• Himeji Castle is on a straight line from Himeji Station and exists in the seen distance of 1km. it seem to be soon there but it takes more than expected when walking.

• Himeji Castle is a rare castle in the history of 400 years in the war where it has not encountered the war fire nor war damage of modern days. As a result, the castle tower, towers, and gates, etc. were kept in the good condition. It becomes extremely valuable cultural heritages. Himeji Castle of the national treasure was registered in the World Heritage of UNESCO together with Horyuji Temple on December 11, 1993.

• The origin of this name has various opinions though Himeji Castle is called an alias White Heron Castle. First explanation is a comparison with Okayama castle in black board fence and called Himeji Castle of whitewashed wall. The second came from the place where was called the Heron Hill. Thirdly, it is said that the appearance looks like a white heron's flying.

• Present appearance of the castle was made by the large scale rebuilding starting 1609. Construction was completed in 1609, it took years. The number of construction workers is estimated to be 25 million people or more.

• In the number of samurais or Japanese warriors in the castle, samurais were about 500 people in the Mr. Ikeda age. About 4,000 of the following Mr. Honda. 3,000 people in Mr. Sakakibara's age. About 2,200 people when the end of Edo era and Mr. Sakai were the last lords.

• The replica of large Shachihoko was seen on the road on the way from Himeji Station to Himeji Castle. Shachi is an imaginary sea animal with the head of a tiger and the body of a fish with sharp prickles in the back. Shachihoko is an end tile in the shape of a shachi on the top of a castle. "Shachihoko" seems to have been put up on top of a castle for fire prevention because it is sad to blow water from the mouse by the legend. Castle tower of Himeji Castle has is decorated by a couple of large Shachihoko, and they are 3.75 �s in weight and and 1.9m in height.

• 1346 Sadanori Akamatsu built a castle in Himeyama Hill.
  1601 Terumasa Ikeda became the lord of Himeji Castle, and the large reconstruction of the castle was started. Completion in nine years after.
  1869 Tadakuni Sakai returned of the lands and people to the emperor, and Himeji Castle became country-owned.
  1931 The castle tower of Himeji Castle was assigned as the national treasure.
  1956 The castle tower was started to reconstruct with dismantling and repairing by the plan of eight years for the national expenditure. (Major repair at the Showa era)
  1993 It was registered in the world cultural heritage of UNESCO.

Registered in the world cultural heritage of UNESCO in 1993.	34.5m maximum in width of moat and 20m in average. Depth average 2.7m.	Enters into the castle area from the entrance gate.	Appearance of castle tower is 5 floor. But inside, 6 floor on the ground, 1 floor underground.
Himeji Castle is called an alias White Heron Castle.	It was reconstructed from 1601 to 1609 of 9-year.	Castle land area is 230,000 m2.	"Diamond Gate" to guard "castle wall 2nd".
Looking up from the West Square.	Inside main castle tower. 400-year before structure.	Daughter of Tokugawa Shogunate, Princess Senhime.	Left building is one of small castle towers.
Corner tower and main castle tower.	Go out, in and out again. Route was made complicated structure to guard the castle.		Looking down at Himeji-city.
Looking up at the main castle tower from the square just below the tower.		Looking up from the West Square.	Stone walls have fan shape slope.
Main castle tower is looked up from the Diamond Gate.		_View of the Diamond Gate from inside.	Wall has crenels of square or triangle shape.

2006/08/01