. 2 Inuyama Castle 5.1. 3 Hikone Castle 5.1. 4 Château de Chantilly 6 Gallery 7 See also 8 References 9 External links History Himeji Castle 's construction dates to 1333, when a fort was constructed on Himeyama hill by Akamatsu Norimura, the ruler of the ancient Harima Province. In 1346, his son Sadanori demolished this fort and built Himeyama Castle in its place. In 1545, the Kuroda clan was stationed here by order of the Kodera clan, and feudal ruler Kuroda Shigetaka remodeled the castle into Himeji Castle, completing the work in 1561. In 1580, Kuroda Yoshitaka presented the castle to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and in 1581 Hideyoshi significantly remodeled the castle, building a three - story keep with an area of about 55 m ( 590 sq ft ). Following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu granted Himeji Castle to his son - in - law, Ikeda Terumasa, as a reward for his help in battle. Ikeda demolished the three - story keep that had been created by Hideyoshi, and completely rebuilt and expanded the castle from 1601 to 1609, adding three moats and transforming it into the castle complex that is seen today. The expenditure of labor involved in this expansion is believed to have totaled 2.5 million man - days. Ikeda died in 1613, passing the castle to his son, who also died three years later. In 1617, Honda Tadamasa and his family inherited the castle, and Honda added several buildings to the castle complex, including a special tower for his daughter - in - law, Princess Sen ( 千姫, Senhime ). In the Meiji Period ( 1868 to 1912 ), many Japanese castles were destroyed. Himeji Castle was abandoned in 1871 and some of the castle corridors and gates were destroyed to make room for Japanese army barracks. The entirety of the castle complex was slated to be demolished by government policy, but it was spared by the efforts of Nakamura Shigeto, an army colonel. A stone monument honoring Nakamura was placed in the castle complex within the first gate, the Hishi Gate ( 菱 の 門, Hishinomon ). Although Himeji Castle was spared, Japanese castles had become obsolete and their preservation was costly. Front view of the castle complex A 1761 depiction of the castle complex When the han feudal system was abolished in 1871, Himeji Castle was put up for auction. The castle was purchased by a Himeji resident for 23 Japanese yen ( about 200,000 yen or US $ 2,258 today ). The buyer wanted to demolish the castle complex and develop the land, but the cost of destroying the castle was estimated to be too great, and it was again spared. Himeji was heavily bombed in 1945, at the end of World War II, and although most of the surrounding area was burned to the ground, the castle survived intact. One firebomb was dropped on the top floor of the castle but failed to explode. In order to preserve the castle complex, substantial repair work was undertaken starting in 1956, with a labor expenditure of 250,000 man - days and a cost of 550 million yen. In January 1995, the city of Himeji was substantially damaged by the Great Hanshin earthquake, but Himeji Castle again survived virtually undamaged, demonstrating remarkable earthquake resistance. Even the bottle of sake placed on the altar at the top floor of the keep remained in place. The `` Three Country Moat '' in the centre of the castle complex Historical recognition Himeji Castle was registered on 11 December 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan. Five structures of the castle are also designated National Treasures : The main keep ( 大 天守, daitenshu ), northwest small keep ( 乾 小 天守, inui kotenshu ), west small keep ( 西 小 天守, nishi kotenshu ), east small keep ( 東 小 天守, higashi kotenshu ), and I, Ro, Ha, Ni - corridors and kitchen ( イ, ロ, ハ, ニ の 渡 櫓 附 台所 1 棟, i, ro, ha, ni no watariyagura tsuketari daidokoro 1 to ). The area within the middle moat of the castle complex is a designated Special Historic Site. Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, Himeji Castle is considered one of Japan 's three premier castles. It is the most visited castle in Japan, receiving over 2,860,000 visitors in 2015. Starting in April 2010, Himeji Castle underwent restoration work to preserve the castle buildings, and reopened to the public on March 27, 2015. Design details Himeji Castle is the largest castle in Japan. It serves as an excellent example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, containing many of the defensive and architectural features associated with Japanese castles. The curved walls of Himeji Castle are sometimes said to resemble giant fans ( 扇子, sensu ), but the principal materials used in the structures are stone and wood. Feudal family crests ( 家紋, kamon ) are installed throughout the architecture of the building, signifying the various lords that inhabited the castle throughout its history. A depiction of the intricate castle complex The family crest of Ikeda Terumasa The Himeji Castle complex is located in the centre of Himeji, Hyōgo on top of a hill called Himeyama, which is 45.6 m ( 150 ft ) above sea level. The castle complex comprises a network of 83 buildings such as storehouses, gates, corridors, and turrets ( 櫓, yagura ). Of these 83 buildings, 74 are designated as Important Cultural Assets : 11 corridors, 16 turrets, 15 gates, and 32 earthen walls. The highest walls in the castle complex have a height of 26 m ( 85 ft ). Joining the castle complex is Koko - en Garden ( 好 古園, Kōkoen ), a Japanese garden created in 1992 to commemorate Himeji city 's 100th anniversary. From east to west, the Himeji Castle complex has a length of 950 to 1,600 m ( 3,120 to 5,250 ft ), and from north to south, it has a length of 900 to 1,700 m ( 3,000 to 5,600 ft ). The castle complex has a circumference of 4,200 m ( 2.6 mi ). It covers an area of 233 hectares ( 2,330,000 m or 576 acres ), making it roughly 50 times as large as the Tokyo Dome or 60 times as large as Koshien Stadium. Weapon racks inside the keep The main keep ( 大 天守, daitenshu ) at the center of the complex is 46.4 m ( 152 ft ) high, standing 92 m ( 302 ft ) above sea level. Together with the main keep, three smaller subsidiary keeps ( 小 天守, kotenshu ) form a cluster of towers. Externally, the keep appears to have five floors, because the second and third floors from the top appear to be a single floor ; however, it actually has six floors and a basement. The basement of the main keep has an area of 385 m ( 4,140 sq ft ), and its interior contains special facilities that are not seen in other castles, including lavatories, a drain board, and a kitchen corridor. The main keep has two pillars, with one standing in the east and one standing in the west. The east pillar, which has a base diameter of 97 cm ( 38 in ), was originally a single fir tree, but it has since been mostly original. The base of the west pillar is 85 by 95 cm ( 33 by 37 in ), and it is made of Japanese cypress. During the Shōwa Restoration ( 1956 -- 1964 ) a Japanese cypress tree with a length of 26.4 m ( 87 ft ) was brought down from the Kiso Mountains and replaced the old pillar. The tree was broken in this process, so another tree was brought down from Mount Kasagata, and the two trees were joined on the third floor. The first floor of the main keep has an area of 554 m ( 5,960 sq ft ) and is often called the `` thousand - mat room '' because it has over 330 Tatami mats. The walls of the first floor have weapon racks ( 武具 掛け, bugukake ) for holding matchlocks and spears, and at one point, the castle contained as many as 280 guns and 90 spears. The second floor has an area of roughly 550 m ( 5,900 sq ft ). The third floor has an area of 440 m ( 4,700 sq ft ) and the fourth floor has an area of 240 m ( 2,600 sq ft ). Both the third and fourth floors have platforms situated at the north and south windows called `` stone - throwing platforms '' ( 石打 棚, ishiuchidana ), where defenders could observe or throw objects at attackers. They also have small enclosed rooms called `` warrior hiding places '' ( 武者 隠し, mushakakushi ), where defenders could hide themselves and kill attackers by surprise as they entered the keep. The final floor, the sixth floor, has an area of only 115 m ( 1,240 sq ft ). The sixth floor windows now have iron bars in place, but in the feudal period the panoramic view from the windows was unobstructed. Defences