What is Himeji Castle?
Himeji Castle is a large mountain castle in Japan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been since 1993. The castle was built in the early-14th century, and was heavily refined in the early-17th century. Himeji Castle is the classic Japanese castle, and its architectural style is what most people think of when they imagine Japanese buildings of that period. The walls are whitewashed, lending it its nickname, White Heron Castle. This whitewash is to protect the castle from fire — like most Japanese castles, Himeji Castle is made primarily of wood, not stone like European castles. The roofs feature many of the sweeping, pointed structures associated with Japanese architecture, and give it a fairy-tale look.
