Perched atop the 45.6-meter-high Mt. Hime, Himeji Castle dominates the landscape of Himeji City in Hyogo Prefecture, offering a commanding view of the Harima Plain. Adorned in white plaster, the main tower group is often likened to a graceful egret in flight, earning the castle its alternative moniker of "White Egret Castle." Among Japan's dwindling original castles, Himeji boasts the most intact structures. Notably, its main tenshu keep and ko-tenshu sub-keeps were bestowed the prestigious title of National Treasures in 1931, while an additional 74 edifices hold the esteemed designation of National Important Cultural Properties. Alongside Horyu-ji Temple, Himeji Castle proudly holds the distinction of being Japan's inaugural World Heritage site, a recognition bestowed upon it in 1993.
The origins of a fortress on this site trace back to the Nanboku-cho period, with significant enhancements during the Sengoku era under the directive of Oda Nobunaga and his vassal, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Following the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Ikeda Terumasa assumed control of the castle, along with a substantial income of 520,000 koku. Over the subsequent eight years, Terumasa oversaw the transformation of Himeji into the architectural marvel it is today. Encircled by three concentric moats—soto-bori, naka-bori, and uchi-bori—the castle boasted formidable defenses, with remnants visible today within the inner moat.
Tasked by Tokugawa Ieyasu, his trusted son-in-law Terumasa expanded and fortified Himeji Castle in anticipation of future military campaigns, notably the impending confrontation with Toyotomi Hideyoshi's heir, Hideyori, at Osaka Castle. The castle's imposing stature was intended to deter western-based Toyotomi loyalists from reinforcing Osaka, solidifying its role as a strategic bastion.
Construction of the iconic white tower, symbolizing Himeji Castle's grandeur, commenced in 1601 and culminated in its completion in 1609. This towering edifice, standing at 31.5 meters atop a 14.8-meter stone base, represents the largest extant tower keep of the Edo period. Spanning 140 meters east to west and 125 meters north to south, the main keep complex comprises the dai-tenshu (large tower keep) and three smaller ko-tenshu sub-keeps—nishi (western), inui (northwestern), and higashi (eastern). The strategic layout facilitated vigilant observation and defense, with downward-facing hatches facilitating the deployment of matchlock guns against encroaching adversaries.
Internally, the main tower encompasses seven floors, of which only five are visible externally. The uppermost floor reflects the refined shoin-zukuri architectural style favored by the samurai elite, underscoring the structure's ceremonial significance.
Himeji Castle stands as a testament to the masterful fusion of military functionality and aesthetic elegance embodied by the samurai, exemplified in its enduring architectural splendor.
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Tsutsujigasaki Castle
Tsutsujigasaki Castle (Tsutsujigasaki Yakata) served as the fortified residence of the last three generations of the Takeda clan and is located in the heart of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Unlike traditional Japanese castles, it was not referred to as a "castle" in Japanese, as the Takeda clan famously believed in relying on their warriors as their true fortifications, stating, "Make men your castle, men your walls, men your moats." Designated a National Historic Site in 1938, the ruins are now open to the public and house the Takeda Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of the Takeda clan.
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Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle, originally built by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period, stands on the site of an earlier Oda clan castle from the Sengoku period. It became the centerpiece of Nagoya-juku, a significant castle town on the Minoji road, which connected two major Edo Five Routes: the Tokaido and the Nakasendo. In 1930, ownership of the castle was transferred to the city by the Imperial Household Ministry, establishing it as the focal point of modern Nagoya. Although partially destroyed in the Pacific War in 1945, the castle has undergone continuous restoration and preservation efforts since 1957.
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Matsushiro Castle
Matsushiro Castle, originally known as Kaizu Castle, is located in what was once Matsushiro town, now part of Nagano City. The site is recognized as a National Historic Site of Japan. Situated on the northern Shinano flatlands between the Chikuma River and a former riverbed that serves as a natural outer moat to the north, the castle and its surrounding town were prone to flooding due to their location.
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Fushimi Castle
Fushimi Castle, also known as Momoyama Castle or Fushimi-Momoyama Castle, is located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto. Originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi between 1592 and 1594 as his retirement residence, the castle was destroyed by the 1596 Keichō–Fushimi earthquake and later rebuilt. However, it was demolished again in 1623, and its site now houses the tomb of Emperor Meiji. A replica of the castle was constructed nearby in 1964.
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Odawara Castle
Odawara Castle, located in the city of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, is a reconstructed historical site with roots dating back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333). The current donjon (main keep) was rebuilt using reinforced concrete in 1960 on the stone foundation of the original structure, which was dismantled between 1870 and 1872 during the Meiji Restoration.
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Shinpu Castle
Shinpu Castle was a Japanese hirayama-style fortress from the Sengoku period, situated in what is now Nirasaki, Yamanashi Prefecture. It served as the main stronghold of warlord Takeda Katsuyori. Designated as a National Historic Site in 1973, the castle occupies a strategic position on a mountain with steep cliffs, overlooking the Kamanashi River to the west of Kofu, where Takeda Shingen’s Tsutsujigasaki Castle once stood.
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Takato Castle
Takato Castle, located in the city of Ina in southern Nagano Prefecture, Japan, was a notable stronghold during the Sengoku period. By the end of the Edo period, it was the residence of a cadet branch of the Naito clan, the daimyo of the Takato Domain. Also known as Kabuto Castle, it was originally constructed in the 16th century and is now mostly in ruins.
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Takatenjin Castle
Takatenjin Castle was a yamashiro-style fortress from Japan's Sengoku period, situated in the Kamihijikata and Shimohijikata districts of Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. Designated a National Historic Site in 1975, with an expanded protected area in 2007, its ruins remain a significant historical landmark.