Defensive loopholes Angled chutes or `` stone drop windows '' Himeji Castle contains advanced defensive systems from the feudal period. Loopholes ( 狭間, sama ) in the shape of circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles are located throughout Himeji Castle, intended to allow defenders armed with tanegashima or archers to fire on attackers without exposing themselves. Roughly 1,000 loopholes exist in the castle buildings remaining today. Angled chutes called `` stone drop windows '' ( 石 落 窓, ishi - otoshi - mado ) were also set at numerous points in the castle walls, enabling stones or boiling oil to be poured on the heads of attackers passing by underneath, and white plaster was used in the castle 's construction for its resistance to fire. The castle complex included three moats, one of which -- the outer moat -- is now buried. Parts of the central moat and all of the inner moats survive. The moats have an average width of 20 m ( 66 ft ), a maximum width of 34.5 m ( 113 ft ), and a depth of about 2.7 m ( 8.9 ft ). The Three Country Moat ( 三国 堀, sangoku - bori ) is a 2,500 m ( 27,000 sq ft ) pond which exists inside the castle ; one of the purposes of this moat was to store water for use in fire prevention. The castle complex, particularly the Waist Quarter ( 腰 曲輪, koshikuruwa ), contains numerous warehouses that were used to store rice, salt and water in case of a siege. A building known as the Salt Turret ( 塩 櫓, shioyagura ) was used specifically to store salt, and it is estimated that it contained as many as 3,000 bags of salt when the castle complex was in use. The castle complex also contained 33 wells within the inner moat, 13 of which remain ; the deepest of these has a depth of 30 m ( 98 ft ). `` Diamond Gate '', the first of the castle 's 21 remaining gates One of the castle 's most important defensive elements is the confusing maze of paths leading to the castle 's keep. The gates, baileys, and outer walls of the complex are organized so as to confuse an approaching force, causing it to travel in a spiral pattern around the complex on its way to the keep. The castle complex originally contained 84 gates, 15 of which were named according to the Japanese syllabary ( I, Ro, Ha, Ni, Ho, He, To, etc. ). At present, 21 gates from the castle complex remain intact, 13 of which are named according to the Japanese syllabary. In many cases, the castle walkways even turn back on themselves, greatly inhibiting navigation. For example, the straight distance from the Hishi Gate ( 菱 の 門, hishinomon ) to the main keep ( 大 天守, daitenshu ) is only 130 m ( 430 ft ), but the path itself is a much longer 325 m ( 1,066 ft ). The passages are also steep and narrow, further inhibiting entry. This system allowed the intruders to be watched and fired upon from the keep during their lengthy approach, but Himeji Castle was never attacked in this manner so the system remains untested. However, even today with the route clearly marked, many visitors have trouble navigating the castle complex. Cultural impact Himeji Castle is frequently known as Hakuro - jō or Shirasagi - jō ( `` White Egret Castle '' or `` White Heron Castle '' ) because of its brilliant white exterior and supposed resemblance to a bird taking flight. The castle has been featured extensively in foreign and Japanese films, including the James Bond movie `` You Only Live Twice '' ( 1967 ), and Akira Kurosawa 's Kagemusha ( 1980 ) and Ran ( 1985 ). In the television miniseries Shōgun ( 1980 ) it served as a stand - in for feudal - era Osaka castle. In the video games Civilization Revolution and Civilization V, Himeji Castle is available to build as a world wonder. Lore and legend Okiku 's Well Himeji Castle is associated with a number of local legends. The well - known kaidan ( or Japanese ghost story ) of Banchō Sarayashiki ( 番 町 皿 屋敷, `` The Dish Mansion at Banchō '' ) is set in Edo ( Tokyo ), but a variant called Banshū Sarayashiki ( 播州 皿 屋敷, `` The Dish mansion in Harima Province '' ) is set in Himeji Castle. There is a disputed claim that the castle is the bona fide location of the entire legend, and the alleged Okiku 's Well remains in the