Himeji Station |
Shinkansen poster |
Shinkansen poster |
Taxis lined up in front of Himeji Station |
Art in front of Himeji Station |
Otemae-dori leads from Himeji station directly north to Himeji Station |
Public art along Otemae-dori |
Japanese license plate from Himeji |
English signs point the way to points of tourist interest |
Himeji-jo Castle |
Himeji Castle opening hours |
Himeji Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site |
The donjon of Himeji Castle during Cherry Blossom Season (April) |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle during Cherry Blossom Season |
The outermost enclosure of Himeji Castle is the Third Bailey |
Japanese cherry blossoms |
Cherry blossoms |
Cherry blossoms, Himeji Castle |
Cherry blossoms, Himeji |
April is Cherry Blossom Season |
Cherry blossoms, Himeji |
Cherry blossoms, Himeji |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
A less-common and pinker variety of cherry blossom, Himeji |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle is also known as "White Heron Castle" |
Himeji Castle dates from 1580 on top of a 1333 fortification |
Himeji Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi |
Himeji Castle was enlarged by Ikeda Terumasa 30 years later after the defeat of Toyotomi |
Himeji Castle |
Donjon of Himeji Castle with cherry blossoms |
Himeji Castle through some trees |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine, on the NE corner of the castle park |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Shrine |
Himeji Castle map |
Himeji Castle Map |
Northern Moat, Himeji Castle |
Japanese Maple, Himeji Castle |
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Western Moat, Himeji Castle |
Mortarless walls, Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle during Cherry Blossom Season |
The white color of Himeji Castle is due to a covering of white fireproof plaster |
The main tower, or donjon, is 46 meters high |
The donjon is essentially a wooden structure |
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Me at Himeji Castle, Japan |
Woman sketching Himeji Castle |
The large Water Chestnut Gate, Himeji Castle |
Water Chestnut Gate |
Himeji Castle was one surrounded by many smaller buildings, few of which remain |
Himeji Castle from the West Bailey |
West Bailey |
West Bailey |
Hyakken-Rokka, a 300m long corridor |
Himeji Castle and the West Bailey with cherry blossoms |
Himeji Castle |
View of the town of Himeji from the Hyakken-Roka |
The part of Himeji survivied WWII, and retains a very jumbled arrangment |
Hyakken-Roka |
Hyakken-Roka |
Princess Sen in the Keshou Yagura (Cosmetic Tower) playing Kaiawase, matching shells |
The donjon from the Cosmetic Tower |
Keshou Yagura (Cosmetic Tower) Himeji Castle |
Heading from the Keshou Yagura to the donjon |
The HA gate |
After a U-Turn, you reach the HA Gate |
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Following the well defendable pathways towards the inner bailey |
Openings in the donjon for defenders to drop objects on attackers |
Each successive gate gets smaller: the HO Gate |
Decorative roof tiles bearing the crest of the castle's lord |
Northern part of the Main Tower Complex |
Ishiotoshi, small openings for dropping stones or boiling water |
Himeji Castle |
Donjon, Himeji Castle |
Passing 6 "water gates" finally leads to the donjon entrance |
Tenshukaku, the main tower (keep, donjon) of Himeji Castle |
The Donjon is built of wood covered with fireproof white plaster on the exterior |
Himeji Castle map |
The donjon now houses historical artefacts |
Portrait of Tadayo Sakai (1572-1636) a lord of the Maebashi Clan |
Tadayo Sakai, Tadatoshi Aoyama and Toshikatsu Doi, assistants of the 3rd Shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa |
Carp drawn by Tadazane Sakai, once lord over Himeji Castle |
Calligraphy, Himeji Castle |
Blades of Samurai swords |
Firearms, Himeji Castle |
Samurai armour, Himeji Castle |
Samurai armour, Himeji Castle |
Samurai armour, Himeji Castle |
Diagram of the main tower at Himeji |
Painted paddle |
Pole arms stored on racks in the keep of Himeji Castle |
Decorative roof tiles |
Shachi - dolphin - castle guardian |
Dolphins are said to have the power to fight fire |
View of the West Bailey from the top of the Donjon, Himeji Castle |
View NW |
View E |
Himeji Shrine |
View NE from the Donjon of Himeji Castle |
Himeji view from main tower |
Dolphin on the donjon of Himeji Castle |
Himeji view from main tower |
Himeji view from main tower |
Himeji view from main tower |
Water Chestnut Gate, Himeji Castle |
Roof tiles |
Inside an upper level of the Donjon, Himeji Castle |
Model of the wood structure |
Model of Himeji and the Castle at it's peak |
Model of Himeji Castle |
View from a lower Donjon level |
View from a lower Donjon level |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Me at Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Bizen Bailey, Himeji Castle |
Stone foundation of the Donjon, Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Decorative roof tiles bearing the crests of the castle lord |
Cherry blossoms |
Cherry blossoms |
Cherry blossoms |
Cherry blossoms |
Himeji Castle during April's cherry blossoms |
Harakiri-maru (Suicide Bailey), Himeji Castle |
Harakiri-maru, Himeji Castle |
Fallen cherry blossoms on the cistern |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Cherry blossoms, Himeji Castle |
Himeji Zoo on the castle grounds |
Himeji Castle |
Third Baily on a pleasant April day |
Japanese girl, Himeji Castle |
Himeji Castle |
Man selling grilled chicken-on-a-stick |
A covered shopping arcade 1 block east of Otemae-dori runs all the way to the train station |
Shopping arcade, Himeji |
Samuri poster |
Traditional clothing |
Traditional clothing |
Yummy lunch at the food court under Himeji Station |
Food court under Himeji Station |
Japanese pizza? |
Cook in Himeji |
Bridge from the main island of Honshu to neighboring Awaji |
View of the Awaji Bridge from the train to Osaka |