Skip to main content

Himeji Castle - Hyogo

2009/08/10

The Rock Plate at the entrance
Just get down at the Hyogo station and walk down the market street and you will ens up at this gorgeous castle premises. Himeji Castle which is also called  Shirasag jo which means "white heron castle" is one of the most beautiful castles in Japan. According to the Wikipedia this is the " finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period." This is now a UNESCO　World Heritage site since 1993.

Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle with the "three country moat" at the foreground

                    　   


 Old wells of the castle
Ghost stories are woven around these wells, about suiciding maids, and their spirits are heard to be still haunting the premises.

  Inside the main tower


 Old weapon racks with weapons

 Castle premises on the left and below while the city view is on the right
The mythical tiger headed fish

 an unidentified door at the suicide grounds
When the samurai personnels and other army leaders or even normal persons admits guilt for a wrong, they used to kill themselves(suicide) by stabbing their own stomachs . There was  a special small place in the castle premises were they used to practice this "seppuku" or "harakiri" method. It is said that his place is haunted too.

 Diamond gate and three other gates still remaining intact






 The view of the main castle tower from the castle grounds

Well, Himeji Castle has lots of stories around its buildings and people lived in it, ghost stories and all but I could not even catch a glimpse of any spirit may be because it was a very hot afternoon. It was nice lesson of Japanese architecture and army tactics. Enjoy !!

All Rights Reserved.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for stopping by..
Please feel free to leave your thoughts here..!!
Every word encourages me.. Thank you..

Popular posts from this blog

Nishizawa Gorge Waterfalls - Yamanashi

2016/11/03 Nishizawa Gorge is a hiking course with several beautiful waterfalls created when Arakawa River flow towards the city. This post is about the several waterfall we came across. while hiking the trails along the river. all of them were captured through my phone and I apologize for the low quality. Here is a link(Japanese) to the hiking course and it indicates all the waterfalls along the trail. And below are how they actually looked like on November 3rd 2016. Link: http://www.yamanashishi-kankou.com/sozai/asobu/nature/nishizawa002.pdf ★Ookubo-no-taki 大久保の滝 (Ookuboo Waterfall) ★Sanjuu-no-taki 三重の滝（Sanju Waterfall） From Below ★Sanjuu-no-taki 三重の滝（Sanju Waterfall）  From Top ★SakanaDome-no-Taki 魚止滝　（SakanaDome Waterfall） ★　Jinmendou 人面洞 （Jinmendou） ★　Riyugami-no-taki 竜神の滝（Riyugami　Waterfall） ★Botaifuchi  母胎淵 (Botaifuchi) ★ Nanatsugama-godan-no-taki   七ツ釜五段の滝 ( Nanatsugama-godan-Waterfa...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tateyama Alpine Route - Murado Station

19/07/2010 Another dream coming true. I always wanted to go there.I was collecting leaflets, pamphlets about this but never thought of   going due to the high costs. Well, luck was upon me this one time. It was early morning of 5.45 and I was waiting for my sensei s vehicle in front of  Toyama Station. I did know the plans for the day but that we were going to Tateyama. Were we going to Kurobe Dam too, or going to Kurobe Dam?Were we going to take the Alpen Route or go straight to Kurobe? Surprises were waiting. We reached Tateyama Station and I knew it is my dream coming true. Weather and information of the day  It was around 14degrees at the top of the mountain while it was nearly 36degrees at the foot. We were simply above the clouds and the temperature difference was too much to bear. It was cold in the summer. Early in the morning when we passed the Murodo staion on our way to Kurobe dam it was clear all around. in the aftern...
6 comments
Read more

Onabe - Japanese Hot Pot

15/05/2010 It was after spending the evening at Thai Festival 2010 in Yoyogi,Shibuya. The dinner was decided on "Nabe" at a shibuya chain restaurant of Japanese hot pot. I have always loved nabe. I have had shabu shabu hotpot, sukiyaki hotpot and seafood hotpot at Japanese houses and this was the first time I am having it at a restaurant. So I thought of sharing some moments of the supreme happiness of eating Nabe - the Japanese hotpot. Beef, eggs and the vegetables  The whole table of ingredients for the Nabe in one shot Shabu shabu and sukiyaki on one hotplate finally you dip the boiled slice of meat in the "tare" and eat. This chain restaurant is in Shibuya and limitless "tabehoudai" for less than 2000yen. Good service and loved the meat.   All Rights Reserved.
Post a Comment
Read more