Hime Ji

When I was an architecture student, I had an architectural history course in which we were required to chose from a historical structure from a list of possible subjects for a paper. Hime Ji Castle was my choice. As long as I can remember I had wanted to visit Japan, which made the choice of Hime Ji that much more obvious. After writing said paper, I knew I would one day visit this masterpiece of Japanese architecture. Often call the White Heron Castle for its graceful lines and whitewashed walls, It did not disappoint.

Hime Ji is considered the finest extant example of Japanese castle building at its zenith. Built in the center of Himeji city, (about 50 miles west of Kyoto) it defended a strategic point on the route to Western Honshu. The main tower rises over 100' from the top of the hill on which it sits. The hill had been the site of a fortification known as Himeyama Castle (more of a fort) since 1346. The makings of the current castle started as a three story donjon (keep) built by the feudal lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1581. After the defeat of his heir in 1601, another feudal lord - Ikeda Terumasa - began a massive expansion project that resulted in the castle that we see today. The current keep dates to 1601 and many of the structures date back as far as 1618.

Remarkably, the castle has survived earthquakes, fires and air raids and remains much as it was in the 17th century. Restoration began in 1956. It is officially a Japanese National Treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site. A good history of the castle and explanation of its architecture can be found at asianhistoricalarchitecture.com.

UNESCO site

You can download some beautifully written college prose about the castle here. Be forewarned, for archidorks only.



	The walk from Hime Ji station is about 15 minutes and views of the castle unfold as you go. Of course Kara & I had to take the obligatory tourist pics. Below is the main keep, or donjon.






	The hilltop location, high tower and walls surrounded by a moat, as well as the narrow and winding paths all helped to make Hime Ji one of the world's most defensible castles. Below are views from inside the castle.


	Views from inside the castle. Remarkably simple and purely functional interior. Not exactly handicapped accessible though. You could visit the castle in an hour or so, but I would allow about three to do it right. Kara made another new friend with one of the castle's residents below. Yup, she's a cat person.