castle to this day. According to the legend, Okiku was falsely accused of losing dishes that were valuable family treasures, and then killed and thrown into the well. Her ghost remained to haunt the well at night, counting dishes in a despondent tone. The legend of the `` Old Widow 's Stone '' ( 姥 が 石, Ubagaishi ) is another folklore story associated with the castle. According to the legend, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ran out of stones when building the original three - story keep, and an old woman heard about his trouble. She gave him her hand millstone even though she needed it for her trade. It was said that people who heard the story were inspired and also offered stones to Hideyoshi, speeding up construction of the castle. To this day, the supposed stone can be seen covered with a wire net in the middle of one of the stone walls in the castle complex. A folklore story is also associated with Sakurai Genbei, who was Ikeda Terumasa 's master carpenter in the construction of the keep. According to the legend, Sakurai was dissatisfied with his construction, feeling that the keep leaned a little to the southeast. Eventually, he became distraught and climbed to the top of the keep, where he jumped to his death with a chisel in his mouth. Visitor statistics On 14 April 2009, the total number of visits since the Showa - era restoration surpassed 40 million. 1964 -- 1,738,000 ( Showa - era restoration work completed ) 1989 -- 1,197,000 1990 -- 811,000 1991 -- 871,000 1992 -- 885,000 1993 -- 1,019,000 1994 -- 983,000 1995 -- 695,000 1996 -- 861,000 1997 -- 716,000 1998 -- 792,000 1999 -- 713,000 2000 -- 662,000 2001 -- 708,000 2002 -- 729,000 2003 -- 814,000 2004 -- 771,000 2005 -- 778,000 2006 -- 899,000 2007 -- 1,023,000 2008 -- 1,195,000 2009 -- 1,561,000 2010 -- 458,000 ( restoration work started ) 2011 -- 611,000 2012 -- 711,000 2013 -- 881,000 2014 -- 919,000 2015 -- 2,860,000 ( restoration work completed in March ) Additional information National Treasures and sister castles Other national treasures ( castles ) besides Himeji Castle include Matsumoto Castle, Inuyama Castle, Matsue Castle, and Hikone Castle. The sister castle of Himeji Castle is Château de Chantilly in France. Matsumoto castle Matsumoto Castle ( 松本 城 Matsumoto - jō ) is one of Japan 's oldest castles and is situated in Matsumoto, in Nagano Prefecture. The main donjon ( 天守閣 tenshukaku ) was constructed by the Ishikawa family from 1593 to 1594 when the family was put in charge of the castle. The donjon of Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan 's oldest existing five stories Tenshu. Inuyama castle Inuyama Castle ( 犬山 城 Inuyama - jō ) is located in the southern coast of Kiso river in the city of Inuyama, in Aichi Prefecture. In 1537, Oda Nobunaga 's uncle, Oda Nobuyasu strengthened the castle. Inuyama Castle is claimed to be one of Japan 's oldest castles and one of the castles that managed to retain its original structure. Hikone castle Hikone Castle ( 彦根城 Hikone - jō ) is located in the eastern coast of Lake Biwa, in Shiga Prefecture. The castle was completed in 1622 by Ii Naokatsu, after 20 years of construction. Château de Chantilly Château de Chantilly is a sister castle of Himeji Castle, and it is said to be the most beautiful castle in France. It is located 40 kilometres north of Paris. The castle is a representation of the magnificent architectural style of the Renaissance period. The partnership between Himeji Castle and Chantilly castle began in 1989. Gallery Panoramic overview A panoramic view of the castle grounds, with Himeji city in the background Views from afar The castle 's keeps and city as seen from Engyō - ji The castle complex as seen from the west Keeps and bridge as seen from the entrance A view of Keeps and the lush castle grounds below Keeps as seen from the grounds below Views from below One of the steep, narrow walkways controlling access to the castle One of the steep castle walls Himeji castle as seen from the princess quarters The keep as seen from within the inner circle ( 本丸, honmaru ) Curved gables ( 千鳥 破風, chidori hafu ) Detail of keep Views at night Views from above Castle walls