Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle is located in Himeji City, in southern Hyogo Prefecture. It is a 92-meter tall castle established by Ikeda Terumasa, the first feudal lord of the former Harima Himeji domain in 1609.
Himeji Castle was among Japan's first World Cultural Heritage Sites, and is widely recognized for its excellent wooden architecture. The castle is known as “White Egret Castle", because of its appearance that resembles an egret with open wings.
There are many famous sites to be seen around the castle. Above all, the daitenshu (the main keep) is a must-see. It is a 6-story building with its highest roof adorned with statues of Shachihoko (a Japanese mythical creature with the head of a tiger and the body of a carp) on both sides. In addition, Inui-kotenshu, one of the small keeps, and Nishinomaru, the garden located on the west side of the main castle tower are renown sites.
A great tool to enhance your experience at Himeji Castle is the Himeji-Daihakken ("Himeji Castle Discovery") app. This app gives you detailed guides on famous spots using videos and images.