Live from Japan!

When we were in the planning phase of our trip to Osaka, we invited two friends, Angus and Ella. At first, they both wondered why we wanted to go to Osaka for a three-day weekend. Aaron and I both shrugged, it just seemed like a good idea. Then, Ella took out the guide book and found that Himeji-jo (Himeji castle) was not too far away from Osaka. She was sold!

The three of us went to Osaka and spent a day in Himeji. Most of our time was exploring the incredibly intricate castle and surrounding grounds. The whole thing was amazing!

Himeji-jo is another World Heritage site, and for good reason. Himeji-jo is one of twelve remaining feudal-era castles in Japan. Construction was finished in 1618 and it has remained intact since. Which, considering the fate of many other castles and temples, is quite impressive.

This castle was designed with two things in mind – defense and beauty. Both were obviously apparent as we wandered the grounds. One of the defensive strategies was to confuse invaders. The approach to the castle was not straightforward. We twisted, turned, and double-backed, as we got closer to the catle. This strategy would have helped quite a bit had the castle come under attack. Any invaders would have been seen for a long time before reaching the main, five-storey, donjon. As visitors, this path meant that we got to spend a lot of time enjoying the grounds, the fresh air and the beautiful day. Continually marvelling at the impressive nature of Himeji-jo.

Much of the castle was built long before 1618, in fact there has been some sort of structure here since the early 1300’s. However, when Ikeda Terumasa took control of the area, he wanted to add something more impressive to the space. He added the main donjon and the three smaller donjons as well. With the addition of these structures, the fortress was changed from a purely defensive, tactical structure to a structure that was defensible, but also visually appealing.

Like all good castles, this one was surrounded by a moat and a tall wall.

All along the castle walls were these little windows. Spaces where lookout was kept. We were told that the windows were different shapes, sizes and heights to help soldiers find their lookout point more easily. It would be difficult for them to find their particular spot if they all had looked the same.

We had a great time looking out the little windows. It was so interesting to see the different views framed by each little hole.

As we wandered around the grounds, getting closer to Himeji with each step, we were able to enjoy the manicured gardens. The gardens, while not necessary for defense, were integral in the design of the fortress.

The interior of the castle wall was beautiful as well. This is a picture of one of the gorgeous hallways. I loved all the warm, natural wood.

The castle, and grounds, were adorned with seals. Each seal had a specific legacy, a feudal history. They were associated with individuals, or families, that had lived, or contributed to, the facility.

And once we found the castle and made our way to the top, we were rewarded with views of the city and mountains beyond.

Himeji-jo was beautiful, and surprising. Each time we turned a corner we were shown a new perspective, a different way of looking at a space that seemed so familiar. All told, we spent about three hours wandering around the castle grounds, and we could have easily spent more. It was a truly magical place.