and rooftops East tower and corridors The castle rooftops and surrounding city Part of the intricate castle complex A mythical tiger - headed fish called shachi ( 鯱 ). This motif was used atop the castle towers as a talisman for fire prevention. Views from the interior A stone drop window ( 石 落 窓, ishi - otoshi - mado ) A window for an archer or defender using a Matchlock An interior room with Tatami mats A hallway Castle windows Views with cherry blossoms Taken at Three Country Moats Sakura at Himeji Castle Taken at Himeji City Zoo Taken from the south Views of the restoration Temporary cover and gantry Temporary cover Different stages of applying plaster to the roof tiles. The plaster protects the roof from water ingress, and stops the tiles being dislodged by typhoon winds. Roof structure underneath the tiles View of the keep roof nearing completion, taken from the public view gallery. Views of pictures Bodhidharma. Samurais. A fish. See also Japanese architecture Japanese castle Koko - en Garden -- Japanese garden joining the castle complex List of National Treasures of Japan ( castles ) List of reportedly haunted locations List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments List of World Heritage Sites in Japan Tourism in Japan References Jump up ^ `` Himeji Castle and its surroundings ''. Sansen - ya. Retrieved July 6, 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` Himeji Castle starts its renovation in April ''. Official Tourism Guide for Japan Travel. Archived from the original on March 24, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` A hilltop white heron 400 years old ''. The Daily Yomiuri. Retrieved July 5, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Jacqueline A., Ball ( 2005 ). Himeji Castle : Japan 's Samurai Past. New York : Bearport Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 1 - 59716 - 001 - 6. ^ Jump up to : `` National Treasure Himeji Castle Guide book '' ( PDF ). Himeji Rojyo Lions Club. 2000. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on July 10, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Bornoff, Nicholas ( 2000 ). The National Geographic Traveler : Japan. Washington : National Geographic Society. pp. 256 -- 257. ISBN 0 - 7894 - 5545 - 5. ^ Jump up to : `` Himeji - jo ''. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved July 4, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Eyewitness Travel Guides : Japan. New York : Dorling Kindersley Publishing. 2000. pp. 200 -- 203. ISBN 0 - 7894 - 5545 - 5. ^ Jump up to : `` Himeji Castle ''. Japan Atlas. Retrieved July 5, 2010. ^ Jump up to : 国宝 一覧 ( in Japanese ). Himeji city. Retrieved July 5, 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` The Three Famous Castles of Japan ''. Kobayashi Travel Service. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015. Jump up ^ Hinago, Motoo ( 1986 ). Japanese Castles. Kodansha International Ltd. and Shibundo. pp. 121 -- 125. ISBN 0 - 87011 - 766 - 1. ^ Jump up to : O'Grady, Daniel. `` Japanese Castle Explorer -- Himeji Castle ''. Japanese Castle Explorer. Retrieved July 11, 2010. ^ Jump up to : `` 世界 遺産 姫路城 城 の 楽しみ 方 ''. Retrieved May 18, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Lowe, Sam ( May 11, 2010 ). `` Restoring a Japanese Treasure ''. Best Western 's Travel Blog. Retrieved July 11, 2010. Jump up ^ `` 姫路城 大 天守 ''. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` National Treasure, World Heritage, Himeji Castle ''. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` 姫路城 乾 小 天守 ''. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` 姫路城 西 小 天守 ''. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` 姫路城 東 小 天守 ''. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` 姫路城 イ ・ ロ ・ ハ ・ ニ の 渡 櫓 附 台所 1 棟 ''. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Kokoen Garden, Traditional Japanese Garden in Himeji City ''. EOK. Retrieved July 4, 2010. Jump up ^ 姫路 市 史 第 十 四 巻 別 編 姫路城. Himeji City : City of Himeji. 