Himeji Castle

姫路城

Castles · Hyogo

Located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Himeji Castle is Japan's most celebrated feudal fortress and one of the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Sites, listed in 1993. Nicknamed Shirasagi-jo, or White Heron Castle, for its brilliant white plastered walls resembling a bird in flight, its main keep dates to 1609 and remains remarkably original, having survived earthquakes, fires, and WWII bombing raids largely unscathed. With 83 buildings and an elaborate defensive maze of gates and passages, it is widely regarded as the finest surviving example of Japanese castle architecture.

TikTok video of June 9, 2026