A Trip To Himeji Castle
Are you soon planning a stay in the beautiful island wonderland of Japan? Is there, perhaps, a special place in you heart for traditional Japanese culture? Maybe you are so curious and intrigued by the historical wonders of Japan that you are possibly even studying about the culture for a class in school or even on your own. Regardless of what your reasons may be, you are likely to be interested in learning more about a very special kind of historical Japanese architecture that majestically graced various areas of the land of ancient Japan. If you ever wondered what it may have been like to live in a classical Japanese castle, there is one place in particular you certainly should visit.
One of these delicately crafted fortresses is truly famous as a destination for both Japanese and international visitors, and should be most certainly be part of any complete sightseeing itinerary during a stay in Japan. Himeji Castle (pronounced Hee-may-jee) is like a picturesque scene from a fairytale or perhaps a romantic dream. Its white wooden exterior is so pristinely beautiful that it is also known in Japanese as “The White Heron Castle”. The simple fact such a wonderfully ornate and gorgeously decorated piece of architecture could also historically function as a military fortress is a testament to the dedication to form and function found in much of Japanese design.
The building of the castle initially began around 1340, and passed between numerous hands during its construction. This passing of hands was apparently often due to the very reason its construction likely began. Every so often a new battle would decide what clan would take over Himeji Castle, its planning, and construction. In addition, the castle likely needed repairs as a result of such struggles between the battling clans. The current keep of the castle reportedly dates from 1601, which is quite impressive for a piece of wooden architecture of such size. The castle also is documented to have served as a stronghold to feudal resistance to the new centralized imperial government of Japan in 1868. Thankfully only blanks were necessary to be fired on Himeji Castle by the newly modernized Japanese national military in order to convince the feudal warlords to see things in a new light. Three years later, in 1871, the castle was reportedly sold at auction for 23 Yen. In modern Yen that is about the price of a single piece of small chocolate at a Japanese convenience store or around a quarter of an American dollar. That was a lucky bid for a nice castle.
Himeji Castle features some unique aspects which make it truly special. The pathway up to the castle is actually designed as a kind of spiral maze which was intended to confuse potential intruders and also to make anyone approaching a rather visible target. Another very special aspect of Himeji Castle is the gorgeous pink Japanese cherry blossoms on the groves of trees decorating its landscape and blooming in spring. This time is known as Sakura season in Japan and Himeji Castle, with its white birdlike architecture, is a popular site for viewing the gorgeous blossoms as they make a truly magical scene!