2001. p. 494. Jump up ^ `` Hoplology ''. Guillaume Morel. Retrieved July 11, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Turnbull, Stephen ( 2003 ). Japanese Castles 1540 -- 1640. Oxford : Osprey Publishing. p. 64. ISBN 978 - 1 - 84176 - 429 - 0. Jump up ^ 姫路城 、 入場 者 4000 万 人 突破 昭和 の 大 修理 から 45 年 で Archived July 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. ( 共同 通信 2009 年 4 月 14 日 ) ^ Jump up to : `` 平成 26 年度 姫路 市 入 込 客数 、 観光 動向 ・ イベント アンケート 調査 報告 書 P3 '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on June 16, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2016. Jump up ^ Yoshiko Yukinaga. `` 「 姫路城 来場 者 、 日本 一 に. 過去 最多 286 万 人 」 ''. Mainichi Shinbun. Retrieved 13 May 2016. Jump up ^ `` 姫路 市 ほか に も ある 国宝 の お 城 ・ 姉妹 城 ''. www.city.himeji.lg.jp ( in Japanese ). Retrieved 2017 - 10 - 22. Further reading Mitchelhill, Jennifer ( 2013 ). Castles of the Samurai : Power & Beauty. USA : Kodansha. ISBN 978 - 1 - 56836 - 512 - 1. Schmorleitz, Morton S. ( 1974 ). Castles in Japan. Tokyo : Charles E. Tuttle Co. pp. 123 -- 125. ISBN 0 - 8048 - 1102 - 4. Motoo, Hinago ( 1986 ). Japanese Castles. Tokyo : Kodansha. ISBN 0 - 87011 - 766 - 1. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Himeji Castle. Official website Japan 's Samurai Castles Asian Historical Architecture -- Himeji Castle Japanese Castle Explorer -- Himeji Castle UNESCO World Heritage Centre -- Himeji Castle Japan Atlas : Himeji Castle Video The White Fortress : Himeji - jo ( UNESCO video at YouTube ) Himeji Castle timelapse on YouTube Discover the Himeji Castle in Japan World Heritage Sites in Japan Hokkaido Shiretoko Tōhoku Hiraizumi -- Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land Shirakami - Sanchi Sites of Japan 's Meiji Industrial Revolution : Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining Kantō The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier Shrines and Temples of Nikkō Ogasawara Islands Tomioka Silk Mill Chūbu Historic Villages of Shirakawa - gō and Gokayama Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration Sites of Japan 's Meiji Industrial Revolution : Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining Kansai Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū - ji Area Himeji Castle Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range Chūgoku Hiroshima Peace Memorial ( Genbaku Dome ) Itsukushima Shinto Shrine Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape Sites of Japan 's Meiji Industrial Revolution : Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining Kyushu Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region Sites of Japan 's Meiji Industrial Revolution : Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining Yakushima Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Himeji_Castle&oldid=855916068 '' Categories : 1581 establishments in Japan Buildings and structures completed in 1346 Buildings and structures completed in 1581 Buildings and structures completed in 1609 Castles in Hyōgo Prefecture Himeji, Hyōgo Honda clan Houses completed in 1618 Ikeda clan Important Cultural Properties of Japan Kuroda clan Maebashi - Matsudaira clan National Treasures of Japan Okudaira - Matsudaira clan Reportedly haunted locations Sakai clan Sakakibara clan Special Historic Sites Toyotomi clan World Heritage Sites in Japan Hidden categories : Articles containing Japanese - language text CS1 uses Japanese - language script ( ja ) CS1 Japanese - language sources ( ja ) Webarchive template wayback links Use mdy dates from March 2016 Coordinates on Wikidata Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia Good articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu Azərbaycanca বাংলা Башҡортса Български Català Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano עברית Basa Jawa ქართული Қазақша Latviešu Lietuvių Magyar मैथिली Nederlands नेपाली 日本 語 Norsk پنجابی Polski Português Русский Scots Shqip Simple English Slovenčina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Татарча / tatarça ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt Winaray 中文 47 more Edit links This page was last edited on 21 August 2018, at 17 : 53 ( UTC ). 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Question: where is the himeji castle located in japan
Answer: in the city of Himeji which is located in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan