National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage SiteKansai

姫路城

Himeji Castle

Burgherr

Ikeda Terumasa / Sakai clan

Epoche

Major reconstruction 1601-09 (Keichō 6-14)

Bezeichnung

National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage Site

Standort

68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyōgo

Anfahrt

About 20 min walk from JR Himeji Station north exit

Überblick

Himeji Castle, known as 'White Heron Castle,' is the supreme masterpiece of Japanese castle architecture — a National Treasure and Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its brilliant white plaster walls and the spectacular complex of the five-story main tower and three smaller towers represent the ultimate fusion of architectural art and military engineering. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Ikeda Terumasa carried out a major reconstruction to create the castle as it appears today. Its ingenious spiral layout confuses approaching enemies with a labyrinthine path to the main tower. Miraculously surviving wartime bombing, Himeji Castle preserves over 400 years of history as one of Japan's greatest treasures.

Verbindung zu Schwertern

Swordsmiths of Harima Province were active around Himeji Castle, as Harima contributed to sword production since ancient times. Castle lord Ikeda Terumasa earned Himeji through his exploits at Sekigahara, and as a battle-tested daimyō, he handled many notable blades. The later Sakai clan lords collected and preserved swords as part of their daimyō heritage. Himeji Castle sits at a key point on the San'yōdō highway, close to the Bizen Osafune sword production area. The journey from Himeji to Okayama (Bizen Osafune) makes an ideal route for tracing the history of Japanese swords.