Himeji Castle: The Egret Soaring in the Sky

👉 Set Off Calmly
Depart from Osaka by private car early in the morning. When the pure white castle comes into view, Himeji Castle—an egret forever poised to take flight—stands quietly between heaven and earth. It resembles a heron ready to spread its wings at any moment, a unique shape that has earned it the nickname "White Egret Castle." It has almost perfectly preserved its original appearance from 400 years ago, offering a dialogue across time and space.
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👉 First Encounter: The Shock of the Egret
The vehicle drives straight into the dedicated parking lot of Himeji Castle Park, just a hundred steps from Otemon Gate. The entire castle is pristine white, with layered eaves like an egret spreading its wings, elegant yet exuding an unassailable dignity. The massive stone walls and winding moats tell the story of its past as a fortress.
Passing through the 15-meter-high castle walls, standing in the square before the Hishi Gate and looking up, the six-tiered main keep gleams like a pearl in the morning light.
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👉 Climbing: Walking Through the Folds of Time
Passing through the Hishi Gate, you enter the core area of the castle. Climbing the main keep is a small adventure. You need to remove your shoes, carry a shoe bag, and walk barefoot or in socks on the wooden floor. The stairs are steep, almost vertical, originally designed to slow down enemies during an attack. Light filters in through narrow "Musha-kakushi" (small compartments where samurai hid) and arrow slits, creating beams of light in the dim interior.

When you finally reach the six-story main keep, the cityscape of Himeji unfolds before your eyes, with the Seto Inland Sea shimmering in the distance. Himeji Castle cleverly uses the terrain—lush Mount Shosha behind it and the orderly castle town in front. Imagine a morning 400 years ago when Ikeda Terumasa might have stood here, watching his castle awaken in the dawn.
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👉 Details: The Invisible Beauty of Master Craftsmen
The beauty of Himeji Castle lies not only in its grand appearance but also in its exquisite details. The symmetrical "shachihoko" tiles at the ends of the eaves draw graceful curves against the blue sky; the white "mushikago" windows on the walls serve both as defensive structures and unique decorations; and the load-bearing wooden components called "fukuto" combine function with aesthetic form. This wooden structure uses not a single nail, yet it has survived multiple wars and natural disasters intact—a true miracle.
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👉 Don’t miss the Nishinomaru Corridor. This was the residence of Senhime, granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The long wooden corridor connects various rooms, and walking through it, your footsteps echo ethereally. From every window, the main keep forms a stunning picture frame.
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At dusk, the setting sun bathes the pure white main keep in warm golden light, and the moat reflects its graceful, ready-to-fly silhouette. Some beauty truly transcends time and touches the heart.

Tips:
• The cherry blossom season in spring (late March to early April) makes Himeji Castle breathtakingly beautiful.
• The autumn maple leaf season (November) is also not to be missed.
• Exit the main castle and enter Koko-en Garden to rest in the elegant Japanese garden and enjoy a different perspective of the main keep.
• Total time: A thorough visit takes about 3-4 hours.
• On the other side of Himeji Station is the Himeji City Zoo, which can be visited if time permits.