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Brian McMorrow | profile | all galleries >> Asia >> Japan - 日本 >> 姬路 - Himeji tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

姬路 - Himeji

A day trip from Osaka to Himeji 姬路, 1 hour away, with it's original 400 year old castle intact, enhanced by the blooming of the Japanese cherry trees during April's cherry blossom season.
Himeji Station
Himeji Station		 Shinkansen poster
Shinkansen poster		 Shinkansen poster
Shinkansen poster		 Taxis lined up in front of Himeji Station
Taxis lined up in front of Himeji Station
Art in front of Himeji Station
Art in front of Himeji Station		 Otemae-dori leads from Himeji station directly north to Himeji Station
Otemae-dori leads from Himeji station directly north to Himeji Station		 Public art along Otemae-dori
Public art along Otemae-dori		 Japanese license plate from Himeji
Japanese license plate from Himeji
English signs point the way to points of tourist interest
English signs point the way to points of tourist interest		 Himeji-jo Castle
Himeji-jo Castle		 Himeji Castle opening hours
Himeji Castle opening hours		 Himeji Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Himeji Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The donjon of Himeji Castle during Cherry Blossom Season (April)
The donjon of Himeji Castle during Cherry Blossom Season (April)		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle during Cherry Blossom Season
Himeji Castle during Cherry Blossom Season		 The outermost enclosure of Himeji Castle is the Third Bailey
The outermost enclosure of Himeji Castle is the Third Bailey
Japanese cherry blossoms
Japanese cherry blossoms		 Cherry blossoms
Cherry blossoms		 Cherry blossoms, Himeji Castle
Cherry blossoms, Himeji Castle		 Cherry blossoms, Himeji
Cherry blossoms, Himeji
April is Cherry Blossom Season
April is Cherry Blossom Season		 Cherry blossoms, Himeji
Cherry blossoms, Himeji		 Cherry blossoms, Himeji
Cherry blossoms, Himeji		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 A less-common and pinker variety of cherry blossom, Himeji
A less-common and pinker variety of cherry blossom, Himeji		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle is also known as White Heron Castle
Himeji Castle is also known as "White Heron Castle"		 Himeji Castle dates from 1580 on top of a 1333 fortification
Himeji Castle dates from 1580 on top of a 1333 fortification		 Himeji Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Himeji Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi		 Himeji Castle was enlarged by Ikeda Terumasa 30 years later after the defeat of Toyotomi
Himeji Castle was enlarged by Ikeda Terumasa 30 years later after the defeat of Toyotomi
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Donjon of Himeji Castle with cherry blossoms
Donjon of Himeji Castle with cherry blossoms		 Himeji Castle through some trees
Himeji Castle through some trees		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine		 Himeji Shrine, on the NE corner of the castle park
Himeji Shrine, on the NE corner of the castle park		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine		 Himeji Castle map
Himeji Castle map
Himeji Castle Map
Himeji Castle Map		 Northern Moat, Himeji Castle
Northern Moat, Himeji Castle		 Japanese Maple, Himeji Castle
Japanese Maple, Himeji Castle		 himejiapr05 191.JPG
himejiapr05 191.JPG
himejiapr05 193.JPG
himejiapr05 193.JPG		 Western Moat, Himeji Castle
Western Moat, Himeji Castle		 Mortarless walls, Himeji Castle
Mortarless walls, Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle during Cherry Blossom Season
Himeji Castle during Cherry Blossom Season		 The white color of Himeji Castle is due to a covering of white fireproof plaster
The white color of Himeji Castle is due to a covering of white fireproof plaster		 The main tower, or donjon, is 46 meters high
