"Himeji ------ World-class Castle Town " a Himeji Travel Page by sunnywong

Himeji, located about 40 kilometers west of Kobe, has a world treasure at its center. The Himeji Castle is a magnificent example of Japanese castle architecture. It's claim to fame national treasure and one of the best castles you could possibly see in Japan. In 1931, Himeji Castle was designated a National Treasure, one of only four castles in Japan so honored. In 1993, it was one of the first structures in Japan to be put on the list of UNESCO World Cultural and Heritage Sites.

Because the layout of the castle's white-plastered donjon and towers suggests the lyrical image of a white heron about to take flight, it is often called the White Heron Castle. Like all Japanese castles, it is built of wood, some 360 tons in all, and the white plaster that covers its walls serves as fire and water protection. Amazingly, it has known neither fire or battle in its centuries of existence.