Himeji Castle

Jul 20

Himeji castle is Japan’s largest fuedal keep, the main fixture in the town of the same name a little west of Kobe. It is distinctly white, and while other castles might feature some ornate gold or copper trimmings, Himeji’s size is what sets it apart. It is also perched on one of the few hilltops in the city, making it viewable from afar and welcoming travelers right out of the station gates.

The July sunshine did not make this an easy visit. It was scorchingly hot, and to get some good photos it was a bit of a race against the clouds to find the angles I wanted before the sky could become a solid gray backdrop. The castle is really well preserved, and traversing the pathways from the lower gardens up to the main keep gave a great sense of how it was designed like a maze, making it difficult for intruders to navigate. The walls, and the roof tiles were all in tact, as was the woodwork throughout the interior.

To get the best view of Himeji castle, it took more effort than just visiting the official grounds. The high angle shots below were weeks in planning, studying photographs from other guide books and then figuring out which adjacent hill might be able to offer such a vista. After over a hundred stairs, I did find it, and thankfully had a longer lens in my kit to capture Japan’s most stunning heritage site.

Enjoy the photos, and definitely put this castle on your travel list if you make it to the Kansai/Hyogo area of Japan.

Shot on July 20, 2025 - Travel, Japan, Black and White