This is my second visit to Himeji Castle. I visited in 2018 and posted about the inside here and the outside here. I took fewer photos this trip.
Historical notes from J-Castle:
Himeji Castle's early history dates to the 14th century when Akamatsu Norimura built a fortification on this site. Himeyama Castle was then built by his son in 1346. The castle starts to come into prominence during the Sengoku Period when it was renovated by the Kuroda Shigetaka in 1545. In 1580, Nobunaga took control of Harima proving and placed it under the control of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who remodeled the castle and built a small keep. You can still see some of the remnants of Hideyoshi's castle in Himeji castle as Ikeda incoporated some of the stone walls and gates into his castle. Ikeda Terumasa, an ally of Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara, was awarded this province (Harima) for his alliance during the war. Ikeda Terumasa built the main keep of Himeji-jo and erected the castle as it is known today. Himeji-jo's nickname Shirasagi-jo means "White Heron Castle" because the main keep with its three smaller towers resembles a white heron. Himeji-jo was granted "World Heritage" status by UNESCO in 1993.
6 comments:
Whenever you share your visits to castles or shrines I am always so amazed that these buildings have been kept in such great condition.
xx, Carol
It is interesting to compare the summer and winter photos from your two trips.
It is such a tiny castle - you can hold it in one hand!
Pamela: Such beautiful photos, it is amazing how lovely the Castle looks even with the dark clouds.
Catherine
They are so impressive -- like layer cakes! That white really stands out!
Fabulous to see such a castle and surrounds. Great photos of everything.
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