The main tower, or donjon, is 46 meters high
The donjon is essentially a wooden structure
The donjon is essentially a wooden structure		 himejiapr05 208.JPG
himejiapr05 208.JPG		 Me at Himeji Castle, Japan
Me at Himeji Castle, Japan		 Woman sketching Himeji Castle
Woman sketching Himeji Castle
The large Water Chestnut Gate, Himeji Castle
The large Water Chestnut Gate, Himeji Castle		 Water Chestnut Gate
Water Chestnut Gate		 Himeji Castle was one surrounded by many smaller buildings, few of which remain
Himeji Castle was one surrounded by many smaller buildings, few of which remain		 Himeji Castle from the West Bailey
Himeji Castle from the West Bailey
West Bailey
West Bailey		 West Bailey
West Bailey		 Hyakken-Rokka, a 300m long corridor
Hyakken-Rokka, a 300m long corridor		 Himeji Castle and the West Bailey with cherry blossoms
Himeji Castle and the West Bailey with cherry blossoms
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 View of the town of Himeji from the Hyakken-Roka
View of the town of Himeji from the Hyakken-Roka		 The part of Himeji survivied WWII, and retains a very jumbled arrangment
The part of Himeji survivied WWII, and retains a very jumbled arrangment		 Hyakken-Roka
Hyakken-Roka
Hyakken-Roka
Hyakken-Roka		 Princess Sen in the Keshou Yagura (Cosmetic Tower) playing Kaiawase, matching shells
Princess Sen in the Keshou Yagura (Cosmetic Tower) playing Kaiawase, matching shells		 The donjon from the Cosmetic Tower
The donjon from the Cosmetic Tower		 Keshou Yagura (Cosmetic Tower) Himeji Castle
Keshou Yagura (Cosmetic Tower) Himeji Castle
Heading from the Keshou Yagura to the donjon
Heading from the Keshou Yagura to the donjon		 The HA gate
The HA gate		 After a U-Turn, you reach the HA Gate
After a U-Turn, you reach the HA Gate		 himejiapr05 270.JPG
himejiapr05 270.JPG
Following the well defendable pathways towards the inner bailey
Following the well defendable pathways towards the inner bailey		 Openings in the donjon for defenders to drop objects on attackers
Openings in the donjon for defenders to drop objects on attackers		 Each successive gate gets smaller: the HO Gate
Each successive gate gets smaller: the HO Gate		 Decorative roof tiles bearing the crest of the castle's lord
Decorative roof tiles bearing the crest of the castle's lord
Northern part of the Main Tower Complex
Northern part of the Main Tower Complex		 Ishiotoshi, small openings for dropping stones or boiling water
Ishiotoshi, small openings for dropping stones or boiling water		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Donjon, Himeji Castle
Donjon, Himeji Castle
Passing 6 water gates finally leads to the donjon entrance
Passing 6 "water gates" finally leads to the donjon entrance		 Tenshukaku, the main tower (keep, donjon) of Himeji Castle
Tenshukaku, the main tower (keep, donjon) of Himeji Castle		 The Donjon is built of wood covered with fireproof white plaster on the exterior
The Donjon is built of wood covered with fireproof white plaster on the exterior		 Himeji Castle map
Himeji Castle map
The donjon now houses historical artefacts
The donjon now houses historical artefacts		 Portrait of Tadayo Sakai (1572-1636) a lord of the Maebashi Clan
Portrait of Tadayo Sakai (1572-1636) a lord of the Maebashi Clan		 Tadayo Sakai, Tadatoshi Aoyama and Toshikatsu Doi, assistants of the 3rd Shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa
Tadayo Sakai, Tadatoshi Aoyama and Toshikatsu Doi, assistants of the 3rd Shogun Iemitsu Tokugawa		 Carp drawn by Tadazane Sakai, once lord over Himeji Castle
Carp drawn by Tadazane Sakai, once lord over Himeji Castle
Calligraphy, Himeji Castle
Calligraphy, Himeji Castle		 Blades of Samurai swords
Blades of Samurai swords		 Firearms, Himeji Castle
Firearms, Himeji Castle		 Samurai armour, Himeji Castle
Samurai armour, Himeji Castle
Samurai armour, Himeji Castle
