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Himeji Castle
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Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
[ Large view ] - Google Maps

Himeji Castle stands on top of a hill in the middle of the city. It is called Shirasagi-jo (White Heron Castle) and it resembles a heron in flight with its wings wide open.

The structure’s 5 story main tower and 3 smaller towers with connecting corridors, many roof layers and combinations of shapes, and surrounding white plaster walls are attributes to the castle’s beauty.

In contrast with its beauty, the castle is full of defensive devices and has a complex and clever layout. Throughout the castle you can find the highest developed architectural skills of Japanese castle building done in the Azuchi-Momoyama era.

Through its 400-year history Himeji Castle has fortunately preserves the original shape due to lack of war immediately around the castle. It is now regarded as a human treasure and is a World Cultural Heritage Site.
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Himeji Shrine

Himeji Shrine
[ Large view ]

Himeji Shrine
[ Large view ]

After the Meiji Restoration, the last lord of Himeji Castle, Tadakuni Sakai, was ordered to move to Tokyo in 1871. But the citizens of Himeji who missed the reign of the Sakai family started worshiping Masachika Sakai, the founder of Sakai family, with the permission from the Meiji National government in 1879. That was the beginning of this shrine. In 1925 the shrine was moved to the present location. Since 1961 successive lords of Himeji Castle from the Sakai family have been worshiped here to protect the castle.
More photos: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]

[ Large view ] Himeji Shrine

   
Sunno Shrine
[ Large view ]
Sunno Shrine
This shrine is dedicated to Sunno Kawai who was a vice lord of Himeji Regional government and saved the government from financial difficulties. Sunno Kawai (1767~1841) developed local business throughout the Harima region, and he succeeded in paying back the deficit of 730,000 ryo (15 billion yen in the value of current money) in about 7 years. He also established a private school called Jinjuzan-ko and contributed to education by inviting famous scholars such as Sanyo Rai. The present shrine was built in 1957.
   
Iwakura Inari Shrine
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Iwakura Inari Shrine
Uganomitama-no-kami is worshiped at this shrine as the god of agriculture and manufacturing. It was originally located at Bohzu-machi, but moved to the present place in 1925.
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Himeji City Art Museum
City Art Museum
[ Large view ]
Himeji City Art Museum, located to the east of the castle, exhibits many Belgium and French works of modern art, and works by local artists. The museum was originally built as a storage place for the army in the Meiji period. The view of the white castle over the redbrick museum is chosen as one of the 10 best places to see the castle.
More photos: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]
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Hyogo Prefectural History Museum
Prefectural History Museum Hyogo Prefectural History Museum, north of the Art Museum, exhibits the history of Hyogo Prefecture and explains the castle and the city developed around the castle. It shows how Himeji Castle, a grand example of wooden structure, was built and functioned as a fortress. You can also try on armor and “Juni-hitoe” (many-layered kimono) in the museum.
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Himeji Bungakukan (Literature Museum)
Himeji Bungakukan Tadao Ando, a world famous architect, designed this “Himeji Bungakukan” (literature museum). It exhibits many works, original writings and belongings of writers related to the local Banshu area, such as Ryotaro Shiba, Tetsuro Watsuji and Hosui Arimoto. The view from the museum’s north building is magnificent.
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Kokoen (Japanese Garden)
Kokoen

The 10,000-squre meter Japanese Garden, “Kokoen”, west of Himeji Castle, is located where the Lord’s “Western House” and samurai houses once stood. By utilizing housing remains and pathways found during excavation, 9 gardens, including the Lord’s western house, Nagaya-mon gate and Tsukiji-bei walls were replicated. You can enjoy a meal or tea ceremony there while viewing the gardens filled with seasonal flowers. [ Large view ]

[ Large view ] Kokoen

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Harimanokuni-Sosha Shrine
Harimanokuni-Sosha “Harimanokuni-Sosha”, officially called the Itate-Hyozu Shrine, is dedicated to all gods and deities worshiped in the local Harima area. The “Mitsuyama-matsuri” (Three Mountain Festival) held every 20 years and the “Hitotsuyama-matsuri” (One Mountain Festival) held every 60 years are unique. - Google Maps
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Keiunji Temple
Keiunji Temple
[ Large view ] - Google Maps
In the “Keiunji Temple”, there are memorials to two lovers, “Hiyokuzuka”, honoring Onatsu and Seijuro who are heroine and hero in the tragedy written by Saikaku Ihara and Monzaemon Chikamatsu. After a forbidden love affair and running away, Seijuro was executed, and Onatsu became insane. Now their memorials sit next to each other, and people wish them togetherness in the afterlife.
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Junisho Shrine
Junisho Shrine The “Junisho Shrine”, located in the unlucky direction from Himeji Castle, has on its sacred grounds a shrine worshiping Okiku, heroine of the ghost story “Banshu-Sarayashiki”. Okiku was falsely charged, killed and thrown into a well, which you can see at Himeji Castle.
Google Maps
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sansen-ya, co.
1-15-29 Yashiro-Honcho, Himeji 670-0874 Japan
phone: 079-285-1327 - fax: 079-285-1328
email: tuchiyama@sansenya.com
Site and Photos by ParaComm
   
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