Thursday, August 16, 2018

Himeji Castle - Inside

Himeji Castle is the most significant wooden building in Japan with six floors plus a basement.



First Floor  

Upon entering, you must take off your shoes and then carry them around with you. A lot of the inside was dark, so my pictures aren't so good.




Each floor has a sign with the features of that floor and English information is included.










Second Floor 







Third Floor









Fourth Floor







Fifth Floor





Sixth Floor








Going down







Small Keep















Princess Sen was the granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu.  At the age of 7, she married Tomyotomi Hideyori.  However, he committed suicide in the Osaka Summer Battle waged by Ieyasu.  She was rescued from Osaka Castle as it burned.  At the age of 20, she married Honda Tadatoki, son of the lord of  Himeji Castle.  Her palace Musashino Goten, built on the site of the 3rd Bailey was said to be especially beautiful, thanks to the huge amount of dowry.  She spent the happiest ten years of her life with her husband, son Kochiyo and daughter Katsu.  Kochiyo died of disease at the age of 3 and Tadatoki died at the age of 31.  Princess Sen returned to Edo to become a Buddhist nun under the name of Tenjuin.  She spent the rest of her life mourning the loss of her husband and son until she died at the age of 70.




(If you are interested in Japanese Castles, check out my Castle Page to see the castles I've visited.)


8 comments:

Jen L said...

Fascinating - thank you.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pamela what a beautiful castle the storywas very interesting and sad,thankyou for sharing with us xx

Jeanie said...

I love the beautiful use of the wood. It's striking.

Vireya said...

That's a beautiful building, with a great view from the top.

Queeniepatch said...

These pictures really make me want to go visit!

Janie said...

What beautiful wood and architecture.
Thanks for sharing your photos.
And the bittersweet story, life is not an easy ride.

diamondc said...

An amazing castle thank you for sharing.

Catherine

Leonore Winterer said...

That castle is absolutely beautiful. I never get that feeling with European style castles, but I think I would actually have enjoyed living there!
Poor Princess Sen, though - to have lost two husbands and sons by the time you turn 30, that's really hard.