Himeji
A two hour train ride from Osaka takes us to the city of Himeji, home to an exceptionally preserved World Cultural Heritage Site site well over 400 years old. Himeji castle is a prime example of Japanese architecture from the feudal period. Although, heavily fortified against enemy invaders, the sprawling white plaster walls have inspired images of a bird taking flight resulting in more peaceful nicknames such as "The White Heron Castle" or "The White Egret Castle".
Meet Himeji's mascot Shiromaru-hime wearing a little Himei castle crown.
A historical view of Himeji castle from the Meji Period.
The Main Keep towers over the rest of the castle. From the outside, there appears to be 5 floors, but there are actually 7 floors inside, including a basement.
After five and a half years of heavy restoration (including repainting) costing 2.4 billion yen and employing 15,000 workers, the castle re-opened in 2015.
The round roof tiles along the eaves are stamped with the the family crests of the lords who have built or repaired the castle. This is the crest of Ikeda Terumasa, builder of the current Himeji Castle design.
A heavily fortified fortress, there are 21 gates, 844 shooting holes for guns, 153 shooting holes for bows, and 27 towers.
The view inside the Main Keep overlooking the roofed passage tower that stretches along the West Bailey.
Another view from a higher floor overlooking the modern buildings of Himeji.
The second floor of the castle has walls of weapons racks and wide hallways for soldier maneuvering.
Right next to the castle is the Koko-en gardens home to about 9 different types of Japanese gardens and 250 koi. Admission fee is well worth the $3 (purchased with the Himeji Castle admission).
The biggest garden is The Garden of the Lord's Residence with roofed corridors and a zen waterfall.
While the Garden of the Lord's Residence may be the most impressive, the gardens here are definitely worth the wander, and very aptly named such as The Garden of Bamboo, The Garden of Pine Trees, and the Garden of Flowers.