Kyoto und Umgebung: Himeiji Castle

Himeiji (population 500 000, 20 m above sealevel, 100 km southwest of Kyoto) is best known for its majestic castle, located near the city center and considered the best surviving feudal castle in Japan. It is also known as Shirasagi-jo (White Egret Castle) because of the resemblance of its white-plastered walls to the heron's silhouette. Situated on a 45 m-high hill, the building was started in the mid-14th century, expanded by warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi and completed in 1609 by daimyo (baron) Ikeda Terumasa, a supporter of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. It was second only to Osaka Castle in size. It is made up of a 5-story donjon (main keep), three 3-story donjon and a series of interconnecting passageways. The main compound is surrounded by three rings of outer compounds. The grounds have been designated as a Historic Site and the castle itself as a National Treasure. The Shirasagi-jo is a classic example of Japanese castle design, with an almost impenetrable defense system. But it was built at the beginning of the peaceful Edo Period (1600~1868) and was never actually attacked. It was used as an administrative center and symbol of power. The Kurosawa Akira film "Ran" includes scenes where a castle is under attack and gives some idea of the inside of one of these fortresses.