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.)