| Himeji Castle (aka Shirasagi-jō or Snowy Heron Castle) Himeji Castle (Himeji-jō, aka Himeyama-jō) is the most visited of the "Three Most Famous Castles" (Himejo-jō, Kumamoto-jō, Matsumoto-jō). This castle with its fireproof white-plaster walls is also called Shirasagi-jō (White Heron or, more specifically, Snowy Heron Castle), recalling a flock of herons lifting off heavenward. The first Himeji Castle was built in 1333 on Himeyama (Princess Hill), then an addition in the late 1500s, finally the main donjon (castle keep) in the early 1600s, for a total of 38 buildings* and 21 gates (source: Himeji City castle brochure). *The UNESCO site says 83 buildings. From "My Travelogue Manga of Japan (Sans Drawings)," by K. Avila, Sequential Tart, May 2006, 4 April 2006 entry: "I visit Himeji Castle. Along the street [Otemae-dori] from the train station to the castle, there are a number of statues of naked young women, though not all. Coming back from the castle down the other side, the last bronze statue I see is of a fat naked guy playing a saxophone." UNESCO World Heritage site—Himeji-jo. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/661 Japanese Castles 
by Michio Fujioka (Osaka, Japan: Hoikusha Publishing, 1968) |
  Himeji Castle brochure cover and castle layout, Himeji City office, 1970s(?) Re the red ink stamps, such stamps can be collected at many tourist destinations in Japan. Photos copyright © 2006 Kat Avila |
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 train station entrance |
 statues by entrance |
 statues by entrance |
 statues by entrance |
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  The sign says: "The 'shachihoko' of the tenshu (main tower of the castle) or the roof ornament on the ridges of the roof of the castle are [an] abstract representation of fish in the sea. The ornament is a charm to guard against fire and ward off disaster. These shachihoko are replicas of the ones on the castle." |
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 Main Gate (Ōte-mon) is across the street on the right side. |
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 A jogger combines exercise and sightseeing. |
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 A father talks about the castle to his family. |
 inside Ni Gate |
 gateway |
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 This shows various mon (family crests). |
(close-up) Grandpa's crest was a wood sorrel with swordpoints, like two here. |
 from the side |
 He Gate |
 after He Gate |
 main donjon (castle keep) |
 main donjon (castle keep) |
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 holographic postcard, 1970s(?) |
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| Inside Himeji Castle | ||||
 scrolls |
 painting of carp |
 painting of carp |
 rifles |
 samurai armor |
 sama (holes for shooting) |
(text in left photo): "'Sama' means holes or small windows for shooting guns or arrows at enemy soldiers. 'Sama' with lids on them which could be opened or shut were called 'Kakushi-sama' or hidden shooting holes." |
 view of city from the castle |
 (close-up) shachihoko (roof ornament charm against fire and disaster) |
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   top 6th floor altar Philbert Ono of Photoguide.jp tells about how an altar sat on the hill before the castle did. The altar was replaced after some unfortunate events occurred. In the middle photo, there is a huge pale orb on the right side of the altar. Some people believe orbs are indicative of ghosts; others, a cheap digital camera. |
 The sign says, "MIND YOUR HEAD." The stairs are steep, the entryway is small, so it's easy to bump your head. |
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