Himeji Castle

is a Japanese castle which is in Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture. It includes 83 buildings made of wood. It is sometimes known as Hakurojō or Shirasagijō ("White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior.

It is a Japanese National Cultural Treasure.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.UNESCO,  "Himeji-jo"; retrieved 2012-4-18. 

Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, it is one of Japan's "Three Famous Castles", and is the most visited castle in Japan.

Several movies have been filmed at the castle, like Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha and Ran; The Last Samurai  starring Tom Cruise; and the Shogun 1980 TV-miniseries/movie starring Richard Chamberlain.

In 2009, Himeiji Castle was recognized as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan which best show contemporary Japan and its culture in the Heisei period."100 Landscapes of Heisei announced," Yomiuri Shimbun. May 2009; retrieved 2012-3-30.

Related pages 
 List of World Heritage Sites in Japan

References

 Other websites 

 Himeji Castle Guide 
 Himeji castle website  (requires Macromedia Flash plugin)
 Official UNESCO page for Himeji castle
 Himeji Tourist Information・Worlds Cultural Heritege Himeji castle 
 Himeji Castle - LOCATION VIEW Himeji Edition (Tourist Guide with 360 degree movie map)

Category:Castles in Japan
Category:World Heritage Sites in Japan
Category:Hyōgo Prefecture
Category:14th-century buildings and structures