Samurai armour, Himeji Castle		 Samurai armour, Himeji Castle
Samurai armour, Himeji Castle		 Diagram of the main tower at Himeji
Diagram of the main tower at Himeji		 Painted paddle
Painted paddle
Pole arms stored on racks in the keep of Himeji Castle
Pole arms stored on racks in the keep of Himeji Castle		 Decorative roof tiles
Decorative roof tiles		 Shachi - dolphin - castle guardian
Shachi - dolphin - castle guardian		 Dolphins are said to have the power to fight fire
Dolphins are said to have the power to fight fire
View of the West Bailey from the top of the Donjon, Himeji Castle
View of the West Bailey from the top of the Donjon, Himeji Castle		 View NW
View NW		 View E
View E		 Himeji Shrine
Himeji Shrine
View NE from the Donjon of Himeji Castle
View NE from the Donjon of Himeji Castle		 Himeji view from main tower
Himeji view from main tower		 Dolphin on the donjon of Himeji Castle
Dolphin on the donjon of Himeji Castle		 Himeji view from main tower
Himeji view from main tower
Himeji view from main tower
Himeji view from main tower		 Himeji view from main tower
Himeji view from main tower		 Water Chestnut Gate, Himeji Castle
Water Chestnut Gate, Himeji Castle		 Roof tiles
Roof tiles
Inside an upper level of the Donjon, Himeji Castle
Inside an upper level of the Donjon, Himeji Castle		 Model of the wood structure
Model of the wood structure		 Model of Himeji and the Castle at it's peak
Model of Himeji and the Castle at it's peak		 Model of Himeji Castle
Model of Himeji Castle
View from a lower Donjon level
View from a lower Donjon level		 View from a lower Donjon level
View from a lower Donjon level		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Me at Himeji Castle
Me at Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Bizen Bailey, Himeji Castle
Bizen Bailey, Himeji Castle
Stone foundation of the Donjon, Himeji Castle
Stone foundation of the Donjon, Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Decorative roof tiles bearing the crests of the castle lord
Decorative roof tiles bearing the crests of the castle lord		 Cherry blossoms
Cherry blossoms
Cherry blossoms
Cherry blossoms		 Cherry blossoms
Cherry blossoms		 Cherry blossoms
Cherry blossoms		 Himeji Castle during April's cherry blossoms
Himeji Castle during April's cherry blossoms
Harakiri-maru (Suicide Bailey), Himeji Castle
Harakiri-maru (Suicide Bailey), Himeji Castle		 Harakiri-maru, Himeji Castle
Harakiri-maru, Himeji Castle		 Fallen cherry blossoms on the cistern
Fallen cherry blossoms on the cistern		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Cherry blossoms, Himeji Castle
Cherry blossoms, Himeji Castle		 Himeji Zoo on the castle grounds
Himeji Zoo on the castle grounds
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle		 Third Baily on a pleasant April day
Third Baily on a pleasant April day		 Japanese girl, Himeji Castle
Japanese girl, Himeji Castle		 Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Man selling grilled chicken-on-a-stick
Man selling grilled chicken-on-a-stick		 A covered shopping arcade 1 block east of Otemae-dori runs all the way to the train station
A covered shopping arcade 1 block east of Otemae-dori runs all the way to the train station		 Shopping arcade, Himeji
Shopping arcade, Himeji		 Samuri poster
Samuri poster
Traditional clothing
Traditional clothing		 Traditional clothing
Traditional clothing		 Yummy lunch at the food court under Himeji Station
Yummy lunch at the food court under Himeji Station		 Food court under Himeji Station
Food court under Himeji Station
Japanese pizza?
Japanese pizza?		 Cook in Himeji
Cook in Himeji		 Bridge from the main island of Honshu to neighboring Awaji
Bridge from the main island of Honshu to neighboring Awaji		 View of the Awaji Bridge from the train to Osaka
View of the Awaji Bridge from the train to Osaka

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