 |
Himeji is the second largest city in Hyogo prefecture. It is a 20-minute Shinkansen ride 50 kilometers west of Kobe which is the seat of the prefectural government and a well-known international port of call. As one exits JR Himeji station, the majestic Himeji Castle soon comes into view to the north above a tree-lined road. Its white walls and black tiled roofs towering against the azure sky leave no doubt why it is considered the finest of Japanese castles. In 1993, it was selected as the first World Cultural Heritage Site in Japan.
Himeji Castle will celebrate the 400th anniversary of its construction in 2001. Although its history can be traced back as far as the 14th century, it was not built up to its current massive scale until 1601. Over an eight-year period, a total of 24.3 million people worked on the construction. It has a large number of gates and its moat forms a spiral. Fortress walls overlook paths arranged in a complex layout designed to confuse invaders, and they are thoroughly equipped with defensive devices—including openings to drop rocks from, and holes to shoot arrows or fire guns through. But attacking armies never came thanks to the 270-year peace the Tokugawa Shogunate maintained, and Himeji survived unscarred through the Meiji period.
Castles were symbols of regional power, and with the arrival of the Meiji Restoration and the Meiji government's centralization of power, many were torn down. Himeji Castle was fortunately among those spared. During World War II, even though the city was largely reduced to ashes, the castle escaped nearly undamaged. Although the castle has undergone repeated renovations over the years, the original wood structure erected 400 years ago remains in close to its original condition, making it an extraordinarily valuable structure for research.
Aside from the castle, the city of Himeji has much to offer visitors. Places to visit include the temple Engyoji, which dates back a thousand years; an aquarium; sports facilities; Tegarayama Central Park; and a recreation area with many attractions called Sakurayama, which, along with the park, attracts many families with children on weekends. Sakurayama includes a children's astronomical observatory with facilities for overnight stays, and the Himeji Science Museum where the wonders of outer space can be experienced. Surrounding these facilities are a lake and forest for nature observation, which are often enlivened by the voices of joyful children. |
 |
Himeji Castle stands on a flat knoll,
rising 92 meters above sea level at
its highest point.
Feudal lords may have gazed down from this commanding viewpoint contemplating the lives of the townspeople. |
|
